The League of Legends Circuit Oceania (LCO) was the top-level of professional League of Legends competition in Oceania, founded in 2021 and hosted by ESL Australia and Guinevere Capital.

History

The LCO replaced the Oceanic Pro League (OPL), hosted by Riot Games Oceania from 2015 to 2020. The annual season consisted of two splits, each of which conclude in a double-elimination tournament between the top five teams.

Before 2023, the winner of split 1 qualified for the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), while the winner of split 2 qualified for the League of Legends World Championship. However, in 2023 and 2024, the top two teams from each LCO split were seeded into the Pacific Championship Series (PCS) playoffs and competed with other PCS (and later LJL) teams for a chance to represent the larger region at international events. LCO teams no longer qualified directly to MSI and Worlds.

On 20 September 2024, the LCO officially folded, with Riot Games exploring "new solutions" to replace it. It would be replaced in 2025 by the Oceanic Promotion Qualifier (OPQ), which would send its winner to the Promotion Playoffs for the new Asia-Pacific tier 1 league, the Championship Pacific (LCP). "Saving OCE" would win the 2025 OPQ, before being eliminated in the 2025 Promotion Playoffs in the first round of the Free-For-All Bracket.

Since the LCO's dissolution, two of its former members have gone on to be part of the LCP. Chiefs Esports Club would be in the league's inaugural season as a guest team, but would be relegated after finishing as the worst team in the LCP and losing in the Free-For-All qualifying match to Deep Cross Gaming of the now tier 2 PCS. Ground Zero Gaming would move to the PCS in 2025 but similarly had bad results against Taiwanese opposition. However, as a result of PSG Talon being removed from the LCP following financial issues, GZ would be announced as their replacement for 2026 in December 2025, also as a guest team.

The "LOL - LCO Spring" is an premier esports tournament showcasing the best League of Legends talent from the Oceania region. Held annually during the spring season, this competition features top-tier professional teams competing for regional supremacy, valuable ranking points, and a chance to qualify for international events. Fans can expect intense matches, strategic gameplay, and electrifying moments as teams battle it out across a series of best-of series formats. The tournament not only highlights the skill and dedication of Oceania's League of Legends community but also serves as a platform for emerging talent to shine on the competitive stage. With vibrant production, passionate fans, and high-stakes action, the LOL - LCO Spring is a must-watch event for esports enthusiasts and League of Legends fans alike.