Liga Republika to serve as Pinoy LoL teams' pathway to LCP wildcard playoffs

The path from local scene to global stage has been made easier for Filipino League of Legends players as Riot Games Philippines announced the return of Liga Republika, this time with more at stake.

Liga Republika is making its comeback this year and will now serve as a qualifier for the prestigious League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP) Wildcard Playoffs.

In 2024, Liga Republika was introduced to Filipino audiences as the premier local League of Legends tournament. LCP, meanwhile, is a top-tier league in the Asia Pacific that features teams from Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan among others.

The winner of this year's Liga Republika will earn an outright ticket to banner the Philippines in the LCP Wildcard Playoffs, where they will face top teams from other domestic leagues such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, India, and South Asia, all of whom are vying for a spot in the LCP’s Promotion and Relegation (P&R) tournament.

"From the start, Liga Republika was built to be a sustainable competitive platform for local players to showcase their grit, resilience, and pride,” said Joel Guzman, country Manager of Riot Games Philippines. 

“For years, the community has been hungry for a real path to international play. With the direct linking of Liga Republika to the LCP ecosystem, we’re proud to finally make that a reality and take a big step forward for Philippine LOL esports.”

Liga Republika is open to all eligible teams nationwide. The Open Qualifiers are taking place from July 4 to 8 while the group stages will run from July 10 to 13. The tournament will wrap up with playoffs slated from July 19 to 27. 

Aside from earning the right to represent the Philippines in the regional stage, the winner of this year's Liga Republika will also take home a lion's share of  ?860,000 prize pool.

“The refreshed format is designed to challenge even the most seasoned players,” added Kimi Salazar, MOBA brand manager at Riot Games Philippines. 

“We’re committed to empowering the community now that the path to global recognition is within reach. Through Liga Republika, Filipino players continue to prove they have what it takes to compete on the world stage, and we’re here to support their journey."

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News