2023 League of Legends World Championship

Last updated

League of Legends
World Championship
2023
LoL Worlds 2023 Logo.svg
Tournament information
Sport League of Legends
LocationSouth Korea
DatesOctober 10–November 19
Administrator Riot Games
Tournament
format(s)
8 team GSL-style double-elimination bracket play-in stage
16 team swiss stage
8 team single-elimination bracket from quarterfinals onward
Venue(s)
4 (in 2 host cities)
  • Seoul (play-ins, swiss stage, final)
  • Busan (quarterfinals, semifinals)
Teams22
Final positions
Champion T1
Runner-up Weibo Gaming
Tournament statistics
Attendance18,000 (Finals) [1]
MVP Choi "Zeus" Woo-je (T1)
←  2022
2024  →

The 2023 League of Legends World Championship was an esports tournament for the multiplayer online battle arena video game League of Legends . It was the thirteenth iteration of the League of Legends World Championship, an annual international tournament organized by the game's developer, Riot Games. The tournament began in South Korea on October 10 until November 19. [2] Twenty-two teams from nine regions qualified for the tournament based on their placement in regional circuits; [3] defending champions DRX [4] failed to do so after losing to Dplus KIA in the 2023 LCK Regional Finals. [5] [6] JD Gaming were in contention to become the first team to complete the "Golden Road" [lower-alpha 1] , but lost to eventual champions T1 in the semifinals of the knockout stage. [7]

Contents

"Gods" (stylized in all caps), performed by NewJeans, was announced as the tournament's theme song. [8] [9] A virtual boyband named "Heartsteel" (stylized in all caps) was unveiled by Riot Games during the event, with Baekhyun from Exo and SuperM, ØZI, Tobi Lou and Cal Scruby representing the group as its human counterpart and in the live performance of their debut song, "Paranoia". [10]

The final took place on 19 November 2023 at the Gocheok Sky Dome, where T1 defeated Weibo Gaming by a 3–0 score, marking the organization's record-extending fourth World Championship. [11] [12] The event's concurrent viewership reached a peak of 6.4 million viewers, breaking the all-time viewership record for a single esports event, not accounting for Chinese viewership. [13]

Format changes

Starting from 2023, teams from LCL (CIS), TCL (Turkey), and LCO (Oceania) region no longer qualified directly for Worlds due to their leagues being cancelled (LCL, by the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine) and downgraded (TCL became a regional league for EMEA Masters, LCO was merged into PCS).

The number of teams was decreased from 24 to 22 compared to 2022. For seedings, first-seeded teams from PCS (Asia-Pacific) and VCS (Vietnam) were relegated to start in the play-in stage, while fourth-seeded teams from LCK (South Korea), LPL (China) and third-seeded from LEC (EMEA) and LCS (North America) were promoted to the main event. Prior to the kick off of the tournament, a "Worlds Qualifying Series" match between the fourth-seeded teams from LEC and LCS was played to decide the last team for the play-in stage. [14]

Play-in groups were changed to a GSL-style double-elimination format, while main event's first stage was changed from a double round-robin group stage to a Swiss format. [15]

Qualified teams

The following teams qualified for the event: [16]

RegionLeaguePathTeamPool
Starting in the main event's Swiss stage
South Korea LCK Summer ChampionFlag of South Korea.svg Gen.G 1
Most Championship PointsFlag of South Korea.svg T1 2
Regional Finals WinnerFlag of South Korea.svg KT Rolster 3
Regional Finals Runner-UpFlag of South Korea.svg Dplus KIA 4
China LPL Summer ChampionFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg JD Gaming 1
Most Championship PointsFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg Bilibili Gaming 2
Regional Finals WinnerFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg LNG Esports 3
Regional Finals Runner-UpFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg Weibo Gaming 4
EMEA LEC Season Finals ChampionFlag of Europe.svg G2 Esports 1
Season Finals Runner-UpFlag of Europe.svg Fnatic 2
Season Finals PlaceFlag of Europe.svg MAD Lions 3
North America LCS Championship ChampionFlag of the United States.svg NRG Esports 1
Championship Runner-UpFlag of the United States.svg Cloud9 2
Championship Third PlaceFlag of the United States.svg Team Liquid 3
Starting in the Play-in stage
EMEALECWorlds Qualifying Series WinnerFlag of Europe.svg Team BDS1
Asia-Pacific PCS Summer ChampionFlag of the Republic of China.svg PSG Talon 1
Summer Runner-UpFlag of the Republic of China.svg CTBC Flying Oyster 1
Vietnam VCS Summer ChampionFlag of Vietnam.svg GAM Esports 1
Summer Runner-UpFlag of Vietnam.svg Team Whales2
Japan LJL Summer ChampionFlag of Japan.svg DetonatioN FocusMe 2
Brazil CBLOL Split 2 ChampionFlag of Brazil.svg LOUD 2
Latin America LLA Closing ChampionFlag of Mexico.svg Movistar R72

Venues

The Swiss Stage was played at KBS Arena (pictured above is the match between T1 and BLG) Worlds 2023 Swiss T1 v BLG.jpg
The Swiss Stage was played at KBS Arena (pictured above is the match between T1 and BLG)

Seoul and Busan were the two cities chosen to host the tournament. [17] [18] The LoL Park, which hosted the play-in stage of the tournament, is the only venue that hosted a Worlds tournament, having hosted the same phase during the 2018 League of Legends World Championship.

South Korea
Seoul Busan Seoul
Play-in Stage [lower-alpha 2] Swiss StageQuarterfinals and SemifinalsFinals
LoL ParkKBS Arena Sajik Indoor Gymnasium Gocheok Sky Dome
Capacity: 450Capacity: 1,824Capacity: 14,099Capacity: 16,744
LOL Park Entrance (cropped).jpg KBS hall Busan.JPG Sajik Arena for 2023 Worlds.jpg Gocheok Sky Dome exterior.jpg

Worlds Qualifying Series

Qualifying Match
October 9, 1:00 pm
Team BDS3
Golden Guardians0

Play-in stage

Groups

Group A
Opening MatchesWinner's MatchAdvance to Qualifiers
October 10, 7:00 pm
LOUD2
October 12, 4:00 pm
GAM Esports0
LOUD0
October 10, 4:00 pmA1PSG Talon
PSG Talon2
Movistar R70
PSG Talon2
Elimination MatchDecider Match
October 14, 4:00 pm
October 13, 4:00 pmLOUD0
A2GAM Esports
GAM Esports2GAM Esports2
Movistar R70
Group B
Opening MatchesWinner's MatchAdvance to Qualifiers
October 11, 7:00 pm
Team BDS1
October 12, 7:00 pm
Team Whales2
Team Whales2
October 11, 4:00 pmB1Team Whales
CTBC Flying Oyster1
DetonatioN FocusMe0
CTBC Flying Oyster2
Elimination MatchDecider Match
October 14, 7:00 pm
October 13, 7:00 pmCTBC Flying Oyster0
B2Team BDS
Team BDS2Team BDS2
DetonatioN FocusMe0

Qualifiers

Qualifying MatchesQualified
October 15, 12:00 pm
A1PSG Talon2
QTeam BDS
B2Team BDS3
October 15, 5:00 pm
B1Team Whales1
QGAM Esports
A2GAM Esports3

Swiss stage

Bracket
Advance to knockouts
2–0JD Gaming
1–0G2 Esports0Gen.G
0–0Weibo Gaming0Gen.G2Advance to knockouts
T11G2 Esports1JD Gaming22–1LNG Esports
Team Liquid0Bilibili Gaming0LNG Esports1KT Rolster1NRG Esports
Cloud91JD Gaming1LNG Esports2T1
MAD Lions0LNG Esports11–1T12Advance to knockouts
Gen.G1Cloud90NRG Esports1Bilibili Gaming02–2KT Rolster
GAM Esports0Gen.G1MAD Lions0NRG Esports2KT Rolster2Weibo Gaming
Team BDS0T10T11G2 Esports0Dplus KIA0Bilibili Gaming
JD Gaming1Cloud90G2 Esports1
G2 Esports10–1KT Rolster11–2Bilibili Gaming2Eliminated
Dplus KIA0Team Liquid0Weibo Gaming0Cloud91Fnatic1Dplus KIA
Weibo Gaming1NRG Esports1Bilibili Gaming1Fnatic2Weibo Gaming2Fnatic
NRG Esports0Dplus KIA0Fnatic0Dplus KIA2G2 Esports
LNG Esports1KT Rolster1GAM Esports0Eliminated
Fnatic0Team BDS00–2Weibo Gaming2Cloud9
Bilibili Gaming1MAD Lions1Dplus KIA2MAD Lions0MAD Lions
KT Rolster0Fnatic1Team BDS0GAM Esports
GAM Esports0Team Liquid1Eliminated
GAM Esports2Team Liquid
Team BDS

Knockout stage

Qualified teams

Eight teams qualified for the playoff portion of the tournament from the swiss stage.

GroupTeamRegion
Group A
(3–0)		 JD Gaming China
Gen.G South Korea
Group B
(3–1)		 LNG Esports China
NRG Esports North America
T1 South Korea
Group C
(3–2)		 KT Rolster South Korea
Weibo Gaming China
Bilibili Gaming China

Bracket

QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
November 2, 5:00 pm
B2Flag of the United States.svg NRG Esports0
November 11, 5:00 pm
C2Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Weibo Gaming3
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Weibo Gaming3
November 3, 5:00 pm
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Bilibili Gaming2
A2Flag of South Korea.svg Gen.G2
November 19, 5:00 pm
C3Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Bilibili Gaming3
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Weibo Gaming0
November 4, 5:00 pm
Flag of South Korea.svg T13
A1Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg JD Gaming3
November 12, 5:00 pm
C1Flag of South Korea.svg KT Rolster1
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg JD Gaming1
November 5, 5:00 pm
Flag of South Korea.svg T13
B1Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg LNG Esports0
B3Flag of South Korea.svg T13

Ranking

Team ranking

PlaceTeamPGPQSSQFSFFinalsPrize (%)Prize (USD)
1stT1––3–13–03–13–020%$445,000
2ndWeibo Gaming––3–23–03–20–315%$333,750
3rd–4thJD Gaming––3–03–11–38%$178,000
Bilibili Gaming––3–23–22–3
5th–8thGen.G––3–02–34.5%$100,125
KT Rolster––3–21–3
NRG Esports––3–10–3
LNG Esports––3–10–3
9th–11thG2 Esports––2–33.25%$72,312.50
Fnatic––2–3
Dplus KIA––2–3
12th–14thCloud9––1–32.75%$61,187.50
MAD Lions––1–3
GAM Esports2–13–11–3
15th–16thTeam Liquid––0–32.25%$50,062.50
Team BDS2–13–20–3
17th–18thPSG Talon2–02–31.75%$38,937.50
Team Whales2–01–3
19th–20thCTBC Flying Oyster1–21.5%$33,375
LOUD1–2
21st–22ndDetonatioN FocusMe0–21%$22,250
Movistar R70–2
PlaceTeamPGPQSSQFSFFinalsPrize (%)Prize (USD)

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References

  1. ↑ "Korea's T1 win record fourth League of Legends world title". The Korea Times . Agence France-Presse. November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  2. ↑ Nicholas Taifalos (July 10, 2023). "LoL Worlds 2023: Dates, location, tickets, and more". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Worlds 2023 Primer". Riot Games Esports Media Center. September 14, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  4. ↑ Shannon Liao (November 5, 2022). "DRX beats T1 to win 2022 League of Legends World Championship". Washington Post. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  5. ↑ Mateusz Miter (August 25, 2023). "3-time LoL Worlds finalist fails to qualify for 2023 tournament after LCK Finals disappointment". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  6. ↑ Paik Ji-hwan (August 28, 2023). "Dplus KIA, KT Rolster top LCK regionals to earn ticket to Worlds". Korea Joongang Daily. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  7. ↑ Anna Bernardo (November 12, 2023). "League of Legends Worlds 2023: T1 defeat JDG 3–1 to face Weibo Gaming in the Grand Finals". Yahoo News. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  8. ↑ Tom Daniels (September 27, 2023). "K-pop group NewJeans to perform League of Legends World Championship anthem". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  9. ↑ Charisma Madarang (October 4, 2023). "NewJeans Immortalize 'League of Legends' With 'Gods' Championship Anthem". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  10. ↑ Tom Daniels (October 23, 2023). "Riot Games unveils new League of Legends virtual music group HEARTSTEEL". Esports Insider. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  11. ↑ Mary Yang; Paik Ji-hwan (November 19, 2023). "T1 take down Weibo Gaming 3–0 to win LoL Worlds in Korea". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Korea's T1 win record fourth League of Legends world title". The Korea Times. November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  13. ↑ Tom Daniels (November 20, 2023). "League of Legends World Championship 2023 breaks esports viewership record". Esports Insider. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  14. ↑ Ethan Garcia (October 6, 2023). "Golden Guardians and Team BDS kick off LoL Worlds 2023 with inaugural NA vs. EU qualifying series". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  15. ↑ Tyler Esguerra (September 14, 2023). "LoL Worlds 2023: How does the Swiss-style format work?". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  16. ↑ David Jang (September 10, 2023). "All teams qualified for Worlds 2023". Inven Global. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Announcing Worlds 2023 Venues, Dates, and Ticket Sales". Riot Games Esports Media Center. April 22, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  18. ↑ Lee Si-jin (October 1, 2023). "2023 LoL World Championship to entertain esports fans". Korea Herald. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  19. ↑ Cecilia Ciocchetti (October 9, 2023). "Good morning Europe: BDS squeeze in as last LoL Worlds team after crushing NA hopes". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  20. ↑ David Jang (September 10, 2023). "Play-in Brackets for Worlds 2023 Fixed". Inven Global. Retrieved October 2, 2023.

Notes

  1. ↑ When a team wins all four major League of Legends titles in a single season (Spring and Summer domestic titles, Mid-Season Invitational and the World Championship).
  2. ↑ Including the Worlds Qualifying Series
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