The LEC has confirmed that a small group of players will be making their return to the LEC stage from this weekend onward. The announcement is in line with a report from Dot Esports from Feb. 4, which sources confirmed to Inven Global shortly after.

To warrant as much safety as possible, only four teams play from the studio per game day. Teams playing in the first and fifth match of the day will do so from the Berlin studio, while the players of the second, third, and fourth match of the day will still play remotely.

On Twitter, the LEC wrote, "We are delighted to announce that starting this Friday, we will welcome back teams competing in games 1 and 5 to the LEC main stage. The health and safety of players, their teams and our staff will always be our number one priority. However, after discussing the ongoing COVID-19 situation in Berlin with the relevant authorities and stakeholders, we are confident we can now begin to safely reintegrate teams back to the studio step-by-step."

Riot Games has made the rules stricter for teams heading to the studio, Inven Global was told by sources. Only the five players, two coaches, and the team manager of the competing LEC teams can enter the studio. Last year, during the 2021 Summer Split playoffs, teams were allowed to bring two additional people and often brought along members of their content team, additional coaches, or a substitute player.

The rules for entering the LEC studio have stayed the same as last year, the same sources told Inven Global. Regardless of vaccination status, a negative COVID-19 test result has to be provided upon entering the building. Entrants must also register their visit via a QR code. Inside, a mask must be worn at all times, but players can take the mask off once seated on the stage.