July has been an exceptionally busy month for League of Legends esports. With the LCK regular season underway, the schedule was further crowded by the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) and the Esports World Cup (EWC), forcing top-tier teams into a grueling marathon of international travel and non-stop matches.

In the midst of this, the KeSPA Cup—typically held at the end of the year—was moved to mid-July, tightening the schedules of top-tier teams even further. Rumors are circulating that the schedule was shifted to avoid conflict with the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), another international tournament hosted by the foundation behind the EWC this November.

The current KeSPA Cup runs every Monday and Tuesday from July 20 to August 18. Since the LCK does not hold matches on these days and the LCK Challengers League hosts its live matches then, critics suggest the schedule was designed to encourage the participation of LCK first-team rosters. However, it is worth noting that first-team players also need these days off to recharge and refine their performance.

The July-August period remains packed with major League of Legends esports events. The LCK is pushing through its second half, where tickets to the League of Legends World Championship are on the line. On top of that, players selected for the national team must prepare for the Asian Games in mid-September. It is little wonder that esports fans are casting a cold, skeptical eye on the KeSPA Cup being held during such a frantic period.