2020 World Championship

24 September, 2020 - 31 October, 2020 China

The League of Legends World Championship is the biggest esports event in the world, consistently breaking records in regards to viewership.

The best League of Legends teams in the world have been competing for a year across multiple circuits and events globally to prove themselves and earn a spot at the World Championship stage.

Preview

2020 World Championship Group Stage Preview

The Group Stage is finally here, and boy does it look good! Heck, maybe that’s even an understatement. If the Play-Ins are any indication, we should be in for the most competitive and exciting World Championship in history. That’s really saying something, given just how incredible this tournament has always been throughout history. Still, we’ve never seen so many incredible teams converge in just a single city, and the gap between them has never been this negligible. Obviously, the best challengers in the world stand in a league of their own, but seeing how they’ll all compete in the Best of 1 format — in the most exciting meta ever, to boot — we’re bound to see fireworks almost every single day. 

That, of course, includes a metric ton of upsets. Everyone has their own ideas and favorites coming into Worlds, but these notions and unfiltered fandom often go out the window once teams actually spawn on the Summoner’s Rift. It all boils down to preparation, and when that comes into play, there are simply too many factors to keep track of. Some teams, for instance, don’t practice nearly as much as they should. Others, however, don’t practice efficiently, so they burn out long before they ever step foot on stage. Some deteriorate over time whereas others fail to adapt and pivot as the tournament (and its micro-meta) evolves. There are so many factors at play, it’s truly mind-blowing.

Take LGD Gaming, for instance. Now sure, they’ve ultimately reached the Group Stage (as everyone predicted), but they had to fight tooth and nail to get there, and we could argue that they looked far worse than one would expect given their pedigree and amount of talent present within their starting line-up. 

You never really know what’s going to happen, and that makes betting on the World Championship a double-edged sword. On the one hand, we always know who’s favored and why. But in actuality, the path towards the finals is always riddled with twists and turns no one could have foreseen. Sometimes — like in the case of 2016’s Albus Nox Luna — these upsets happen out of the blue. Other times, however, they make all the sense in the world, albeit only in hindsight and retrospect.

Either way, there’s a lot of ground to cover, so let’s begin! 

Disclaimer: To help you out as best we can, we’ll do a quick summary of each group before doing a deeper dive into the why of it all. Of course, there are all preliminary power rankings, so take them with a grain of salt, but they’re not written on a whim nor are they based on anyone’s subjective opinion. Instead, our analysis and prognosis will both be based on facts, stats, and historical performance. 

Group A — The “Group of Life”
Make no mistake: the first group of the World Championship is by no means an easy road to the quarterfinals. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Still, given just how insanely stacked groups B, C, and D are, group A looks like child’s play. 

TLDR: 1. G2 Esports; 2. Suning; 3. Team Liquid; 4. Machi Esports

The perennial LEC giants G2 Esports are generally considered as the best team in the group. They’ve been getting so much attention and respect precisely because they’re the absolute best team Europe ever fostered. And, frankly, it’s not even close. The gap between them and the second best (that being Fnatic) is like an insanely wide chasm, no matter how close some of their clashes might seem at times. The thing with G2 is, well, they don’t always prepare as hard as they should, nor do they always do the right thing. That’s part of their charm, one could argue, but it still makes betting on (or against) them a living nightmare.

You never know whether they’ll fool around or if they’ll tryhard beyond measure. It all depends on the day, really, and how they’re feeling in the moment. They’re prone to improvising and they don’t care much for results-based analysis either — they know their worth and have nothing left to prove. When they’re playing on home soil they often look like a strange, middle-of-the-pack contender. That, of course, is not because they lack in talent or experience or preparation, but because they can’t seem to muster the will to actually compete and put their best foot forward. 

That’s what happens when you’ve been dominating for as long as they have. At last year’s Worlds, they were able to nearly go all the way. Finishing right behind FunPlus Phoenix is nothing to scoff at, and while their 0-3 result in the grand finals left a lot to be desired, their overall performance erased all doubt: they’d proven their worth and had solidified their spot as one of the best teams in the world. 

In second place, we have Suning. Now, on the one hand, we have to consider Suning as the dark horse of the group. Then again, calling them a “dark horse” might not be the most apt way to describe them. Let’s make one thing clear: Suning have all the right tools to finish first in the group. They’re one of the best teams in the LPL and were on a tear back in China. The fact that they’re not as good as Top Esports or JD Gaming in no way diminishes their immense talent and potential. But with that said, we haven’t seen them compete against Western teams yet. Before that happens, anything anyone says will sort of be a stab in the dark. LGD struggled mightily against Play-In teams and wildcard regions in Best of 1s, and yet we know they’re much better than they’ve shown on stage. The same could potentially happen with Suning. It takes a bit of time to warm up, and seeing how this is their very first waltz on the international stage, they might not play their best. If they manage to reach the quarterfinals they’ll certainly pose a huge threat regardless of whom they end up facing, but that’s still a ways off. 

Because of this, placing them second feels like the safest thing to do. They could definitely end up first, but any lower than second would end up being quite a surprise.

This leads us to the former LCS champions Team Liquid. This isn’t the TL of old, mind you. They’re still insanely capable and dangerous, but they lack that extra bit of ferocity and vigor that they had with Doublelift. Granted, they didn’t change all that much — they’re still a slow, macro-oriented kind of team, but without that veteran playmaker in the bottom lane, they haven’t been quite as commanding. 

Still, they’re exceptional at what they do, and when they’re able to impose their own playstyle they’re definitely one of the best teams in the world. Then again, Team Liquid has very distinct (and potentially easily exploitable) weaknesses. They play a fairly singular style, they don’t adapt all that well, and they’re also easy to read. You know what they’ll draft and how they want to execute. They’re not exactly one-dimensional, but their avenues towards success are somewhat set in stone, and they haven’t been able to grow out of that mold. 

This could potentially be their biggest hindrance. G2 and Suning are insanely aggressive and they try to establish the pace of the game from the moment they step foot on stage. There’s never a wasted moment or a play that goes unrealized. They’ll fight and skirmish and compete for every inch of the Summoner’s Rift, even if it costs them dearly. Of course, there’s a method behind this chaos, but Liquid was never able to fully comprehend it.

Think of them as the quintessential LCK team. They’re playing an outdated style in a meta that favors absolute chaos. As a result, they shouldn’t be favored to accomplish much. Still, the sheer fact that they had a bit of time to warm up could give them an upper hand during the first week of play. 

Lastly, we have Machi Esports, the PCS champions (formerly known as the LMS). If you’ve watched even a single World Championship in the past, you’re surely well acquainted with the perennial LMS style of play: unrelenting aggression and non-stop skirmishing. That, in a meta that’s as fast-paced as ours, could empower Machi far more than anyone expects. This is quite a talented line-up although it’s fair to say that the PCS hasn’t been all that successful over the last couple of years. The days when Flash Wolves took games off of tournament favorites happened so long ago that they’ve started to fade from memory. We still remember their plays and mechanical talent, but these individuals no longer compete in the PCS. Instead, they’ve signed for some of the best and most successful LPL teams in existence. That’s why no one’s expecting much from Machi. It’s not that they’re not good, but rather that they have yet to prove their worth against the toughest of opposition.

Watching them play will be an absolute must. They’re a dark horse through and through, but what they lack in hype and momentum they’re more than willing to make up for in sheer grit and resilience. Don’t be surprised if they pull off a couple of upsets over the coming days and weeks. Still, they haven’t earned our benefit of the doubt which is why they’ve automatically been slotted into fourth place. 

Group B — The “Group of Death”
This is where things get both chaotic and endlessly interesting. This, in short, is the group to watch. There’s no number of superlatives that could truly do it justice. Let’s keep things short and sweet: there are two teams in Group B that have the potential to not only go the distance (i.e. reach the finals) but also win the whole thing. Those two teams are JD Gaming (LPL Spring Split champions) and DAMWON Gaming (LCK Summer Split champions). These two challengers are so darn good and stacked with talent that it’s not even fair to the rest of the teams competing. 

TLDR: 1. JD Gaming; 2. DAMWON Gaming; 3. Rogue; 4. PSG Talon

JD Gaming are entering the 2020 World Championship as the second seed from China. That fact, however, can be slightly misleading: they’re every bit as good as Top Esports. In fact, they’ve beaten Top in the Spring Split finals, before losing control of the LPL throne in Summer. Both Best of 5 clashes were worthy of the history books, with JD Gaming and Top Esports now being tied in their head-to-head with five wins and losses apiece. So, really, with a .500 record, it’s fair to consider them as equals, both in terms of skill but also long-term potential and sheer mechanical prowess. 

They’re one of the best and most capable teams China ever produced, and they’re entering Worlds with a chip on their shoulder, despite being one of the biggest favorites. On their path to glory stands but a handful of teams: Top Esports, G2 Esports, and DAMWON Gaming. The first two aren’t in their group but that doesn’t mean they won’t potentially meet in the Knockout Stage. DAMWON, however, will be an immediate threat and quite a formidable challenge. 

So let’s focus on DAMWON, the one team most people are insanely hyped about, but are still slightly unsure of when it comes to gauging their overall strength and power level. DAMWON is unlike any other LCK champion in history. They’re the evolution of Korean talent, and arguably the first team (and only) that has managed to adapt to today’s skirmish-centric meta. They’re don’t favor macro over teamfighting, nor are they willing to wait thing out until their item and power spikes are reached. Instead, they’ll clash whenever possible and eke out advantages both individually as well as a five-man unit. They ran through the LCK — which is still one of the best regions in the entire world — with staggering ease and are rightfully feared by nearly everyone who’s slated to compete at the Worlds stage.

DAMWON has all the right tools and weapons to get the job done. Still, they haven’t faced any of the LPL giants, nor did they square off with the best teams the West has to offer. Without those metrics, calling their success “inevitable” would be a bit foolish and quite premature. They still have something to prove, and they’ll get the chance to do so in mere hours. If they end up being as strong as everyone expects, they’ll no doubt go deep into the tournament. If, however, they slip even for a moment, JD Gaming is bound to capitalize and punish. 

That’s why we’re placing DAMWON in second place instead of first. JD Gaming hails from the best and most competitive region in the world, and the fact that they’re championship-worthy material tells us all we need to know coming into the Group Stage. Granted, the LPL style of play is quite hectic and it doesn’t always pan out, especially not in Best of 1s. That’s why they might start off a bit slow.

Furthermore, the pressure to perform in front of millions upon millions of their peers and countrymen should not be taken lightly. Many teams have regressed and whittled down under such an immense burden, and JD Gaming is still human, despite their staggering play on the Summoner’s Rift. 

Then we have Rogue, the third best team from Europe. No one’s quite sure what to expect, and that’ll certainly remain the case until we see them in action. They’re talented, there’s no doubt about that, but they lack the depth, experience, and versatility that are must-haves if you’re facing the absolute best teams in the world. Now, they’ve gotten this far which is a true testament to their skill and work ethic, but we’ve seen them in action and once push came to shove they failed to deliver. It doesn’t matter if they missed the mark by just a bit, or by a country mile — the end result is all the same. They are, however, a feisty bunch, and they’re much better than you’d expect. They’re well-aware of their underdog status and the fact that no one’s giving them much thought coming into the Group Stage. This, potentially, is their biggest strength. 

If they can capitalize on the fact that DAMWON and JD are probably undervaluing them, Rogue could score an upset or two over the coming days. That’s still a big “if,” but the potential is certainly there. In any case, they’re a worthy challenger who simply didn’t have any luck when it came to the Group Stage draw. They were the first team to lock in a ticket to Worlds, and if things pan out as expected, they should be among the first to pack their bags and go back home. Not exactly a spectacular way to close out the year, but competing on the Worlds stage is still a huge accomplishment in and of itself. Regardless, they’ll fight valiantly every step of the way and they might surprise us in the process.

 The reason why we’re putting them in third instead of fourth (despite PSG Talon looking mighty capable), is the fact that they’re actually a solid team (in spite of appearances). They have great fundamentals and a couple of players who could definitely trade heavy blows with teams many deem far superior. Larssen, for instance, has low-key been one of the best European mid laners, even though he hasn’t been getting as much recognition as he deserves. If he brings his A game and Inspired does the same, this potent mid-jungle duo could definitely create a bit chaos in Group B. 

Finally, we have the biggest enigma of 2020 Worlds: PSG Talon. They’ve steamrolled through a very tough group in the Play-Ins with three substitutes. That wasn’t a typo. So not one, not two, but three entirely different players stepped up and helped carry this team into the Group Stage. This fact alone is simply mind-blowing. And, frankly, you would never be able to tell by looking at their play. Frankly speaking, their synergy is amazing and not just for a team that’s been playing together for mere weeks but in general, too. They’re far more cohesive than certain other challengers who’ve been competing together for months if not years. That, in short, is so rare it’s practically unheard of. The reason why it doesn’t happen is because it defies all logic and reason. And yet here we are, with PSG Talon performing way above expectations.

Their level of play from the Play-In Stage was mesmerizing, and everyone’s dying to find out whether they just punched above their weight class, or if they’re really as good as they seemed. In any case, before we see them in action against the likes of JD Gaming, DAMWON, and Rogue, we’ll reserve judgement. At best, they could potentially overtake Rogue and finish third, but that’s more of a best-case scenario. The first two spots, however, are reserved.

Group C — “The Group of Narratives”
Yet another insanely competitive group. Still, it doesn’t stand out because it’s packed with talented teams (although that’s certainly the case), but rather because of its many narratives and hype match-ups. This group truly has it all, with a single representative from each major region. 

TLDR: 1. Gen.G; 2./3. Fnatic; 3./2. Team SoloMid; 4. LGD Gaming

Predicting the outcome of this group is an absolute nightmare. Heck, it’s impossible, even. There are so many intangibles that making any kind of prediction feels foolish. Gen.G has a fantastic roster, but it’s also far from infallible, and they’re probably not as strong as some people expect. Fnatic is synonymous with the European region but they haven’t been all that consistent or dominant throughout 2020. Still, they’ve finished second in both splits, so they must be doing something right. Regardless, their inconsistency and sheer volatility could take over, as has happened on so many different occasions in the past. Then we have LGD Gaming, yet another enigma that’s impossible to read at this point in time. They’ve picked up steam as the Play-Ins progressed, but it still doesn’t feel like they’re all that great, despite their stacked line-up and breadth of experience.

You get the gist. There are too many question marks and we simply don’t know how well anyone will perform. Heck, Fnatic and TSM might even stand a chance of finishing first and second, although they’ll have to be perfect in execution if they want to make their regions proud. This group is truly wide open, which is why it’s so darn exciting. 

Anything can happen and if you’re looking for safe bets, it’s best to look elsewhere. Still, if we were to judge solely based on roster strength and incorporate a bit of recency bias as well, we’d have to go with Gen.G in first, with Fnatic and Team SoloMid being tied for second place in terms of strength and overall potential. Fnatic has Selfmade, a Polish jungling powerhouse who’s widely regarded as one of the best junglers in the world. Team SoloMid, on the other hand, has Bjergsen, and he’s been playing out of his mind lately. So much so, in fact, that he’s the main reason why TSM was even able to secure a ticket to Worlds. 

Historically, though, Fnatic has always outperformed TSM, and there’s no good reason for that to change in 2020. 

Lastly, LGD Gaming is entering groups without any semblance of hype or momentum. They might not be the worst team in their group, but their stock plummeted after their recent performances. Still, they’ve learned from their mistakes and they should, in theory, start off strong. Keep an eye on LGD as they might surprise us over the coming days. 

Group D — Absolute Chaos
Finally, to close things out, we have the last four teams slotted in Group D. Depending on how you view things, this could potentially be the most exciting group of them all. Group B, for example, is the “group of death.” It has two exceptional teams and two that, while talented, simply shouldn’t be able to compete. Group C is filled with narratives and history, but none of those four teams play the most exciting League in the world. They might come close, but they’re just not at that level, although Gen.G might have a thing or two to say about that. 

Group D, however, isn’t as evenly packed, but it’s none the less exciting. 

TLDR: 1. Top Esports; 2. DRX; 3. FlyQuest; 4. Unicorns of Love

At the very top, we have two exceptional teams, with Top Esports obviously being the frontrunners to win this year’s Worlds. They’re absolutely insane in every way, shape, and form, and the League of Legends they’re playing almost seems otherworldly. You can’t truly grasp and appreciate just how good these LPL giants are until you see them in action — preferably against a team of similar strength and potential. That’s when they truly shine brightest. And Top Esports shines brighter than anyone else in the world. They’re narrowly missed out on winning Spring to JD Gaming, but then came with a vengeance and steamrolled through everyone at the first-ever 2020 Mid-Season Cup before pulling off a repeat at the LPL Summer Split. 

They are, without a shadow of a doubt, the best team at this year’s World Championship, although they might need a bit of time to warm up and start dominating as hard as everyone expects. 

Below them, we have DRX (formerly known as DragonX and Longzhu Gaming). DRX hails from the LCK and is Korea’s second seed, although there’s a noticeable gap skill and performance-wise when compared to DAMWON Gaming. Still, they’re insanely talented and the sheer fact that they have Chovy and Deft aboard should push them into the Knockout Stage almost by default.

Fortunately for everyone who’s about to tune in and watch, they’ll have quite stiff opposition in North America’s FlyQuest and LCL’s (formerly CIS) Unicorns of Love. These two teams aren’t favored to do much, but they’re dying to play spoiler. That’s their number one mission. They know they’re the underdogs and they’ve accepted the fact. Still, these are Best of 1s we’re talking about, and the last time PowerOfEvil and IgNar played at Worlds (way back in 2017), they were able to nearly take down SKT T1 in one of the most thrilling Best of 5s in history. Both teams love to skirmish, they have champion oceans, and are willing to trade heavy blows regardless of whom they’re up against. One could argue that FlyQuest and UoL are the worst possible opponents Top and DRX could’ve gotten. It’s not that they’re better (spoiler: they’re not even close), but if these two teams prepare a bit of spice (both in draft and in game), they might be able to pull off a couple of historic upsets.

Still, the odds are on Top Esports’ and DRX’s side. They’re better in every conceivable fashion and they should be able to prove it without much trouble. All of that said, if there’s one group that might produce mind-boggling upsets and nerve-wracking backdoor finishes, it’s probably this one. 

Closing Remarks
If you’re looking to bet on this year’s World Championship, our standard advice applies: make sure to watch as many games as you possibly can. Your money is on the line, after all. No amount of research can suffice when we’re talking about Worlds as things always evolve in an unexpected direction. That’s why we all tune in and watch on the edge of our seats.

If things pan out as expected, we should be in for one heck of ride. The LPL giants are favored (and with good reason), but defending their throne will not come easy. You can check out the full Group Stage schedule by going to Riot’s official website. 

2020 World Championship Play-In Stage Preview 

The 2020 World Championship is finally here! After many months of exceptional, top-tier play, we’ve at long last reached the culmination of 2020 and things cannot get any better! Worlds is where the best League of Legends teams in the world converge for a month and duke it out on the Summoner’s Rift for a shot at glory (and quite a lot of money, frankly speaking). There’s a lot on the line, with regional pride and many multi-year-long narrative building up to this point.

Needless to say, watching Worlds is always an absolute must! 

Quick Regional Breakdown
This, in many ways, is the most important part of the year for many teams, but not all of them carry equal expectations. Chinese teams, for instance, are presumed as the absolute best — bar none. Korea, on the other hand, is still held in high regard, despite not accomplishing anything worthy of mentioning over the last couple of years. That goes to show just how dominant that whole dynasty was back in the day — we’re still giving them their due respect and reverence. There’s also a peculiar Korean champion this time around: DAMWON Gaming. They’re not like your run-of-the-mill LCK team either. Instead, they’re like an LPL giant: unrelenting in nature, insanely aggressive, and mind-blowingly talented. If you were to remove their name tags, you’d never guess they were from Korea which is quite strange. That’s because the LCK has this ingrained style of play, something that’s passed on from one generation of players to another— a slow, subdued, and macro-oriented approach that has garnered them so much attention and success over the years. But those days are long gone, and they’re the only region that has refused to adapt to the more improvisational and hectic style of play that’s been prevalent over the last three years.

DAMWON, however, is cut from a different kind of cloth, and we can’t wait to see them in action!

Then we have Europe, a region many deem as the second best. There’s a good reason why, too, seeing how European teams finished Top 2 in both the 2018 and 2019 World Championships. LEC teams are exceptional, but there’s a noticeable gap between them and China, as evidenced by the result of both grand finals mentioned above (one-sided 0-3 shellackings). 2020 is no different in that regard: Europe is sending multiple layered and highly talented challengers, but whether they’ll once again leave a mark is anyone’s guess. They’re insanely capable, but the LPL has been in a league of its own, and if their recent games are any indication, Chinese teams are bound to steamroll through all opposition yet again — in equally emphatic fashion. 

Finally, we have North America (or the LCS, for short). As a region, they haven’t accomplished much over the years. Heck, maybe that’s even an understatement. Other than Cloud9, North American teams failed to leave a palpable mark on the international stage. And even Cloud9’s Top 4 finish from a couple of years back has faded from memory. LCS teams have always been trailing behind, and very little is expected to change this time around. 

Play-In Stage
As always, the World Championship is divided into three stages: Play-In stage, Group stage, and Knockout stage. The most exciting ones are the last two — that where the absolute best teams in the world duke it out. The Play-In stage, however, is not without its charm and allure. 

Ten teams divided into two groups of five compete for the last four spots in the Group stage. That’s the gist of it, basically. There’s a key change this year, however, and that’s the fact that we’ll see more Best of 5s as the Play-In stage develops. We’re bound to witness a lot more action as a result, which is always a positive thing. 

So who’s favored and why? The Play-In stage always gives us a look at a fascinating mix of teams, consisting of both wildcard regions and major ones as well. This time around, we have LGD Gaming from the LPL (fourth seed), MAD Lions from the LEC (fourth seed), Team Liquid from the LCS (third seed), and a slew of deceptively talented wildcard region champions. Three of those, however, stand out: Papara SuperMassive (TCL champions), PSG Talon (PCS champions, formerly Taiwan), and Unicorns of Love (LCL champions).

These three teams are stacked with capable players and they’re more than willing to prove their worth at the biggest of stages. TCL, PCS, and to a lesser extent the LCL are definitely worthy of keeping an eye on, and they’ve also fostered/have been temporary homes to some of today’s most recognizable players: Karsa, SwordArt, Betty, Caps, Xerxe, BrokenBlade, Diamondprox, Alex Ich, and many others. This quick impromptu list alone tells you all you need to know, really. The PCS has always been insanely competitive regardless of context and meta, and the LCL often broke through with off-the-wall strategies and creative drafting (perhaps best showcased by Albus Nox Luna back in 2016). 

Still, the thing with less developed regions is that they’re never strong enough to compete with the likes of LCS and LEC on even footing. They might come close (achingly close, even), but they’ll never get the job done, barring any unforeseen, mind-blowing twist. When it comes to Best of 5s, major regions have more experience, better and more versatile coaching staff, and oftentimes more talented players as well. It’s not always a world of difference, but it does exist, and it’s visible most when it all goes down to the wire. 

This year should be no different. 

Still, seeing how the first part of the Play-In stage will be played in the Best of 1 format, anything could happen. Upsets always tend to occur when you least expect them to, and the Play-In stage always ends up being a bit too chaotic for most people’s taste. Still, it’s the perfect introduction to the main event, and it’ll also give us a sneak peak into just how good certain teams are coming into the most important tournament of the year.

You can check out both groups by clicking here. 

Play-In Predictions
As for now, if you’re looking for a quick prediction, you can expect Team Liquid and MAD Lions to end up on top in Group A, with LGD Gaming and Unicorns of Love doing the same in Group B. PSG Talon was supposed to be a lot stronger, but because of COVID-related travel restrictions, this organization will only field two of its intended starters. This, in short, will heavily hinder their chances of leaving a mark. The Unicorns of Love, on the other hand, have only dropped a handful of games throughout the year and are one of the most dominant champions in LCL history — led by a legendary head coach who’s been around for almost as long as the LEC. 

As always, try to watch as many games as possible if you’re looking to bet on the 2020 World Championship; these standings and preliminary power rankings mean very little once teams spawn on the Summoner’s Rift! In any case, fireworks are all but guaranteed!

Group Stage
We’ll update our 2020 World Championship preview as the tournament develops! Expect a thorough breakdown of the group stage in a couple of days!

Tournament Format

Play-In Stage:

Twelve teams are seeded into four double round robin groups of three teams each. The top two teams from each group advance to the second round. For round two the first place team of each group are seeded against a second place team to face off in a Best-of-Five. The winner of the series advance to the main event.

Main Event, Group Stage:

The sixteen participating teams are split into four double round robin groups of four teams each. Matches are Best-of-One, and the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage.

Main Event, Knockout Stage:

Single elimination bracket with Best-of-Five matches.