The ultimate Rocket League Esports guide to the 2024 Rocket League Championship Series; from format changes and standings to viewer rewards and live events.
Set to be the biggest yet, RLCS 2024 marks a new era for Rocket League enthusiasts, running from January 26th to September 29th, 2024. Hosting 43 events across competitive regions like Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America, it promises an unparalleled competitive spectacle with 32,108 entrants vying for supremacy. The tournament's structure is meticulously planned, highlighting three major in-person tournaments including the RLCS Major and the eagerly awaited Rocket League World Championship, making it a pivotal year for the sport.
This year's iteration introduces a revamped qualification system, implementing six online Open Qualifiers in each region, alongside a standardized Open Double Elimination bracket. The road to victory leads through a 16-team Swiss system culminating in an 8-team Single Elimination bracket to crown the champions of the RLCS Major and the World Championship. With such a detailed and extensive schedule, RLCS 2024 stands as a crucial platform for Rocket League teams and players, setting the stage for new legends to emerge and enthrall the Rocket League community.
The New Format of RLCS 2024
The RLCS 2024 season introduces a comprehensive and standardized format designed to enhance competitive play across its global landscape. This year's competition spans nine months, featuring a combination of in-person and online tournaments to ensure a broad and inclusive platform for participants.
Online Open Qualifiers and In-Person Tournaments
Online Open Qualifiers: Each of the seven competitive regions—Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East & North Africa, North America, Oceania, South America, and Sub-Saharan Africa—will host three online Open Qualifiers. These qualifiers follow a standardized format, ensuring consistency and fairness in the competition.
In-Person Tournaments: The season highlights three major in-person events: RLCS Major 1, RLCS Major 2, and the Rocket League World Championship. These events not only serve as the pinnacle of competitive play but also offer teams a chance to earn significant RLCS points.
Point System and Qualification
Each Open Qualifier awards RLCS points to the top teams, contributing to their overall season tally. The teams accumulating the most points across the season secure their spots in the prestigious Rocket League World Championship. This point-based qualification system is designed to reward consistent performance and excellence throughout the year. The qualification process for the RLCS 2024 Majors and the Rocket League World Championship is meticulously structured to ensure the best teams from each region have the opportunity to compete on the global stage. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how teams advance through the season.
Path to the World Championship
The ultimate goal for teams is qualifying for the Rocket League World Championship. This is achieved by accumulating the most RLCS points through participation in the three premiere events (RLCS Major 1, RLCS Major 2, and the World Championship itself). This structured approach ensures a diverse and competitive lineup at the World Championship, showcasing top talent from around the globe.
RLCS Points and Regional Qualifications
Each Open Qualifier awards RLCS points to the top teams, contributing to their overall season tally. The teams accumulating the most points across the season secure their spots in the prestigious Rocket League World Championship. This point-based qualification system is designed to reward consistent performance and excellence throughout the year. The qualification process for the RLCS 2024 Majors and the Rocket League World Championship is meticulously structured to ensure the best teams from each region have the opportunity to compete on the global stage.
Qualifiers, Swiss System, Brackets
Teams earn RLCS points through their performance in the online Open Qualifiers, with each qualifier following a standardized format of Open Double Elimination bracket, 16-team Swiss System, and 8-team Single Elimination bracket to determine the Major Champion. The distribution of teams qualifying for the RLCS Majors from each region is as follows:
North America (NA) and Europe (EU): Top four (4) teams
Middle East & North Africa (MENA), Oceania (OCE), and South America (SAM): Top two (2) teams
Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): Top one (1) team
This format not only tests team consistency and skill but also ensures that only the best progress in the tournament.
RLCS 2024 Season Overview
The RLCS 2024 season, spanning from January 26th to September 29th, promises a packed schedule with significant events and key timelines for teams and fans alike.
Path to the World Championship
The ultimate goal for teams is qualifying for the Rocket League World Championship. This is achieved by accumulating the most RLCS points through participation in the three premiere events (RLCS Major 1, RLCS Major 2, and the World Championship itself). This structured approach ensures a diverse and competitive lineup at the World Championship, showcasing top talent from around the globe.
Key Dates and Schedule
Here's a breakdown of the important Rocket League Championship Series dates for 2024:
This timeline not only structures the competitive year but also offers fans multiple opportunities to engage, from online viewing to attending the grand spectacle in Texas. Tickets to attend the event in-person go on soon (Date TBA).
Major 1 Recap and Major 2 Predictions
The first Major of RLCS 2024 concluded with an intense competition that saw Gentle Mates Alpine clinching the victory, thanks in large part to an outstanding performance by their player Juicy, who was named MVP of the tournament. The event, which ran from January 26 to February 4, 2024, featured a robust competition format including a Double Elimination stage, Swiss Stage, and Playoffs, challenging teams through various stages of Best-of-Three, Best-of-Five, and Best-of-Seven matches (view standings).
Looking ahead to Major 2, scheduled from April, predictions are already favoring teams like K Corp and BDS to advance from the Round of 16, based on their current form and previous performances. Observers are also keenly watching teams like G2 and Gen G, anticipating strong comebacks in the upcoming rounds. The quarterfinals are expected to be particularly unpredictable, with potential upsets poised to shake up the bracket dynamics. As the anticipation builds, all eyes are on the top teams, with many expecting a showdown between K Corp and BDS in the finals.
Teams and Players to Watch
North America and Europe Standouts
ELEVATE (NA): Leading score of 45 points; Sphinx, Kevin, ZPS., and Schon, dominate the North American leaderboard.
Gaimin Gladiators (EU): Tops the European charts with 37 points, thanks to the efforts of Maxeew, virtuoso, Markydooda, and ThO.
Team Vitality (EU): Favored as reigning world champions
Emerging Teams in Other Regions
Chapti Dream (MENA): Leading the Middle East & North Africa region with 27 points, the team includes players like ballerrees, Abscrazy, LCT, and Leehai.
Sailing Esports (OCE): With 18 points, they are at the forefront in the Oceania region and a powerful force in international events.
Detonator (SAM): Also scoring 18 points, this South American team
Teams with Potential for Upsets
Snowman: Positioned for the top 8, this team is noted for its youthful talent and potential to disrupt the standings.
Dignitas: Known for consecutive victories at the Bandits on Wheels, they are predicted to be strong contenders for the top spots.
Elevate (MENA): Although underrated, Elevate has shown capabilities
How to track RLCS standings
For enthusiasts eager to follow the progress and standings of their favorite teams in the RLCS 2024, the official RLCS 2024 website serves as the central hub. Here, standings are meticulously updated and displayed for each of the competitive regions: Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East & North Africa, North America, Oceania, South America, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Fans and participants can track the performance of teams across these diverse regions in real-time on Rocket League Esports, Liquipedia, and Start.gg.
Get Involved & Get Rewarded
Live Broadcast Schedule
Catch all the Rocket League Championship Series action live on the official Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube channels, ensuring fans can catch all the action live. Additionally, to cater to a diverse global audience, broadcasts will be available in multiple languages including French, Spanish, Portuguese, and more, covering regions from Benelux to Sub-Saharan Africa and MENA. These platforms not only provide updates and essential information but also offer a way for fans to become part of the RLCS 2024 journey, contributing to the growth and excitement surrounding the event.
Fan Rewards Program
Rocket League enthusiasts have the opportunity to earn exclusive Fan Rewards such as decals, wheels, and goal explosions. It's easy to earn free in-game rewards once you connecting your Twitch account to your preferred gaming platform account, such as Epic Games or PlayStation, and enable drops on Twitch. During the RLCS 2024 broadcasts, notifications for reward eligibility will appear, and once earned, rewards will automatically be added to your Rocket League inventory. Featured Fan Rewards include: the RLCS Decal for Octane and the Big Splash Goal Explosion.
PRO TIP: Make sure your device is not on mute during the broadcast to prevent any interruptions that might affect reward accumulation.
In-Person Events & Info
The RLCS 2024 season features several thrilling in-person events, with the Rocket League World Championship set to take place at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, United States. This event boasts a significant prize pool of $1,165,500 USD, drawing competitive teams from across the globe. Similarly, the Copenhagen Major, another highlight of the season, will host 16 international teams competing for a prize pool of $255,000. The format for this major includes initial Swiss Rounds followed by intense Single Elimination Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and Grand Finals.
During these events, the top eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals, which are scheduled to take place on the third and fourth days of the competitions. These matches, along with the semifinals and grand finals, promise high-stakes gameplay and thrilling spectator experiences, all held in person. Additionally, the first two days might offer community meetups organized by content creators, providing fans with opportunities to engage more deeply with the Rocket League community.
The Rocket League Saga Continues...
Through an expansive journey from its inception to the 2024 season, the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) has continued to evolve, presenting an increasingly detailed and extensive competition. The meticulous planning behind the 2024 RLCS schedule, the inclusion of diverse teams, and the adaptation of formats to enhance competitive play underline the series’ sustained importance and impact on the global stage. The predictions and speculations revolving around the outcomes of the major tournaments and the World Championship reflect not only the excitement but also the unpredictability that makes the series so engaging. The shift towards integrating online and in-person events exemplifies RLCS's resilience and commitment to delivering thrilling experiences for players and viewers alike. As we draw closer to the culmination of this year's championship, the anticipation for which teams will emerge victoriously at the World Championship in Fort Worth continues to build. The strategic maneuvers, player performances, and team dynamics observed throughout the season hint at a potentially legendary showdown.
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RLCS 2024 FAQs
Where is the Rocket League World Championship being held?
The 2024 RLCS season will culminate with the World Championship held at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, USA, from September 10-15. This venue previously hosted the event during the 2021-22 season where Team BDS emerged victorious against G2 Esports.
What is the total prize money for the 2024 RLCS World Championships?
Which player holds the record for the most RLCS championships won?
When and where is the next major RLCS tournament scheduled?
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