Riot Games has decided to reintroduce the Head-to-Head Game Score tiebreaker during the ongoing LEC Summer Split. This rule change comes after the competition started and affects how teams tied in win-loss records will be ranked in the group stage.
LEC Commissioner Artem Bykov revealed that the tiebreaker was accidentally removed from the rulebook but should have been included from the start. The Head-to-Head Game Score compares teams directly based on their game scores against each other, which can be crucial for deciding which teams move forward in the tournament.
🚨#LEC UPDATE🚨
Heads-up: we’re making a quick correction to the LEC Summer Split rules. We're bringing back the Head-to-Head Game Score tiebreaker for the Group Stage. It was always meant to be in the tiebreaker order but was accidentally removed.
We’re also clarifying and… pic.twitter.com/t0GSdLlYtO
— Artem Bykov (@arbykov) August 13, 2025
With the 2025 LEC Summer Split adopting a new format that splits 10 teams into two groups for the first stage, the tiebreaker could influence who advances to the next phase.
According to the official rulebook (Section 7.5.13), the tiebreaker criteria will now be applied in this order:
- Head-to-Head Game Score
- Winter and Spring combined Split Placements
- Spring Placement
- Strength of Victory (SoV) – combined record of all teams beaten in that schedule
- Head-to-Head Victory Time
- Overall Victory Time
- Coinflip
One exception is for teams tied at 5th place, who will play a tiebreaker match. This applies only after all other criteria are used to break ties, so it will only happen in a two-way tie scenario. The losing team in such a tiebreaker would be eliminated from playoff contention.
Can this mistake set a precedent?
Rule changes after an event starts are always a bit sketchy. Luckily, this one hasn’t affected standings yet because the group stage isn’t finished. Still, some community members have voiced concerns that changing rules mid-split might hurt the league’s competitive integrity. Guess they’re worried it could open doors to more last-minute changes in the future.
A user on X summed it up well: “A change in the rules halfway through the split, with only 2 weeks left until the end. The change itself isn’t bad, but it gives a crappy and careless image of how the LEC is being handled right now.”
Fans have also been vocal about their disappointment with the Summer Split’s format and its competitiveness. European teams haven’t placed in the top 8 at the last two Worlds tournaments, so there’s pressure on the league to perform better internationally.
The LEC Summer Split action continues this weekend with matches scheduled for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Will this rule change impact the final standings? Only time will tell… but it sure adds some drama to the mix!
What do you think about Riot Games changing the rules mid-competition? Let’s talk about it in the comments below.
