The changes to League of Legends’ Tier 2 system have long been whispered about, but the lack of commitment has created a regional imbalance among teams.
Riot has now made its first step in making Tier 2 a healthier ecosystem. The company announced a collaboration with TJ Sports to host the 2026 World Star Challengers Invitational, featuring 16 Tier 2 teams from Asia, Europe, and the Americas, to support player development.
The event will take place from Sept. 20 to Oct. 2, featuring teams from the five League of Legends regions, and will serve as a test pilot for the potential of other Tier 2 international events in the future. Fans can watch the event on their regional Tier 2 channel on various platforms.
The format was met with cautious optimism by players and coaches in the North American Challengers League – the Tier 2 system in the United States and Canada.
“I honestly am very pleasantly surprised that an event like this is happening involving the T2 space and would be very excited if I got the opportunity to play in it,” NRG top laner Frankie “Zamudo” Lin said to Esports Insider.
The format
Riot revealed the event in a blog post, announcing the dates and format.
Each region will have its own pathway to qualify for the event, with three teams per region – North and South America, Asia, Asia-Pacific Islands (APAC), and Europe-Middle East-Africa (EMEA) advancing to the event. The final spot will join the 2026 Asia Masters Champion Dplus Kia Challengers for the event.
The teams will be drawn into four-team groups, with rules stating that the teams from Pool 1 and 2 will not be joined by another team from their region. The teams will play in a best-of-one, double round-robin tournament. The group stage is set to begin Sept. 20 and conclude Sept. 25.
Teams that qualify out of the group stage move onto a single-elimination bracket from Sept. 27 to Oct. 2. All series in the playoffs will be the best of five.
While the event has been announced, details on where it will be played have not been revealed, nor even what support Riot and TJ Sports will provide teams for travel.
Additionally, the NACL team that qualifies will have about nine days’ notice before figuring out all the logistics of getting to the event.
“I wish the NACL had more than one spot, and we had a bit more time,” Cupid Esports coach Samuel “boc” Boudrie said to me. “I’m just happy that Tier 2 is getting more resources, so I’ll take it.”
Learning opportunity
The NACL has five teams remaining – Cupid Esports, NRG, Maryville University, Winthrop University, and Conviction Gaming – competing in the NACL Playoffs to earn a spot in the LCS.
But the WSCI provides a few things for the NACL.
The first is that it provides players with an opportunity to play internationally and get exposed to other playstyles and cultural differences.
“There is stuff to learn from every region,” boc said. “EU is no slouch, especially at the top end of the Tier 2 level. The common sentiment I’ve heard is that Tier 2 Asian teams are superior mechanically, but not as adept at the macro level.”
The biggest thing that boc sees as a benefit beyond having an international event is the ability to see different team constructions and talent pools.
“It can get really stagnant just playing against the top 7 or 20 permanently,” boc said.
Hope for the future
Contingent team owner Jose “beardsandcats” Graham viewed it as a “ray of light” for the Tier 2 scene, which has seen a decline in play quality and viewership in North America.
“The WSCI is a ray of light for not just current Tier 2 players and organizations, but potential up-and-coming ones,” beardsandcats said. “It shows that Riot wants to continue its effort in investing into Tier 2 League of Legends.
“Contingent is, was, and will continue to pursue player development as a key part of what we do. This tournament gives a window to play and practice vs international talent, which I think will be a huge boon for players’ development overall.”
As for Riot, the long-term goal is to foster a stronger Tier 2 scene where players develop by regularly playing against styles they don’t typically encounter in their home regions.
“Playing against unfamiliar opponents to different styles, strategies, and competitive environments, while giving the players the experience of performance in higher stakes environments,” the press release said.
The event joins Riot’s increase in events, which added China and expanded its Demacia Cup to invite international competition, which runs Oct. 3 to Oct. 17. Once the Demacia Cup ends, with the teams from Tier 1 that didn’t qualify, the World Championships start Oct. 23.
“Going to Worlds is something very important for every player from bronze to Rank 1,” boc said. “I have dreamed about something [that would happen] in my prime.”
Many questions remain, such as where the event will take place and whether there will be a second iteration.
But if NRG mid-laner Kolby “Phymini” Ashby has his way, the event would become a staple in the Tier 2 ecosystem.
“I have always worried about the livelihood of Tier 2,” Phymini said. “Announcing this feels like creating hope for the future.”
