With the LTA North Split 2 2025 commencing on April 5th, the top teams from North America are preparing to return to the Rift. Some squads are re-entering competitive play after a break of over two months, marking the start of another thrilling chapter in the LTA calendar.
Over the next two months, teams will battle for a substantial portion of the $160,000 (~£123,000) prize pool, as well as a coveted spot in this year’s Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) and Esports World Cup (EWC).
Though the off-season passed without major roster shakeups, there is no shortage of anticipation heading into the new split. Here are the key narratives to watch as the action unfolds in LTA North Split 2 2025.
Format Changes Shake Things Up
One of the major differences this time around is the structure of the competition. Unlike Split 1, there will be no inter-conference matches against the LTA South. The format has shifted from a tournament bracket to a three-phase system aimed at offering a more comprehensive display of team performance.
The Positioning Phase, scheduled from April 5th to April 20th, will follow a single round-robin, best-of-one format. This initial phase will determine placement for the next stage.
The Group Stage will run from April 26th to May 18th, using a best-of-three match structure and introducing the Fearless Draft format. The top six teams will advance to the Playoffs, which take place between May 24th and June 15th. The playoffs will feature a double-elimination format with best-of-five matches. After the brevity of Split 1, this expanded structure is designed to provide deeper insights into each team’s capabilities.
Team Liquid’s Road to Redemption
Team Liquid’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster, beginning with a victory in the LTA Split 1 Cross Conference, only to be the first eliminated during First Stand 2025.
Sean ‘Yeon’ Sung commented that the team failed to deliver its peak performance at the international event and emphasized that their showing did not accurately reflect the strength of the North American region as a whole.
Now, Team Liquid is aiming to turn the tide in Split 2, with ambitions to requalify for both the EWC and MSI. The road to redemption begins early, as the squad is set to face formidable opponents FlyQuest and 100 Thieves in the opening week of matches.
100 Thieves Target Another Title
While Team Liquid took the crown in the LTA Cross Conference, 100 Thieves emerged victorious in LTA North’s first official split, defeating Cloud9 in the grand finals. Despite the earlier loss to Team Liquid, the team is once again a strong contender for the title.
With key veterans like Victor ‘FBI’ Huang, who stood out last split, and Kim ‘River’ Dong-woo anchoring the roster, 100 Thieves has the firepower to reclaim the top spot. Given Liquid’s early exit from First Stand, 100 Thieves may be looking to reassert dominance and claim the title of LTA North’s premier team. That opportunity arises as early as April 6th, during the Positioning Phase.
Familiar Faces, New Expectations
Outside of Denilson ‘Ceos’ Oliveira making his debut for Shopify Rebellion, the majority of LTA North rosters have remained unchanged from Split 1. This level of stability is unusual in the esports scene, where frequent roster changes are common.
It appears that organizations are placing greater trust in their current lineups, perhaps due to the limited number of matches played in the first split. With more time for practice and coordination, the second split could reveal surprise contenders and shake up expectations.
Teams like FlyQuest, which played deeper into the previous tournament, may benefit from extended competition. Meanwhile, those eliminated early have had valuable time to regroup and refine their playstyles.
LTA North Split 2 2025 officially begins at 1 PM PT (8 PM GMT) on April 5th, streamed live on the league’s official Twitch channel.
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