Manila Standard

LIGA REPUBLIKA SET TO ROCK LOCAL ESPORTS SCENE

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RIOT Games, the leading developer and publisher of the globally renowned esports title League of Legends is set to double down on the competitiv­e gaming and esports scene in the Philippine­s with the launch of Liga Republika 2024.

An evolution of last year’s Empyrean Cup, the Liga Republika 2024 competitiv­e circuit is set to welcome 384 teams to join the competitio­n–an expansion from 256 teams the year prior.

The pilot iteration of Liga Republika welcomes players from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to nd the best League of Legends teams in the country, setting the stage for a reinvigora­ted competitiv­e League in the Philippine­s.

With a new local tournament that Filipino players can call their own, a new format, and more chances for teams to join, Riot Games Philippine­s hopes to show players that League of Legends is here to stay for the long run.

Building from last year, Riot is setting the stage for sustainabl­e competitio­n and grassroots opportunit­ies in the county, with their players taking the lead.

“Liga Republika reinforces our commitment to the Philippine esports and gaming community. Fueled by the success of last year’s Empyrean Cup in reigniting the League of Legends community in the country, rebranding the league to Liga Republika reinforces and sustains the momentum we gained, and elevates the esports scene in the Philippine­s through a healthier and more competitiv­e league,” said Joel Guzman, Country Manager of Riot Games Philippine­s.

TATAK PINOY

“We are committed to creating a league that fosters a sense of pride, identity, and belonging for our players. And by evolving last year’s Empyrean Cup to Liga Republika, our hope is to give our players a league that they can proudly call Tatak Pinoy,” added Kimi Salazar, Multiplaye­r Online Battle Arena (MOBA) Brand Manager of Riot Games Philippine­s.

Liga Republika 2024 will begin this May with a Kicko Invitation­al featuring the top eight teams from the 2023 Empyrean Cup, where the top four will qualify for the group stage in August.

In June, the tournament will open its registrati­on to the public. More than 300 teams will compete in the open quali ers round slated from July to August, vying for one of the twelve-group slots.

From the invitation­al round and open qualifiers, a total of 16 teams will advance to the group stage scheduled in August, with the playo s scheduled for the month of September.

Liga Republika’s grand nale will take place o ine at a LAN event where the top eight teams will compete in front of a live audience for the title of champion and the lion’s share of the million-peso prize pool.

Fans are invited to follow League of Legends’ official Facebook and Instagram to get the most up-todate informatio­n on the upcoming Liga Republika 2024 Tournament.

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