All football in Ecuador was played at amateur level until 1950 when the Guayas Football Association () turned professional and held its first professional tournament for affiliated clubs (for clubs in Guayaquil). The Professional Football Championship of Guayaquil () was first held in 1951 and was won by Río Guayas. In 1954, the football association in Pichincha (current the "Asociación de Fútbol No Amatur de Pichincha ") decided to turn professional and hold a professional tournament of their own for their affiliated clubs (for clubs in Quito & Ambato). The first Inter-Andean Professional Championship () was held in 1954 and was won by LDU Quito.