If you want to quickly catch up on the LJL Spring split, here’s what you need to know about the Japanese league in 2024.

Image Credit: Riot Games

LJL Spring 2024 – Introduction

The LJL 2024 Spring Split is the 19th season of Japan’s professional League of Legends league, and the 11th season under partnership. For the first time since its inception, the Japanese league will only feature a total of six teams, following the exit of FENNEL and the merge between AXIZ and Crest Gaming Act. This also marks the the first season without a direct path to MSI and Worlds, as the top teams from playoffs will have to prove their worth in the PCS Playoffs.

Below is the list of the organizations taking part in this split:

AXIZ Crest
Burning Core Toyama
DetonatioN FocusMe
SoftBank HAWKS
Sengoku Gaming
V3 Esports

The format

The regular split is a double round robin group stage, where matches are all Bo2. Just like in traditional football, teams get awarded 3 points for a won match, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. Rankings will be decided with the points total, and the top four advances to playoffs. There, the four teams participate in a single elimination bracket of Bo5 matches, where the top three will be decided and will represent the LJL in the PCS playoffs.

The expectations and teams

The LJL has always had a clear distinction between the top teams and the bottom teams, and this season is no different. DetonatioN FocusMe continues to be the front runner, with Softbank HAWKS the only other team contending for the title. The other four teams are battling with one another, and only one of them will likely make it into the PCS playoffs.

The LJL playoffs have just begun, with the tournament ending on March 3. The three best teams will then join the other teams for the PCS Spring Playoffs, hoping to be slotted into the play-in stage at MSI 2024.