2014 LPL Summer Playoffs to feature best of fives and double elimination

This article was originally published on GameSpot's sister site onGamers.com, which was dedicated to esports coverage.

Last split, 2014 LPL Spring Playoffs featured three best-of-three series to determine second, third, and fourth place. OMG fell to fourth seed Invictus Gaming in the first round, giving iG an automatic berth into the 2014 World Championships Regional Qualifier. Despite their victory over OMG, they were decimated by Edward Gaming in the best-of-five finals.

This split, 2014 LPL Summer Playoffs are expanding. The games will take place over six days from August 19th-24th. Each round will be best-of-five, and the tournament will feature a double elimination bracket with a different set every day.

Set	Teams	Date and Time (PST)
UB1	EDG vs LGD	August 19, 1:00AM
UB2	OMG vs SHRC	August 20, 1:00AM
UBF	Winner UB1 vs Winner UB2	August 21, 1:00AM
LB1	Loser UB1 vs Loser UB2	August 22, 1:00AM
LBF	Loser UBF vs Winner LB1	August 23, 1:00AM
GF	Winner UBF vs Winner LBF	August 24, 1:00AM

This format proves more rigorous than the format originally announced for the 2014 Championship LPL Regional Qualifier, which is reported to be single elimination, best of three. Since all teams attending the qualifier except Invictus Gaming will be run through this gauntlet, it could give them the edge. It may also allow iG to prepare in silence and have the benefit of studying the Summer Playoffs.

The games will broadcast live in Chinese on the TGA website or in English on the LPLen Twitch channel.