LRS Split 2 2026

LRS Split 2 2026

Overview

LRS Split 2 2026 (full name often rendered as Liga Regional Sur 2026 Split 2) is an edition of the Liga Regional Sur (LRS), the official Tier 2 League of Legends competition for Latin America South. It covers teams primarily from Chile, Peru, Argentina, and other South American countries excluding Brazil. Organized by Riot Games in partnership with Liga ACE Esports, it forms part of the broader League of the Americas (LTA) ecosystem. The league develops emerging talent and provides a pathway toward Tier 1 competition, including opportunities related to CBLOL promotion or LTA South spots in prior structures.

Liga ACE Esports (official site: https://ligaaceesports.com/; LRS page: https://ligaace.com/lrs/) operates the event with Riot support. Sponsors for the 2026 season have included La Botanera and Mega Chamoy. It is classified as an A-Tier/online regional event. Broadcasts air primarily on Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/lolacelatam) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@lolacelatam/live), with additional talent and occasional co-streams.

History

The Liga Regional Sur was created by Riot Games and LVP on March 13, 2023, as part of the restructuring of Latin American League of Legends esports following the Liga Latinoamérica (LLA). It launched alongside the Liga Regional Norte (LRN) to serve as regional feeder leagues. Early seasons featured Opening/Closing or single-season formats with groups and playoffs.

In February 2025, LVP transferred organizational rights for both LRS and LRN to Liga ACE Esports, which has operated the leagues since, including the 2025 and 2026 seasons under the evolving LTA framework. The competition shifted toward a multi-split annual structure (typically Split 1 and Split 2) with regular seasons, playoffs, qualifiers, and promotion/relegation elements. Formats have emphasized best-of series and, more recently, “Hard Fearless Draft” (champions pickable only once per series by either team). The league remains fully or primarily online, drawing from South American talent pools outside Brazil.

By 2026, it was described as the second season of Riot’s Tier 2 competition for the region in the current structure, with Split 2 serving as a key mid-year event.

Format

For LRS 2026 Split 2, the regular season ran as a single round-robin with 8 teams. All matches were best-of-three (Bo3) using Hard Fearless Draft. The top six teams advanced to playoffs.

Playoffs featured a double-elimination bracket with 6 teams. The top 4 seeds started in the upper bracket. All matches were best-of-five (Bo5) under the same draft rules. The event was online, associated with locations/regions including Chile, Peru, Argentina, and broader South America (sometimes listed under Brazil region coding for logistics). Regular season dates: 2026-07-01 to 2026-07-14. Playoffs: 2026-07-21 to 2026-09-08.

Qualification typically involves prior split performance, invitations, open qualifiers, and promotion tournaments. Prize pool for the 2026 Split 2 Playoffs was $20,000 USD, distributed as: 1st $8,000 (40%, with CBLOL 2027 Promotion qualification), 2nd $4,000 (20%, same qualification), 3rd $3,000 (15%), 4th $2,400 (12%), 5th–6th $1,600 each (8%). Regular season had no separate listed prize pool in primary sources.

Similar formats (8-team round-robin Bo3 into 6-team double-elim Bo5 playoffs, Hard Fearless Draft, ~$20,000 playoff prizes) applied to recent splits.

Notable Editions

The 2023 Closing marked an early high point, with substantial prize money and the emergence of consistent contenders like PRIMATE. The 2024 season featured elevated total prizes (playoffs ~$35,700 USD) and a groups stage.

The transition to Liga ACE in 2025 and the multi-split LTA-aligned format brought greater stability and clearer Tier 1 pathways. Farenvehn’s back-to-back success in 2025 Split 1 and Split 2 playoffs stood out as a dominant run.

In 2026, Split 1 saw Volticons claim the playoffs title. Split 2 regular season crowning of 9z Globant and the ongoing playoffs (as of early August 2026 data) highlighted competitive depth among teams like Golden Lions, Volticons, and others, with Hard Fearless Draft adding strategic layers. Viewership peaks remained modest, consistent with regional Tier 2 status.

Past Champions

Champions are typically decided in playoffs (regular-season leaders noted where distinct). Key results include:

• 2026 Split 2 Playoffs (2026-07-21 to 2026-09-08, $20,000 USD, online): Winner TBD (ongoing as of available data; early results included Golden Lions 3-1 Volticons and 9z Globant 3-1 MAZ). Regular season (2026-07-01 to 2026-07-14): 9z Globant (1st), Golden Lions (2nd).

• 2026 Split 1 Playoffs (2026-04-21 to 2026-06-09, $20,000 USD): Volticons defeated Golden Lions. Regular season (2026-03-03 to 2026-04-14): Golden Lions (1st), Malvinas Gaming (2nd).

• 2025 Split 2 Playoffs (2025-08-12 to 2025-09-10, $20,000 USD): Farenvehn defeated Sicar Esports. Regular season (2025-07-15 to 2025-08-05): Sicar Esports (1st), Golden Lions (2nd). Farenvehn secured a bicampeonato.

• 2025 Split 1 Playoffs (2025-05-13 to 2025-06-04, $20,000 USD): Farenvehn defeated Maze Gaming. Regular season (2025-03-23 to 2025-05-05): Farenvehn (1st), Sicar Esports (2nd).

• 2024 Playoffs (2024-06-24 to 2024-07-21, $35,700 USD): WAP Esports defeated PRIMATE. Groups (2024-06-07 to 2024-06-14, $28,100 USD): Undead Gaming over PRIMATE. Regular season (2024-04-02 to 2024-06-03): PRIMATE (1st), Undead Gaming (2nd).

• 2023 Closing Playoffs (2023-07-27 to 2023-08-26, $32,000 USD): PRIMATE defeated Furious Gaming. Closing regular (2023-06-01 to 2023-07-21, $16,000 USD): PRIMATE (1st), Malvinas Rise (2nd).

PRIMATE was an early dynasty; Farenvehn dominated 2025; Golden Lions have been frequent finalists in 2026.

Viewership & Impact

Viewership is characteristic of a regional Tier 2 league. For 2026 Split 1, the peak concurrent viewers reached approximately 3,371 (Golden Lions vs. Volticons). For 2026 Split 2 regular season, the peak was about 2,138 (9z vs. Volticons). Earlier 2025 Split 1 peaks were around 2,838. Hours watched and averages are correspondingly modest compared to Tier 1 leagues.

Broadcast partners center on the lolacelatam Twitch and YouTube channels, with Spanish-language talent including casters and analysts such as Drago, DrKoala, Elmo, Jonni, Mila, Nachittus, Rommy Pandatomic, and Yeti. The league holds cultural significance as a primary development pathway for South American (non-Brazilian) talent into the professional ecosystem, feeding into LTA structures and promotion opportunities. It helps sustain the regional scene post-LLA, fostering local organizations, rivalries (e.g., involving Golden Lions, Farenvehn, PRIMATE alumni), and grassroots participation via qualifiers.

Overall, LRS Split 2 2026 continues the league’s role in expanding accessible, competitive LoL esports across southern Latin America.