This year marks the 10th anniversary of the largest esports event in the world: the League of Legends World Championship! And we'll provide you with all the details you'll need. The annual event is internationally renowned and is hosted by a different country each year. We are curious who will bring the cup home in 2020!
Where Are Worlds?
This year the Worlds will be in Shanghai, China in the Media Tech Studios. The final can be watched live and via streams from the brand new Pudong Football Stadium.
When and How Will Worlds Take Place?
Worlds will be divided into 3 phases as usual. The preliminary round phase, the group phase, and the knockout phase, consisting of the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, and the final. The starting places will be determined based on the previous international victories and performance of teams. Teams that are consistently strong will get seeded directly into the group phase, while weaker teams will have to fight for a place in the groups and in the preliminary round.
The preliminary round phase: September 25 - 30
In this phase, 10 teams will compete this year, divided into two groups of 5 teams each. In each group, all teams will play against each other once, with the first two teams qualifying for the group phase and the bottom two teams being eliminated. The third and fourth place teams compete in a "Best-of-5" game for the chance to advance. The loser is eliminated, while the winner gets to play another "best-of-5" game against the runners-up. The winner of this game gets the coveted place in the group phase.
Group phase: 3 - 6 and 8 - 11 of October
Here things get really exciting: 16 teams and the 12 that have qualified directly into the group phase and 4 teams from the preliminary round will be divided into 4 groups. The teams of each group play against each other twice in a "Best-of-1" format. The 2 highest placed teams in each group qualify for the knockout phase.
Knockout phase: 15-18 October (quarter-finals), 24-25 October (semi-finals), 31 October (final)
8 teams compete against each other in the knockout phase, with the opponents being drawn by lot on stage on the respective match day. The matches consist of a best-of-5 and determine which of the teams will face off in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the finals.
- READ MORE: Worlds 2020 Group Draw Review
Which teams are involved?
Now let's get to the good part - what matchups should we expect this year?
The Matches in the Preliminary Rounds:
Friday, September 25 - 3 AM CT
- MAD Lions vs. INTZ Esports
- PSG Talon vs. Rainbow7
- Legacy Esports vs. INTZ Esports
- LGD Gaming vs. PSG Talon
- Team Liquid vs. MAD Lions
Saturday, September 26 - 3 AM CT
- Rainbow7 vs. V3 Esports
- INTZ Esports vs. Papara SuperMassive
- V3 Esports vs. Unicorns of Love
- LGD Gaming vs. Rainbow7
- Unicorns of Love vs. PSG Talon
- Papara SuperMassive vs. MAD Lions
- Team Liquid vs. Legacy Esports
Sunday, September 27 - 3 AM CT
- V3 Esports vs. LGD Gaming
- Rainbow7 vs. Unicorns of Love
- PSG Talon vs. V3 Esports
- Unicorns of Love vs. LGD Gaming
Monday, September 28 - 3 AM CT
- Papara SuperMassive vs. Team Liquid
- MAD Lions vs. Legacy Esports
- INTZ Esports vs. Team Liquid
- Legacy Esports vs. Papara SuperMassive
The Group Phase
Monday, October 5 - 3 AM CT
- Machi Esports vs. G2 Esports
- JD Gaming vs. Rogue
- Top Esports vs. DragonX
- TBD vs. TBD
Tuesday, October 6 - 4 AM CT
- Suning Gaming vs. Machi Esports
- DragonX vs. FlyQuest
- Fnatic vs. Gen.G
- TBD vs. TBD
Thursday, October 8 - 4 AM CT
- Machi Esports vs. Suning Gaming
- G2 Esports vs. Machi Esports
- Suning Gaming vs. G2 Esports
- TBD vs. TBD
Friday, October 9 - 4 AM CT
- Rogue vs. JD Gaming
- Damwon Gaming vs. Rogue
- JD Gaming vs. Damwon Gaming
- TBD vs. TBD
Sunday, October 11- 3 AM CT
- Flyquest vs. DragonX
- Top Esports vs. FlyQuest
- DragonX vs. Top Esports
- TBD vs. TBD
- READ MORE: LoL: LoL: Riot Games "Takes Over" With New Worlds Song
Changes in 2020
Due to the current corona pandemic, the two teams from Vietnam could not participate at this year's LoL Worlds. Only 22 teams were divided into groups instead of 24. In 2020 a new region makes its debut and has 2 teams from South East Asia on the starting grid. Also for the first time this year, the fourth-placed teams in China and Europe from the top international team lists will qualify and start the World Championships in the preliminary phase.
Which series are you looking forward to the most? Who do you think will win? Share your opinion on our Facebook page!
For more information about the LoL Worlds check out EarlyGameor get our cool daily news on our Youtube channel.
