Riot Games has announced a new Tier 1 esports circuit for Teamfight Tactics (TFT), set to begin with Set 15, titled “Cyber City.”
This initiative introduces a higher level of competition for top players, aiming to reduce the grind they face after each set reset and provide a more structured, prestigious platform alongside the existing ecosystem.
New Tier 1 circuit
The Tier 1 circuit will feature 3 high-stakes, 3-day tournaments per set, involving the top 32 players from each pan-region (Americas, EMEA, APAC, and China operating separately).
Qualification for this circuit is primarily based on performance in the set’s Golden Spatula tournament, with the top 28 players advancing from Set 14 regionals and 4 additional “top tier” players invited by Riot based on contributions to TFT, historical performance, and regional representation.
Each tournament’s final day will narrow down to a single lobby of 8 players, with the winner securing a direct spot in the Tactician’s Crown, TFT’s premier end-of-set championship event.
When the three tournaments conclude, players earn qualifier points based on their performance. Those finishing 1st-12th advance directly to Week 2 of the regional tournaments (Golden Spatula) and requalify for the next set’s Tier 1 circuit. Players placing 13th-24th advance to Week 1 of regionals, while those finishing 25th-32nd move to the Play-Ins.
Golden Spatula Expansion
Additionally, the Golden Spatula itself is expanding into a six-day event spread across two weekends with a new three-stage format, offering more qualification opportunities for the Tactician’s Crown.
- Play-Ins (Day 1): 8 spots filled by underperforming Tier 1 circuit players (25th-32nd rank holder mentioned above) plus 8 players from the ladder/cups qualification route, for a total of 16 players with 8 advancing
- Week 1 (Days 2-3): 12 players from the Tier 1 circuit, 8 from Play-Ins, and 28 from the ladder/cups route compete (48 total), with 20 advancing
- Week 2 (Days 4-5-6): 12 players from the Tier 1 circuit plus the 20 who advanced from Week 1 (32 total). The top 8 players qualify for the final Day 6.
The 32 players who reach Week 2 of the Golden Spatula will automatically qualify for the next set’s Tier 1 circuit.
Road Ahead
This updated structure aims to reward consistency, elevate competition, and increase prize pools, though exact figures haven’t been detailed beyond a global TFT esports prize pool increase from $2 million to $3 million for 2024.
The changes reflect Riot’s response to community feedback and a push to make TFT esports more competitive and viewer-friendly, building on the game’s reported 80 million players since its 2019 launch.
For more specifics, read Riot’s official announcement.
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