LoL Esports Weekly Schedule January 12th-18th: Fast-Paced Professional League
A vast majority of the LoL Esports major regions begin their year this week. Only the LCS has an additional week’s break before its tournament begins. The anticipation for LoL Esports in 2026 is reaching fever points. Fans are excited to see which teams will figure out the meta and emerge dominant for 2026. All teams are competing for limited spots at the First Stand in Brazil, for the first international event of the year.
Fearless Draft and First Selection in LoL Esports
After a successful introduction to LoL Esports, Fearless draft returns for 2026. All leagues and international events will utilize the draft format. However, one change for 2026 in LoL Esports is the introduction of First Selection. Instead of the higher seed/losing team picking side selection, they have a choice. They can choose to pick first in the draft or pick which side they want to play on. For more information, we recommend you read our previous article.
LCK First Week Schedule
The LCK Season Opening was an appetizer for the LCK Cup, which begins on January 14th. All start times for the first LCK match of the day are 12:00 AM PT (9:00 AM CET).
January 14th
- KT Rolster Versus DN Soopers
- Dplus KIA Versus BRION
January 15th
- Gen.G Espors Versus DRX
- FearX Versus Nongshim Redforce
January 16th
- DN Soopers Versus Dplus KIA
- Hanwha Life Esports Versus T1
January 17th
- BRION Versus FearX
- Gen.G Esports Versus KT Rolster
January 18th
- Nongshim Redforce Versus Hanwha Life Esports
- DRX Versus T1
LPL First Week Schedule
Following a disappointing 2025, which saw the LPL falter at international events, Royal Never Give Up and FunPlus Phoenix withdrew from the LPL. That leaves fourteen teams left in the competition. Start times for the LPL matches vary between 11:00 PM PT, 12:00 AM PT, and 1:00 AM PT (9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, and 11:00 AM CET)
January 14th
- Weibo Gaming Versus Invictus Gaming
- JD Gaming Versus Top Esports
January 15th
- Ultra Prime Versus LGD Gaming
- Invictus Gaming Versus Anyone’s Legend
- Weibo Gaming Versus Bilibili Gaming
January 16th
- Oh My God Versus LNG Esports
- EDward Gaming Versus Team WE
January 17th
- Anyone’s Legends Versus Bilibili Gaming
- JD Gaming Versus Invictus Gaming
January 18th
- Top Esports Versus Bilibili Gaming
- JD Gaming Versus Anyone’s Legend
LEC First Week Schedule
The LEC is one of two regions utilizing the best-of-one series format. Twelve teams participate in the LEC Versus with Los Ratones and Karmine Corp Blue filling the guest slots for the tournament. LEC Versus starts at 9:00 AM PT (6:00 PM CET).
January 17th
- Los Ratones Versus Fnatic
- Shifters Versus GiantX
- Team Heretics Versus Natus Vincere
- Team Vitality Versus SK Gaming
- Karmine Corp Blue Versus Karmine Corp
- Movistar KOI Versus G2 Esports
January 18th
- Team Heretics Versus Shifters
- Los Ratones Versus Karmine Corp Blue
- Team Vitality Versus Natus Vincere
- SK Gaming Versus Fnatic
- G2 Esports Versus GiantX
- Movistar KOI Versus Karmine Corp
LCP First Week Schedule
After many CTBC Flying Oyster players left the team, a void exists in the LCP. Will the new roster stay at the top, or is there another force rising to the top? All LCP matches start at 10:00 PM PT (7:00 AM CET).
January 16th
- Ground Zero Versus Team Secret Whales
- Deep Cross Gaming Versus SoftBank Hawks Gaming
January 17th
- GAM Esports Versus CTBC Flying Oyster
- Detonation FocusMe Versus MVK Esports
January 18th
- Ground Zero Versus Deep Cross Gaming
- Team Secret Whales Versus Softbank Hawks Gaming
CBLOL First Week Schedule
The CBLOL has returned after a year’s hiatus. It is one of two regions to have a regular season with a Best-of-One series. The Brazilian teams have a chance to compete in Brazil at the first international event of the year, in the form of First Stand. CBLOL’s matches begin at 9:00 AM PT (6:00 PM CET).
January 17th
- Vivo Keyd Stars Versus PaiN Gaming
- Red Canids Versus Fluxo W7M
- FURIA Versus LOUD
- LOS Versus Vivo Keyd Stars
- Leviatán Versus FURIA
January 18th
- Fluxo W7M
- PaiN Gaming Versus FURIA
- Vivo Keyd Stars Versus Flux W7M
- PaiN Gaming Versus Loud
- Leviatán Versus Red Canids
More LoL Esports Coverage
To stay up to date with LoL Esports, keep an eye on future Total Apex articles.
