Foreword: The S16 season competition has officially begun. It is believed that the vast majority of players have been following the recent matches. The competitions in various major regions have concluded one after another. Currently, only the playoffs of the LPL region remain unfinished. The Global Pioneer Series has become a major focus of discussion among many players. Six slots have already been secured, with only the two slots from the LPL region yet to be determined. It was initially thought this year's event would surpass last year's opening match, but the official venue announcement has sparked dissatisfaction among players worldwide. The venue in Brazil this time reportedly has only 140 seats, which is even smaller than a typical cinema. This completely fails to meet the enthusiasm of on-site fans.

LOL World Championship Venue Has Only 140 Seats

It is believed most players are quite familiar with the Global Pioneer Series. As a world-level tournament newly introduced in recent years, its prestige is gradually increasing. This time, the organizers have made new adjustments to the competition rules: the winning team can directly advance to the MSI group stage, bypassing the play-in stage. Although it is only the second edition, it seems the organizers take it quite seriously. However, the exposure of the on-site venue has sparked widespread discussion among the online community. Many feel the Brazilian region is unfit to host this Global Pioneer Series, showing a lack of seriousness, as if treating it like child's play.

The competition venue this time is the Riot Games Arena in São Paulo, Brazil. The name sounds quite impressive, but the actual venue has only 140 seats. Is this really a world championship venue? Almost any other venue would have more seats than this—it's even smaller than a cinema. I recall the last time Brazil hosted a League of Legends event, the venue could accommodate over 10,000 people. Even though Faker is not participating this time, the on-site attendance shouldn't be limited to just over 100 people. This only indicates the Brazilian region does not take this Global Pioneer Series seriously. It's unclear if the venue will be changed later, but based on the current announcement, it seems only these 140 seats are available.

Let's look at the participating teams. Six slots have already been locked in: Gen.G and BFX from the LCK, G2 from the LEC, Lyon from the LCS, LOUD from Brazil, and TSW from the LCP. The remaining two slots belong to the LPL and will be contested among BLG, JDG, WBG, and AL. Barring any surprises, WBG likely has little chance, as their next opponent is AL, the top seed from the LPL regular season. Their previous loss to JDG was already considered an upset; if they lose to WBG, it would likely indicate internal team issues.

The lottery guests for this event have also excited many fans. Former FPX support and jungler from their Paris victory have been invited as draw guests. Last time, they drew a favorable bracket for the LPL, showing Liu Qing-Song and Tian's luck is quite good. Honestly, judging from the regional competitions this season, the LCK still holds an unshakable dominant position. Barring major issues, Gen.G is highly likely to become the Pioneer Series champion. They achieved a perfect record within their region, and the final match seemed almost like a one-sided contest. It's worth noting that BFX had to defeat DK and T1 to qualify.

Final Thoughts

It's unclear what Riot Games was thinking, arranging a venue with only 140 seats for a world-level event. Could it be that the pre-sale system predicted no one would attend? While matches between weaker teams might not draw much attention, clashes between the LPL and LCK would surely fill every seat. Brazilian fans do have enthusiasm. If Faker were participating, even the aisles would probably be packed.

What are your thoughts on this matter, everyone?