League of Legends Introduces “First Selection” System to Redefine Draft and Side Choice in Esports

Riot Games Overhauls Draft and Side Selection Ahead of 

LoL Esports 2026 

Riot Games has officially announced a major structural change to League of Legends esports with the introduction of First Selection, a new system that separates side choice from draft priority. The update will launch globally with the 2026 competitive season and aims to address long-standing balance concerns between Blue and Red side.

Under the new system, teams will no longer automatically receive first pick when selecting Blue Side, a shift that could significantly alter drafting strategies across all regions.

Why Riot Is Reworking Side Selection

Historically, Blue Side has been favoured in professional play due to its guaranteed first pick in the draft, often leading to higher win rates. In most formats:

• Higher-seeded teams were automatically assigned Blue Side in BO1s or the opening game of BO3/BO5 series.
• The losing team of a game would then choose its side for the next match.
• When teams were equally seeded, side selection was determined by coin toss or, in some regions, a 1v1 decider.

Over time, Riot identified growing disparities in side win rates through match data analysis and direct feedback from professional teams, prompting the need for a more flexible and strategic system.

How the First Selection System Works

According to Riot’s official developer update, First Selection replaces traditional side selection with a more nuanced decision-making process.

Teams that previously earned side selection will now earn First Selection, allowing them to choose one of the following options:

• Blue Side or Red Side, or
• First pick or second pick in the champion draft.

Once a team makes its choice, the opposing team automatically receives the remaining option. For example, if Team A selects Blue Side, Team B then decides whether to draft first or second.

Much like Fearless Draft, this change is designed to deepen strategic planning before champions are even locked in, giving teams more meaningful trade-offs to consider.

First Selection Rolls Out Across All LoL Esports in 2026

The new system will be implemented globally across all regions and international competitions in 2026, including:

• First Stand – March 16–22, São Paulo, Brazil
• Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) – Daejeon, South Korea
• World Championship (Worlds) – North America, with finals in New York

This ensures competitive consistency across regional leagues and global tournaments.

Hall of Legends Returns as Riot Details Broader 2026 Plans

Alongside First Selection, Riot confirmed the return of the Hall of Legends, the highest individual honour in League of Legends esports. Introduced in 2024 with Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, followed by Jian “Uzi” Zihao in 2025, the award will once again recognise a legendary player.

The 2026 ceremony will take place later in the year than previous editions, but still ahead of the World Championship.

Riot also reiterated earlier announcements, including the return of the LCS and CBLOL as independent leagues, following their joint competitive structure in 2025.

Riot Updates LoL Esports’ Financial Model

Riot Games also revealed changes to the financial structure of League of Legends esports. Starting in 2026, regional split prize pools will be removed in leagues that are part of the Global Revenue Pool (GRP).

According to Riot, regional prize pools often resulted in relatively small payouts for players, while the combined investment across leagues has grown substantially. These funds will now be redirected toward broader ecosystem development, with the goal of creating more sustainable, long-term value.

Importantly, global tournament prize pools, including MSI and Worlds, will continue to be funded through the GRP.