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Rift Rivals 2019: LCK-LPL-LMS-VCS begins July 4.
Just as the name indicates, this tournament features the best League of Legends teams from South Korea (LCK), China (LPL), Taiwan (LMS), and Vietnam (VCS). The lineups will battle through a thrilling group stage and a competitive playoffs bracket for the Rift Rivals trophy, plus bragging rights for best LoL esports region in Asia.
Here’s everything you need to know about this event!
Rift Rivals 2019 LCK-LPL-LMS-VCS teams & format
The Rift Rivals LCK-LPL-LMS-VCS format is quite different from its NA vs. EU counterpart.
For starters, there’s a noticeable lack of showmatches and 2v2 games. Thus, all the regions involved are inclined to approach the event as a serious high-stakes tournament. Another thing to consider is that South Korea and China are sending their top four teams from the 2019 Spring Split. We’ll see SK Telecom T1, Griffin, Kingzone DragonX, and DAMWON Gaming representing the LCK. Then, Invictus Gaming, JD Gaming, FunPlus Phoenix, and Top Esports will play for the LPL.
Taiwan and Vietnam will fight under the same banner, as they’re only sending their top two teams from the 2019 Spring Split. We’ll see Flash Wolves, Dashing Buffalo, MAD Team, and EVOS Esports representing the LMS and VCS.
The tournament will kick off with a two-day group stage in which all regions will play each other in best-of-one matches. Once the dust settles, the best-performing region will advance straight to the finals. Meanwhile, the second- and third-placed teams will play a best-of-five semifinals match for the right to challenge the finalists.
All playoff matches follow the blind relay race format. This means no lineup can play more than twice over the course of the series. Coaches determine the order in which teams enter their matches.
Rift Rivals 2019 LCK-LPL-LMS-VCS betting tips
In the past, South Korea teams were the clear-cut favorites in any League of Legends event. However, the competitive landscape changed during the last two years. The best LCK teams are still a force to be reckoned with, and you can count on the likes of SK Telecom T1 and Griffin to show up at the event.
But Kingzone DragonX and DAMWON Gaming are a cut below these powerhouses, and they will have a hard time holding their ground at the Rift Rivals LCK-LPL-LMS-VCS.
Meanwhile, China is sending some of the best teams in the world. Most Western fans will recognize Invictus Gaming, which fought for the LPL at the 2019 Mid-Season Invitational. But JD Gaming, FunPlus Phoenix, and Top Esports are no pushovers either.
Every single one of these lineups had a real shot of winning the 2019 LPL Spring Split, so they will be sure to give LCK teams a run for their money. With that in mind, our main betting tip for Rift Rivals 2019 LCK-LPL-LMS-VCS is to wager on Chinese teams taking down their South Korean counterparts.
Image courtesy of Riot Games
