The League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) season will begin with the LCS Lock In 2022, a tournament that’s similar to China’s Demacia Cup, and South Korea’s KeSPA Cup.

It’s a chance for North American teams to test out their rosters and get a feel for where they stand.

Team Liquid return as the defending champions after they defeated 100 Thieve in a five-game series at the LCS Lock In tournament final in 2021.

Several teams, including TSM and Cloud9, will be playing with substitutes due to visa issues with their players. TSM announced that it’ll use its entire academy roster.


What is LCS Lock In 2022?

The LCS Lock In 2022 is a kick-off tournament that takes place before the start of the LCS Spring Split 2022.

Teams will be playing for the Lock In trophy, US$150,000, and bragging rights.

The 2021 LCS Championship finalists, 100 Thieves and Team Liquid, drafted teams into their respective groups on December 15, 2021.


LCS Lock In 2022 schedule and results

The official 2022 LCS lineup of Counter Logic Gaming
Credit: Counter Logic Gaming

The LCS Lock In 2022 tournament begins January 15, GMT+8, and will conclude on January 31.

Due to the Omicron situation, the group stage will be played online instead of at the LCS Studios in Los Angeles.

Riot Games stated that they will reassess the situation towards the knockout stage, so there’s a chance that teams may return to the studio.



LCS Lock In 2022 standings

Group A

STANDINGSTEAMMATCH RECORD
1st100 Thieves3-1
2nd⁠Cloud93-1
3rd⁠FlyQuest2-2
4th⁠Golden Guardians1-2
5thTSM1-3

Group B

STANDINGSTEAMMATCH RECORD
1stEvil Geniuses4-0
2ndTeam Liquid3-1
3rdCounter Logic Gaming2-2
4thDignitas1-3
5thImmortals0-4

Day 1 (January 15)

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
TSM0 — 1100 Thieves
Golden Guardians0 — 1Cloud9
TSM1 — 0FlyQuest
Golden Guardians0 — 1100 Thieves
FlyQuest0 — 1Cloud9

Day 2 (January 16)

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Team Liquid1 — 0Dignitas
Immortals0 — 1Counter Logic Gaming
Evil Geniuses1 — 0Team Liquid
Immortals0 — 1Dignitas
Evil Geniuses1 — 0Counter Logic Gaming

Day 3 (January 17)

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
FlyQuest1 — 0100 Thieves
Team Liquid1 — 0Counter Logic Gaming
TSM0 — 1Cloud9
Evil Geniuses1 — 0Immortals
Golden Guardians0 — 1FlyQuest

Day 4 (January 22)

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Counter Logic Gaming1 — 0Dignitas
Cloud90 — 1100 Thieves
Team Liquid1 — 0Immortals
TSM0 — 1Golden Guardians
Evil Geniuses1 — 0Dignitas

Quarterfinals

January 23 (Sunday)

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
100 Thieves0 — 2Dignitas
Team Liquid2 — 0FlyQuest

January 24 (Monday)

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Evil Geniuses2 — 0Golden Guardians
Cloud92 — 1Counter Logic Gaming

Semifinals

January 29 (Saturday)

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Dignitas1 — 3Team Liquid

January 30 (Sunday)

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Evil Geniuses3 — 0Cloud9

Grand Final

January 31 (Monday)

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Evil Geniuses0 — 3Team Liquid

Format of LCS Lock In 2022

Evil Geniuses posing after a win during the 2021 LCS Summer Split
Credit: Riot Games via ESPAT

10 teams were drafted into two groups of five and they will play a single round robin best-of-one.

The top four teams from each group will then advance to the knockout stage.

In the knockout stage, eight teams will be placed in a single elimination bracket. All quarterfinals matches will be best-of-threes, while subsequent rounds will be best-of-fives.


Where to watch LCS Lock In 2022?

LCS Lock In 2022
Credit: LCS

Watch the LCS Lock In 2022 games live on the following platforms:

READ MORE: LS: Cloud9 players and staff facing visa issues, won’t make LCS Lock In