TL;DR
- Team Liquid and Cloud9 remain North America’s dominant forces heading into 2020
- Three organizations return to LCS through acquisitions and mergers
- Roster stability proves crucial for consistent performance across splits
- Coaching staff changes significantly impact team trajectories
- New ownership groups bring fresh investment and strategic direction

The League of Legends Championship Series has officially confirmed the complete roster of North American professional teams that will compete throughout the 2020 competitive season.
Following the celebration of Team Liquid, Cloud9, and Clutch Gaming securing their positions at the 2019 World Championship, the LCS governing body revealed the ten organizations battling for regional supremacy next year. While established fan favorites return with renewed determination, several rebranded and revitalized squads aim to establish themselves as legitimate contenders in the professional circuit.
Team Liquid
Entering the 2020 season as defending champions, Team Liquid carries the weight of North American expectations following their domestic dominance. The squad captured first place in both the LCS Spring and Summer Splits, along with both playoff championships, establishing themselves as the region’s benchmark organization. Their consistent performance against international competition, including their decisive victory over European powerhouse G2 Esports at Rift Rivals, provides crucial confidence heading into international tournaments. Strategic roster continuity and veteran leadership position them as early favorites to maintain their championship status.
Cloud9
Cloud9 maintains their position as North America’s second-strongest team, consistently challenging Team Liquid throughout the previous season. Their second-place finish in the Summer Playoffs secured their World Championship qualification, though the $50,000 prize represents just one component of their ambitious competitive goals. The organization’s innovative approach to player development and their distinctive team culture continue to set them apart in the competitive landscape.
Counter Logic Gaming
CLG engineered one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent LCS history during the Summer Split. After languishing in seventh place through 2018 and the subsequent Spring Split, their strategic roster adjustment bringing in top laner Kim “Ruin” Hyeong-min catalyzed immediate competitive improvement. The team achieved an impressive third-place regular season finish followed by a strong playoff performance, though their season ultimately concluded in the Regional Gauntlet. This dramatic improvement demonstrates how targeted personnel changes can rapidly transform team performance trajectories.
Dignitas
Dignitas makes their highly anticipated return to professional League of Legends through their merger with Clutch Gaming. While the organization competes at Worlds under their current branding, the 2020 season marks the revival of one of esports’ most historic organizations. Mid laner Tanner “Damonte” Damonte emphasized the squad’s commitment to honoring the Dignitas legacy while establishing new competitive standards. Their mid-split coaching change and renewed competitive focus drove significant performance improvements, climbing from ninth place to playoff contention.
FlyQuest
FlyQuest experienced significant growing pains during their transition between splits, dropping from fourth place in Spring to missing Summer playoffs entirely. Head coach Gabriel “Invert” Zedoltan-Johan identified specific strategic strengths in wave management and objective control that provide foundation for future success. Their understanding of Baron Nashor dynamics and map control principles suggests underlying potential awaiting consistent execution.
Evil Geniuses
Evil Geniuses returns to professional League of Legends after a five-year competitive absence, acquiring Echo Fox’s LCS slot through a substantial $30 million transaction. The organization originally competed in the LEC before transitioning to North America, bringing mid laner Eugene “Pobelter” Park to establish their regional presence. The acquisition follows significant organizational turmoil within Echo Fox, including very public disputes involving racist communications and financial controversies that ultimately led to the slot’s availability.
Golden Guardians
Golden Guardians concluded their season outside playoff contention despite demonstrating measurable improvement throughout the Summer Split. Juan “Contractz” Garcia highlighted the team’s progressive development despite their underdog status throughout the competitive year. Choi “Huhi” Jae-hyun expressed confidence that the squad’s true competitive level would eventually emerge, potentially positioning 2020 as their breakthrough season.
100 Thieves
100 Thieves endured a challenging competitive year, finishing eighth in Summer following an even more disappointing tenth-place Spring performance. This represents a significant decline from their previous World Championship qualification and respectable international performance.
Immortals
Immortals secures their return to the LCS through the acquisition of OpTic Gaming’s slot, reinstating one of the league’s most popular organizations. Their previous application denial following the Los Angeles Valiant Overwatch League franchise establishment generated considerable controversy, with Riot Games citing financial sustainability concerns that many fans questioned.
Team SoloMid
TSM faces critical questions heading into 2020 after failing to qualify for Worlds despite being heavily favored against Clutch Gaming. The organization struggled with consistency throughout the competitive year, including surprising losses to experimental team compositions that raised concerns about their adaptability. Their continued popularity despite competitive struggles demonstrates the enduring strength of their brand and fan community loyalty.
The 2020 LCS season represents both continuity and transformation, with established power structures facing challenges from revitalized organizations. Strategic roster planning, coaching staff quality, and organizational infrastructure investments emerge as decisive factors separating contenders from the middle pack. For teams seeking to improve their competitive standing, our Class Guide provides valuable insights into optimizing team composition strategies that translate well across competitive titles.
Action Checklist
- Analyze team roster stability and coaching staff experience before making competitive predictions
- Monitor early split performance for teams undergoing significant organizational changes
- Evaluate strategic specialization in objective control and macro play
- Track international performance metrics to assess regional competitive health
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