LCS Classic revives TSM vs. CLG on the original Rift

LCS Classic TSM vs. CLG brought one of North America’s defining League of Legends rivalries back to the Riot Games Arena on July 24. The ticketed showmatch used League Classic and formed part of the LCS Summer Split opening-week takeover.

Riot framed the event around the original Summoner’s Rift era, before systems such as homeguards and turret plates reshaped the professional game. Returning players represented the two brands in a deliberately historical matchup rather than a current LCS standings fixture.

LCS Classic TSM vs. CLG revisits an older ruleset

League Classic recreates an earlier version of the game with a smaller champion pool and period-specific items, runes and masteries. That makes the showmatch more than a change of jerseys: drafting, lane resources and objective decisions come from a different competitive reference point.

The live schedule opened doors at noon PDT, started the broadcast at 12:30 p.m. and placed the first game at 1 p.m. Riot sold the event separately from the standard Summer Split dates through Tixr.

Because the match was an exhibition, it did not award LCS regular-season wins or alter playoff seeding. Its purpose was to connect the new League Classic release with a rivalry associated with the early North American league.

The rivalry returns without changing the standings

The nostalgia works because TSM and CLG carry a competitive history that predates the current league structure. Readers interested in playing the mode can see our report on the GO4LoL League Classic qualifiers.

For the modern competition, our LCS Championship guide tracks the October finish in Atlanta. The exhibition is complete; the regular Summer Split now carries the qualification stakes.

Source: LoL Esports, July 12, 2026.