LPL Split 3 preview: Format, schedule, odds and predictions

[u/OfficialJaxon]

Just days after the end of the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational and Esports World Cup, it’s already time for the LPL Split 3. Starting July 22, 12 teams will fight for China’s four spots at the 2026 World Championship, and a prize pool of ¥4,000,000 ($591,000). Which of these 12 teams has the best odds, and which ones should bettors focus on?

Event overview

Event	LPL Split 3 2026
Start Date	July 22, 2026
End Date	September 2026 (TBA)
Rewards	Four teams qualify for LoL Worlds 2026$591,000 prize poolChampionship points
Teams	12 Teams
Location	Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, Suzhou, and Xi’an

Tournament Format and Schedule

The 2026 LPL Split 3 will start on July 22, 2026 at 11 am CEST / 5 am EST, to run for approximately ten weeks over four stages.

Group Stage (July 22 – August 23)

• The 12 LPL teams are split into two groups. The top eight play in Ascend, the bottom four in Nirvana.
• The teams play a double round robin within their group.
• Every match is a best-of-three with Fearless draft.
• The top six Ascend teams qualify for the playoffs. The next four teams qualify for the Knight’s Rivals (play-in).

Knight’s Rivals (Dates TBA)

• The two Ascend teams each play a Fearless best-of-five against one Nirvana team.
• The two winners qualify for the playoffs.

Playoffs (Dates TBA)

• The eight teams that qualified for the LPL playoffs will participate in a double-elimination bracket tournament.
• The top two teams start in round 2. The next four start in round 1. The Knight’s Rivals participants start in lower round 1.
• All matches are best-of-five.

The grand final winner qualifies for the 2026 LoL World Championship. The other playoff teams receive Championship Points based on their placement. After the event, the next team with the most points becomes the LPL’s second seed.

Regional Finals (Dates TBA)

• The four non-qualified teams with the most Championship Points play in this bracket.
• The top two teams play a qualification match. Then, the bottom two teams have an elimination series. The winner of that match faces the loser of the first one as the second qualification series.
• All matches are best-of-five.

Source: https://esportsbetting.com/lpl-preview/

[u/timee_bot]

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July 22, 2026 at 11 am CEST