Pacific Championship Series

Last updated

Pacific Championship Series
Current season, competition or edition:
Controller current.svg 2025 PCS season
Pacific Championship Series logo.png
Formerly LMS and LST
Game League of Legends
Founded19 December 2019 (2019-12-19)
First season Spring 2020
Organising body
No. of teams8
Most recent
champion(s)		Flag of the Republic of China.svg Deep Cross Gaming (3rd title)
Most titlesFlag of the Republic of China.svg PSG Talon (8 titles)
Sponsor(s) Chunghwa Telecom
Promotion to League of Legends Championship Pacific

The 2020 season was postponed until further notice on 29 January due to the COVID-19 outbreak. [13] [14] It was later announced on 18 February that the 2020 season would officially begin on 29 February. [15]

On 13 February it was announced that G-Rex had disbanded its League of Legends team and forfeited its spot in the PCS as a result of internal restructuring by their parent company Emperor Esports Stars. [16] Five days later, Machi Esports was announced as G-Rex's replacement. [15]

Expansion

Riot Games announced on 18 November 2022 that the PCS would expand to include Oceania, beginning in 2023. Two major changes were made: The winners of the League of Legends Circuit Oceania would no longer directly qualify for the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) and the World Championship (Worlds). Instead, the LCO's top two teams would have to compete in the PCS playoffs to gain a spot. Additionally, LCO players would have their residencies changed from "Oceania" to "PCS", meaning they would no longer take import slots on PCS teams, and vice versa. [17]

On 26 November 2023, Riot Games announced that the League of Legends Japan League would join the PCS playoffs in a similar manner to the LCO. From 2024 onwards, the top three teams from the LJL would have to compete in the PCS playoffs for a spot at MSI and Worlds. Additionally, LJL players would have their residencies changed from "Japan" to "PCS". [18]

Teams

Pacific Championship Series
Traditional Chinese 英雄聯盟太平洋職業聯賽
Simplified Chinese 英雄联盟太平洋职业联赛
Literal meaningLeague of Legends Pacific Professional League
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Yīngxióng Liánméng Tàipíngyáng Zhíyè Liánsài
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization Yīnghùhng Lyùhnmàhng Taaipìhngyèuhng Jīkyihp Lyùhnchoi
Jyutping Jing1hung4 Lyun4mang4 Taai3ping4joeng4 Zik1jip6 Lyun4coi3

At the beginning, ten teams were selected by Riot Games as permanent franchise partners of the PCS. [9] [10] However, it was announced on 4 August 2020 that a promotion tournament would be introduced for the 2021 season to promote regional competitiveness. [19]

After the PCS became a tier-two league in 2025, partner teams in the tier-one LCP began to field academy teams in the PCS. Academy teams are ineligible for promotion to the LCP or relegation to a tier-three regional league. [20]

2025 season

TeamJoined
Flag of the Republic of China.svg CFO Academy [a] 23 January 2025
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Deep Cross Gaming 28 January 2022
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Ground Zero Gaming [b] 23 January 2025
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Hell Pigs12 January 2023
Flag of Hong Kong.svg Frank Esports 28 January 2022
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Hungkuang Falcon23 January 2025
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Talon Academy [c] 23 January 2025
Flag of the Republic of China.svg West Point Esports [d] [e] 17 January 2023

Former teams

TeamJoinedLeftReason
Flag of Hong Kong.svg G-Rex 19 December 201913 February 2020Withdrew [f]
Flag of Singapore.svg Resurgence19 December 20198 September 2020Relegated
Flag of the Republic of China.svg ahq eSports Club 19 December 201926 January 2021Withdrew
Flag of Thailand.svg Nova Esports 19 December 20195 February 2021Withdrew
Flag of Malaysia.svg Berjaya Dragons 17 January 202016 November 2021Withdrew
Flag of Hong Kong.svg Hong Kong Attitude 19 December 201924 November 2021Withdrew
Flag of Thailand.svg BOOM Esports5 February 202128 January 2022Withdrew
Flag of the Philippines.svg Liyab Esports19 December 201928 January 2022Withdrew
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Machi Esports 18 February 202028 January 2022Withdrew
Flag of Malaysia.svg SEM9 16 November 20213 December 2022Withdrew
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Meta Falcon Team28 January 202212 January 2023Withdrew
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Dewish Team [g] 19 December 20197 October 2023Relegated
Flag of Singapore.svg Impunity Esports8 September 20208 October 2023Relegated
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Nate95276 October 202319 January 2024Withdrew [f]
Flag of the Republic of China.svg PSG Talon Academy7 October 202319 January 2024Withdrew [h]
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Beyond Gaming 26 January 202120 April 2024Withdrew
Flag of the Republic of China.svg J Team 19 December 20191 November 2024Withdrew
Flag of the Republic of China.svg PSG Talon [i] [j] 19 December 20193 November 2024Promoted [k]
Flag of the Republic of China.svg CTBC Flying Oyster 27 January 20223 November 2024Promoted [k]

Results

YearSplitChampionsRunners-upThird-place
Tier 1 tournament (2020–2024)
2020 SpringFlag of Hong Kong.svg Talon EsportsFlag of the Republic of China.svg Machi EsportsFlag of the Republic of China.svg ahq eSports Club
SummerFlag of the Republic of China.svg Machi EsportsFlag of Hong Kong.svg PSG TalonFlag of the Republic of China.svg J Team
2021 SpringFlag of Hong Kong.svg PSG TalonFlag of the Republic of China.svg Beyond GamingFlag of the Republic of China.svg Machi Esports
SummerFlag of Hong Kong.svg PSG TalonFlag of the Republic of China.svg Beyond GamingFlag of the Republic of China.svg J Team
2022 SpringFlag of Hong Kong.svg PSG TalonFlag of the Republic of China.svg CTBC Flying OysterFlag of the Republic of China.svg J Team
SummerFlag of the Republic of China.svg CTBC Flying OysterFlag of the Republic of China.svg Beyond GamingFlag of Hong Kong.svg PSG Talon
2023 SpringFlag of the Republic of China.svg PSG TalonFlag of Hong Kong.svg Frank EsportsFlag of the Republic of China.svg CTBC Flying Oyster
SummerFlag of the Republic of China.svg PSG TalonFlag of the Republic of China.svg CTBC Flying OysterFlag of the Republic of China.svg Beyond Gaming
2024SpringFlag of the Republic of China.svg PSG TalonFlag of Japan.svg SoftBank HawksFlag of the Republic of China.svg CTBC Flying Oyster
SummerFlag of the Republic of China.svg PSG TalonFlag of Japan.svg SoftBank HawksFlag of Hong Kong.svg Frank Esports
Tier 2 tournament (2025–present)
2025Split 1Flag of the Republic of China.svg Deep Cross GamingFlag of the Republic of China.svg West Point EsportsFlag of Hong Kong.svg Frank Esports
Split 2Flag of the Republic of China.svg Deep Cross GamingFlag of Hong Kong.svg Frank EsportsFlag of the Republic of China.svg West Point Esports
Split 3Flag of the Republic of China.svg Deep Cross GamingFlag of Hong Kong.svg Frank EsportsFlag of the Republic of China.svg PSG Talon Academy

Number of top three finishes

  denotes a team, country or region that no longer competes in the PCS.

By team

PosTeamGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgT
1.Flag of the Republic of China.svg PSG Talon [j] 7119
2.Flag of the Republic of China.svg Deep Cross Gaming2002
3.Flag of the Republic of China.svg CTBC Flying Oyster1225
4.Flag of the Republic of China.svg Machi Esports1113
5.Flag of the Republic of China.svg Beyond Gaming0314
6.Flag of Hong Kong.svg Frank Esports0224
7.Flag of Japan.svg SoftBank Hawks0202
8.Flag of the Republic of China.svg West Point Esports0112
9.Flag of the Republic of China.svg J Team0033
10.Flag of the Republic of China.svg ahq eSports Club0011

By country or region

PosCountry / RegionGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgT
1.Flag of the Republic of China.svg Taiwan [l] 87924
2.Flag of Hong Kong.svg Hong Kong43310
3.Flag of Japan.svg Japan0202

Notes

  1. ↑ Academy team of CTBC Flying Oyster, which competes in the League of Legends Championship Pacific.
  2. ↑ Ground Zero Gaming's League of Legends team was previously based in Australia and competed in the League of Legends Circuit Oceania before moving to Taiwan in 2025.
  3. ↑ Academy team of Talon, which competes in the League of Legends Championship Pacific.
  4. ↑ West Point Esports is a Philippine organisation, but its League of Legends team is based in Taiwan.
  5. ↑ West Point Esports was partnered with SEM9 and competed as SEM9 WPE from 17 January 2023 to 15 June 2023.
  6. 1 2 Withdrew before the start of their inaugural season.
  7. ↑ Dewish Team was known as Alpha Esports from 2019 to 2021, and Hurricane Gaming in 2022.
  8. ↑ Academy teams cannot be promoted to a league where their parent organisation is competing. PSG Talon was unable to sell its academy team's PCS spot before the start of the 2024 season.
  9. ↑ PSG Talon was formed from a merger between Talon Esports and PSG Esports on 18 June 2020.
  10. 1 2 PSG Talon was previously based in Hong Kong but moved to Taiwan in 2023.
  11. 1 2 Became a partner team of the League of Legends Championship Pacific.
  12. ↑ The PCS refers to Taiwan as "Taipei" in its official publications.

References

  1. ↑ Kulasingham, Nilu (1 October 2014). "Garena to separate Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau from South East Asia for the 2015 GPL Season". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  2. ↑ Wolf, Jacob (21 February 2018). "Vietnam promoted to independent region in League of Legends". ESPN. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  3. ↑ Goslin, Austen (21 February 2018). "Vietnam is now its own independent competitive league". The Rift Herald. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  4. ↑ "A New Beginning for Esports in Southeast Asia". LoL Garena. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  5. ↑ "全新聯賽將於 2020 年啟動，聯合LMS及LST全面提高戰區戰力". 《英雄聯盟 LoL》官方網站 – 全球第一多人連線遊戲，挑戰你的電子競技夢想！ (in Chinese (Taiwan)). LoL Esports; Garena TW. 25 September 2019. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  6. ↑ Hao, Dexter Tan Guan (19 December 2019). "Pacific Championship Series created as combination of League's LMS and LST". Dot Esports. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  7. ↑ Nicholson, Jonno (19 December 2019). "Riot Games announces Pacific Championship Series". Esports Insider. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  8. ↑ Matthiesen, Tom (20 December 2019). "League of Legends: Riot merges the LMS and the LST to form one large Pacific Championship Series in 2020". Inven Global. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  9. 1 2 Chen, Ethan (22 December 2019). "League of Legends Pacific Championship Series teams revealed for 2020". Daily Esports. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  10. 1 2 Tuting, Kristine (19 December 2019). "Here are the teams for the League of Legends Pacific Championship Series (PCS) 2020". ONE Esports. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  11. ↑ Zijdenbos, Arend (17 January 2020). "The Berjaya Dragons enter the League of Legends PCS". Daily Esports. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  12. ↑ "Berjaya Dragons set to rock the League of Legends arena". www.thesundaily.my. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  13. ↑ Lunardi, Lara (29 January 2020). "League of Legends: The Pacific Championship Series has announced the postponing of its Spring Split due to the risks of a Coronavirus outbreak in the region". Inven Global. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  14. ↑ "Start of PCS postponed due to coronavirus". Field Level Media via Reuters. 29 January 2020. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  15. 1 2 Garnace, Simon Juleovenz (18 February 2020). "PCS Starts Inaugural Season On 29th February, Machi Esports Joins As 10th Slot". Inquirer.net. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  16. ↑ Geracie, Nick (13 February 2020). "League of Legends: [OFFICIAL] G-Rex disbands; withdraws from PCS as part of parent company's restructuring". Inven Global. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  17. ↑ Mclaughlin, Declan (18 November 2022). "Riot Games announces PCS will expand into Oceania". Dexerto. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  18. ↑ Ho, Liam (27 November 2023). "LoL esports announces Japan's LJL will join Oceania in PCS playoffs for Worlds entry". Dexerto. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  19. ↑ "PCS Promotion Qualifier". PCS Official. 4 August 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  20. ↑ "Americas Tier 2 Primer". LoL Esports. Riot Games. 26 November 2024. Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
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