Seasons Greetings from LPL!

Thank you to each and every one of you for helping make 2019 LPL’s biggest year yet. Whether you’ve played in our tournaments, watched our streams, or chatted in our Discords – we couldn’t have accomplished what we have this year without you.

For LPL, this December marks a year in which over 14,000 matches were played, and where we delivered more than 200 broadcasts spanning more than 500 total hours. In 2019 we partnered with some big names including Vodafone, Pringles and the NRL to name just a few. It also marks one year since we acquired CyberGamer.

In the middle of 2019, we brought our platforms together under the LPL umbrella. This was not a decision we made lightly, and we wanted to do so in a way that allowed the legacy of the CyberGamer community to live on. This process is still on-going, huge thanks to everyone who has helped us along the way!

We have also learned a lot over the past year. We’ve greatly improved the wait time on prizing payouts, we’ve grown the number of supported game titles, and through trial (and a few errors, we’re only human) we believe we are on the path to growing a sustainable esports platform for our region.

We want to assure you that when you speak up, we’re listening. In 2019 we made a number of pivots to listen and adjust based on your feedback. So please keep letting us know what you think: here’s where you can tell us what you want to see more or less of, and what you’d like to see us try in future.

We can’t continue to improve and grow without your support, and we sincerely want to thank you for any time you’ve spent with us in 2019.

Looking ahead to 2020, we’re excited to give you a first look at what’s in store. Full season one announcements can be expected to roll out in mid-January, with sign-ups opening at the same time. Relegations for applicable titles will begin in early February.

Have a safe and happy break and we hope to see you next year when registrations open,

– Duane Mutu
CEO, LetsPlay.Live

The wider LPL Admin team also extends their thanks for a great year of play in 2019!

“2019 has been a wild ride, and I have personally learned so much! Big thank you to all the players and community, it means a lot to have your continued feedback and support. Looking ahead to 2020, I am incredibly excited! LPL has come a long way, but I believe true success comes from the continued focus and effort into improving. Happy Holidays, and I hope to see you all in the new year!” – Amy Potter, Head of Platform and Leagues

“Over the past year in the Counter-Strike community here at LPL we have experienced so much in a short amount of time. We have hosted 4 seasons throughout the year, hosted 2 separate LAN events in Auckland and been able to see the growth of players within the community to evolve both inside and outside of the game.

Although this year has seen many ups and downs, I am grateful towards the community for always sticking with us through thick and thin. Saying that, I am extremely excited for 2020, and for the ability to grow Counter-Strike even further in this region.” – Tham, Head CS:GO Admin.

“2019 for LPL had a bit of a turbulent start with the transition from CyberGamer, but I'm glad our community stuck with us. I feel we are really making some waves in ANZ esports with our push for mobile esports like Clash Royale, as well as providing some consistent structure for the Dota 2 scene with the aim to grow the community. We're providing a strong platform for mobile titles in this region, and I think that's fantastic.

We had some massive success with our Fortnite event with the NRL, and it was great to meet some of the best Fortnite players in Australia at ANZ Stadium during the finals.

Thank you all for your feedback whilst we trialled new anti-cheat solutions to maintain the competitive integrity of our leagues. This has helped us understand and answer the requests of the CS:GO community.

I can't wait until our 2020 seasons are in full swing!” – Jaws, Head PC Admin.