FaZe Clan were crowned CS:GO ESL Pro League champions on Sunday, edging Cloud9 in the final, but as the dust settles on one major Esports event, things are hotting up in a host of others this week.
It is an especially busy week in the world of League of Legends with South Korea's LCK and China's LPL both into the playoff stage, while at the weekend qualifying for the fourth Call of Duty League major also gets underway.
Here is a look at the week ahead in Esports.
Having opted to divide its season into Winter, Spring and Summer splits at the start of the year, the LEC is a little behind the other League of Legends divisions with its Spring campaign but the regular season is set to reach its conclusion on Monday.
The LEC Spring 2023 began with ten teams competing in the regular season but only eight will progress to the group stage, which will then whittle down the field to four teams to compete in the playoffs.
As it stands, the top seven spots are secured heading into the final batch of LEC Spring regular-season matches with MAD Lions in pole position to land the final qualifying spot ahead of Team Heretics and Excel Esports, who both still have an outside shot of qualifying. In their final match, Heretics are +150 to beat -200 shots SK Gaming, while MAD Lions are +175 to get the better of G2 Esports, who are -250 to win.
Excel Esports, meanwhile, are +150 to win their final match against highflyers Team BDS, who are fancied to win at -200.
While not the most eye-catching of Esports events taking place this week, the VALORANT Challengers 2023 North America Split is nonetheless an A-Tier tournament and continues on Tuesday with matches in its Mid-Season Face Off.
This is a double-bracket knockout event which has swiftly followed the VALORANT Challengers 2023 group stage.
On Tuesday, there are two matches taking place with TSM -225 to beat Disguised, who are +162, and G2 Esports -275 to see off +200 shots FaZe Clan.
Both games are in the tournament's lower bracket.
Esports: LPL Spring 2023 Sunday match preview
There is one other game in the VALORANT Challengers 2023 North America Split Mid-Season Face Off on Wednesday with The Guard -175 to edge +125 shots M80.
Their encounter carries more weight than Tuesday's two matches as it is the upper-bracket final with the winners set to advance to the Grand Final.
China's LPL is regarded as one of the biggest divisions in League of Legends, having produced a World Championship semi-finalist in JD Gaming last year.
And all eyes will be on it again this week as the event moves on from the concluded regular season to the start of the playoffs.
The first match of the LPL Spring Playoffs 2023 takes place on Thursday in the upper bracket with ThunderTalk Gaming, who finished eighth in the regular season, locking horns with last season's Mid-Season Invitational champions Royal Never Give Up, who placed ninth.
RNGU's added tournament experience is expected to see them over the line as they are -163 favourites to win, while ThunderTalk are +120.
The Call of Duty League season is in full swing with three majors already completed and the fourth is about to get started this weekend.
New York Subliners, Atlanta FaZe and Toronto Ultra have claimed Majors One, Two and Three, meaning there is a wide-open feel to this season's Call of Duty League.
Major Four is not linked to a specific team or city but will take place in the USA once again and on Friday, there are three qualifiers on the cards.
Boston Breach are -225 to beat +162 Las Vegas Legion, while -275 selection LA Thieves take on London Royal Ravens, who are +200 to win.
Finally, Atlanta FaZe are in action in the final game and can be backed at -800 to defeat +450 shots Florida Mutineers.
South Korea's LCK - arguably the best League of Legends division in the world - is a little further ahead of the others and on Saturday, two heavyweights battle it out for a place in the Grand Final.
Last year, T1 and Gen.G met in the final of the LCK Spring but this year they meet more prematurely in what is essentially an upper-bracket final.
T1 were the team to beat in the LCK Spring regular season, posting a 17-1 win-loss record, and they are -225 favourites to win with Gen.G +162 to come out on top.
Qualifying for the Call of Duty League Major Four continues on Sunday with a couple of teams set to already play their second matches.
Minnesota ROKKR are -175 favourites to down Florida Mutineers, while Toronto Ultra can be backed at +125 to win against Boston Breach.
In the final game of the day, Minnesota ROKKR are back in action again and are -225 to edge +162 shots LA Guerrillas.
Esports: LEC Spring Sunday match previews
This year the LEC mixed things up a bit by dividing their season into three splits - the LEC Winter, the LEC Spring and the LEC Summer.
bet365 News Team
Mar 26 2023
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