Our first-ever League of Legends Arena goes live this weekend, August 3-5, starting at 5pm ET, 11pm CEST on Friday. Four of the world’s top teams will be competing for the $10k 1st Place prize, and we’re going to see some absolutely incredible matches. Here’s exactly what you need to know to watch.

Teams

Our two invited teams are none other than SoloMid and Azubu Blaze, teams that are on the absolute top of their game in North America and Korea, respectively.

Team Azubu Blaze - Players: Reapered, Ambition, Helios, Lustboy, Cpt Jack

Thanks to OGNLOL, we are incredibly happy to announce that Azubu Blaze, one of Korea’s best teams, will be competing at the Arena. Azubu Blaze won the OnGameNet The Champions Spring 2012 and have been tearing through the world’s top rosters lately. They will be looking to make an incredible splash at their MLG debut, which will mark the first time a Korean LoL team has competed in a tournament in North America.

Team SoloMid - Players: Dyrus, TheOddOne, Chaox, Reginald (Emphatic), Xpecial

Winners of the MLG Spring Championship, MLG Providence 2011, IPL 4, the Gigabyte eSports LAN, the Reign of Gaming International Invitational, and the Leaguecraft ggClassic, SoloMid are one of the best of the best when it comes to North American teams. They’ll be looking to maintain their MLG winning streak at the Arena.

Qualifying Teams

EU Qualifier: Team Black - Players: Faceroller, Alvik, FatMamma, Svenskeren, Rekkles

Our European winners are a newly-formed team who hit the scene with a bang, blasting through the Online Qualifiers, taking out Curse EU in the Final to win their Arena spot. If this performance is anything to go on, the Summer Arena could well be the start of a long and storied career for this group.

NA Qualifier: Curse Gaming - Players: Nyjacky, Saintvicious, Elementz, Cop, Pobelter

Curse squeaked into the Top 8 at the MLG Spring Championship. In the Online Qualifier, they showed what they were truly capable of, defeating CLG Black and Orbit Gaming on their way to victory. Based on the incredible, jaw-dropping games of the OQ Final, we’re in for some incredible play from this lineup. VOD from the NA OQ Final is now available on MLG.tv.

Casters

All matches will be cast by the all-star lineup of Leigh Smith (Deman), Dan Dinh, and Trevor Henry (Quickshot).

 Schedule

Friday, August 3
5 pm – 7:30 pm ET/11:00 pm – 1:30 am CEST: RR Match 1 - Curse (Home) vs Black (Away)
7:30 pm – 10 pm/1:30 am – 4:00 am CEST:  RR Match 2 –      Azubu Blaze (Home) vs Solo Mid (Away)

Saturday, August 4
2 pm – 4:30 pm ET/8 pm – 10:30 pm CEST: RR Match 3 –       Black (Home) vs Azubu Blaze (Away)
4:30 pm – 7 pm ET/10:30pm – 1 am CEST: RR Match 4 -       Curse (Home) vs Solo Mid (Away)

Sunday, August 5
10 am – 12:30 am ET/4 pm – 6:30 pm CEST: RR Match 5 –    Azubu Blaze (Home) vs Curse (Away)
12:30 pm – 3 pm ET/6:30 pm – 9 pm CEST: RR Match 6 –      Solo Mid (Home) vs Black (Away)
3 PM – 5:30 PM ET/9 pm – 11:30 pm CEST:                               Final

How to Watch

HD Passes

The Arena will be broadcast live on three steams: the main gameplay stream and two Dr Pepper Ultimate Access streams. The Dr Pepper streams will each feature the broadcast of one of the teams playing on the main stream, with player chat channels available so you can choose to listen in to what the teams are saying to each other. Get inside the game (and the players’ heads) like never before!

All three streams are free in standard definition. Upgrade to HD for $9.99 and you get:

• All streams in up to 1080p
• Near-instant VOD
• No ads on any streams
• A full month of free ELOBUFF.com access