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Riot Games has announced that European Masters (EM) is returning for Spring 2022 and revealed all the details for this highly competitive tournament. League of Legends European Masters Spring 2022 will be the ninth edition of Europe's premier semi-professional tournament. The best teams from each European Regional Leagues (ERL) represent their countries. This tournament is scheduled to start on 4th April and will be an online event. The teams participating in EM Spring 2022 will include the top performers from the La Ligue Française League of Legends (LFL), Ultraliga, Northern League of Legends Championship (NLC), Prime League, and many more.
League of Legends European Masters Play-ins, Group Stage, Playoffs: Explained
Riot Games wrote in a blogpost, “This huge competition will feature the 28 top European teams, with 12 automatically qualifying for the Group Stage and the remaining 16 teams being divided up into groups of four to compete in the Play-In stages from 4-7 April. The Play-In Group Stage will see teams competing in a double round-robin with the top two from each group advancing to the Play-In Knockout Stage.”
The teams that emerge victorious in the Play-ins will then get to participate in the main Group Stage which is scheduled between 14th-17th April and 21st-24th April. The teams will be split into four groups and shall compete in a double round-robin set-up and the top two teams from each group will advance to the Playoffs of European Masters Spring 2022.
In the Playoffs stage of the tournament, teams will compete in a best-of-five (BO5) series in a single-elimination bracket to determine the finalists.
European Masters Schedule
Play-Ins: 4th April, 5th April, 7th April
Main Stage Groups: 14 - 17th April, 21st - 24th April
Quarterfinals: 28th April - 1st May
Semifinals: 3rd - 4th May
Grand Final: 7th May
Slots for the different Leagues of the ERL
The European Regional Leagues (ERL) span a competition circuit of currently 11 leagues across Europe. These leagues are the scouting grounds for next-generation talent that aspires to compete in the League of Legends European Championship (LEC) and other global professional Leagues.
Following are the leagues and their respective Play-ins and Group Stage slots:
La Ligue Française League of Legends (LFL): 2 Play-Ins, 2 Main Stage
Ultraliga: 2 Play-Ins, 2 Main Stage
Prime League: 1 Play-Ins, 2 Main Stage
LVP (League of Videogames Professionals) Superliga: 1 Play-Ins, 2 Main Stage
Northern League of Legends Championship (NLC): 1 Play-Ins, 1 Main Stage
Esports Balkan League (EBL): 1 Play-Ins, 1 Main Stage
PG Nationals (Italian League): 1 Play-Ins, 1 Main Stage
Greek Legends League (GLL): 1 Play-Ins, 1 Main Stage
Liga Portuguesa de League of Legends (LPLOL): 2 Play-Ins
Hitpoint Masters: 2 Play-Ins
Elite Series: 2 Play-Ins
However, the slots dedicated to each league have been the talk of the town ever since it was revealed by Riot Games. People on social media were quick to point out that the NLC has only been given two slots when in fact the league made it to the finals of both EMs last year. Those associated with the NLC, coaches, players, and even the broadcast talent, took to social media to record their disappointment in the slots provided to the league.
Fans can watch the European Masters tournament next month as the games kick off on 4th April.
