What is it?

The event is the pinnacle of the UK League of Legends competitions and showcases and nurtures the top UK teams and esports talent. There is a total prize pot of £20,000 with each player in the winning team receiving £1,500. The top two teams will progress into further competitions and may ultimately compete in the Northern League of Legends Championships for Nordic countries and the UK.

How does it work?

The competition starts with a seven-week round robin league, taking place every Sunday and Monday from Sunday 14 June until Monday 27 July. There will be four fixtures each night with the eight teams involved facing each other twice over the seven weeks. The top four teams will then progress to the semi-finals on Sunday 2 August before the final on Monday 3 August.

Who is competing?

Demise, Enclave Gaming, Barrage Esports Academy, MnM Gaming Academy, NVision Esports and Munster Rugby Gaming Academy were all invited to compete while London Esports and Bulldog Esports qualified via a tournament earlier in June.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport will have live coverage from all 16 days of the League of Legends UK Championships.

Coverage will be available live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app and available to catch up for 30 days.

Full coverage details:

League stage, day one - Sunday 14 June, 18:00-22:00

League stage, day two - Monday 15 June, 18:00-22:00

League stage, day three - Sunday 21 June, 18:00-22:00

League stage, day four - Monday 22 June, 18:00-22:00

League stage, day five - Sunday 28 June, 18:00-22:00

League stage, day six - Monday 29 June, 18:00-22:00

League stage, day seven - Sunday 5 July, 18:00-22:00

League stage, day eight - Monday 6 July, 18:00-22:00

League stage, day nine - Sunday 12 July, 18:00-22:00

League stage, day 10 - Monday 13 July, 18:00-22:00

League stage, day 11 - Sunday 19 July, 18:00-22:00

League stage, day 12 - Monday 20 July, 18:00-22:00

League stage, day 13 - Sunday 26 July, 18:00-22:00

League stage, day 14 - Monday 27 July, 18:00-22:00

Semi-finals - Sunday 2 August, times tbc

Final - Monday 3 August, times tbc

In addition, BBC Sport and iPlayer will also have coverage of the Northern League of Legends, featuring teams from the Nordic region and the UK and Ireland from Tuesday 16 June with full live coverage from 30th June.

Image source, Riot Games

Image source, Getty Images

The Royal Never Give Up team has confirmed that Jian "Uzi" Zi-Hao, their AD carry for many years, has announced his retirement from League of Legends play due to injuries and poor health.

In a statement, the 23-year-old double World Championship silver medallist said: "Due to chronic stress, obesity, irregular diet, staying up late, and other reasons, I was diagnosed with type II diabetes during a check-up last year."

His team paid tribute to their former star, who had been named among the top 10 gamers in the world in some polls but had been plagued with wrist injuries and had not competed in the Chinese League’s Spring Split.

"As of today, LPL0006 @UziRNG will officially retire," said the team’s statement. “Uzi was not only the heart and soul of RNG, but also an icon in the esports world as a whole.

“From a teenager onwards he never gave up and worked as hard as he could to be the best he could in his role. He inspired many."