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Weekly esports guide (25 - 31 January): DPC enters Week 2 of competition

If you have an esports event or listing for Southeast Asia you’d like to have considered for this weekly update, please email yahootvsg@verizonmedia.com. For other esports news updates, visit Yahoo Esports Southeast Asia and check out Yahoo Esports Southeast Asia’s Facebook page.

With Bren Esports’ victory at the M2 World Championship last Sunday (24 January), the first big esports event for 2021 has concluded. However, the action will continue for the rest of the month in other scenes. After officially restarting on 18 January, the Dota Pro Circuit is now entering its second week of competition.

Do note that the status of some events may have changed after publishing because of the coronavirus.

2021 Dota Pro Circuit

The Dota Pro Circuit will be moving to a new three-season regional league format for the 2020-2021 season. (Photo: Dota 2 blog)
The Dota Pro Circuit will be moving to a new three-season regional league format for the 2020-2021 season. (Photo: Dota 2 blog)

Date: 18 January - 14 March

Venue: Online

After its 2020 season was cancelled by the coronavirus pandemic, the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) will finally be returning in 2021 with a new regional league system. Under the new system, the DPC will be split into six regional leagues in North America, South America, Europe, the CIS, China, and Southeast Asia, with each league having 16 participating teams split equally in an Upper and Lower Division.

Aside from introducing the regional league system, the new DPC format will also split the circuit into two seasons, with each concluding with a Major event featuring the best teams from each region, all leading up to The International 10 in August.

The DPC is set to begin on 18 January, with the regional leagues for North America, South America, Europe, CIS, and Southeast Asia running until 28 February. Meanwhile, the Chinese regional league will run until 14 March as it will be having a break in the middle of the season to accommodate the Chinese New Year on 12 February.

The DPC is now in its second week of competition, for a recap of all the action in week one, you can check out our recap here.

LPL Spring 2021

(Photo: Riot Games)
(Photo: Riot Games)

Date: 9 January - 18 April

Venue: Shanghai, China

League of Legends (LoL) esports is on again, as the game’s competitive circuit in China has already kicked off the Spring split of its 2021 season. LPL Spring 2021 begins with its single round robin group stage, from 9 January to 28 March, to determine the seeding for its 17 participating teams in the playoffs, which is set for 1-18 April.

LPL Spring 2021 will have a CN¥4,200,000 (around US$650,000) prize pool, with the winner of the split taking the lion’s share of CN¥2,000,000 (over US$300,000) as well as a spot in this year’s Mid Season Invitational.

LCK Spring 2021

(Photo: Riot Games)
(Photo: Riot Games)

Date: 13 January - 28 March

Venue: Seoul, South Korea

LoL’s competitive circuit in South Korea is the game’s second major esports league to kick off this year. The LCK’s Spring Split will run from 13 January to 28 March, starting with a double round robin group stage to determine the six out of the league’s 10 participating teams will make it to the playoffs.

LCK Spring 2021 will have a KR₩4,000,000,000 (over US$3,600,000) prize pool, with the winner of the split taking the lion’s share of KR₩2,000,000 (over US$180,000) as well as a spot in this year’s Mid Season Invitational.

LEC Spring 2021

(Photo: Riot Games)
(Photo: Riot Games)

Date: 22 January - TBD

Venue: Berlin, Germany

LoL’s competitive circuit in Europe is the game’s third major esports league to commence its 2021 season. The LEC’s Spring Split will begin on 22 January, though the full schedule for the split has yet to be determined. The competition will begin with a double round robin group stage to determine the six teams out of the 10 in the league will make it to the playoffs.

LEC Spring 2021 will have a EU€200,000 (over US$240,000) prize pool, with the winner of the split taking the lion’s share of EU€80,000 (over US$96,000) as well as a spot in this year’s Mid Season Invitational.

LCS Lock-In 2021

(Photo: Riot Games)
(Photo: Riot Games)

Date: 15 - 31 January

Venue: Los Angeles, USA

While the 2021 LCS season proper won’t begin until February, the action in the LoL competitive circuit in North America is already underway as it is currently holding its inaugural Lock-In tournament from 15-31 January. The event will give the 10 teams in the LCS to showcase their skills ahead of the start of the season, with the top team earning a US$150,000 prize, of which US$50,000 will be donated to a charity of their choice.

VCS Spring 2021

(Photo: Riot Games)
(Photo: Riot Games)

Date: 22 January - 18 February

Venue: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

LoL’s competitive circuit in Vietnam has now also commenced its 2021 season. The VCS’ Spring Split will begin on 22 January and will run until 18 February. The competition will begin with a double round robin group stage to determine the four teams out of the eight in the league will make it to the playoffs.

While the prize pool of the VCS Spring 2021 has not yet been revealed, the top team in the league is expected to take the lion’s share of it as well as a spot in this year’s Mid Season Invitational.

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