League of Legends World Championship 2023: Details

League of Legends esports’ premier competition for the year is the 2023 World Championship. During the month-long competition for the Summoner’s Cup, the event welcomes 22 teams from all game areas.

22 teams from around the world will compete at Worlds this year. The 2023 Worlds saw the debut of the Swiss Format, which took the place of the Group Stage, as well as a new qualification system to decide who would finish last among the 4th Seeds from North America and Europe.

League Information:

Series: Worlds

Organizers: Riot Games

Type: Offline

Location: Seoul, Busan

Venue: Gocheok Sky Dome (Grand Finals)

Sajik Arena (Quarterfinals & Semifinals)

KBS Stadium (Swiss Stage)

LOL Park (Play-Ins)

Format: Play-Ins, Swiss, Single Elimination

Start Date: October 10, 2023

End Date: November 19, 2023

Number of Teams: 22

Format:

Qualification: 

• The qualifying round will include 22 teams from professional leagues.
• LEC, LCS, PCS, and VCS will each have three places, while LPL, LCK, and Worlds Qualifying Series will each have four. The remaining slots will be shared by CBLOL, LJL, LLA, and LLA Worlds.

Play-In Round 1:

• Eight teams are split into two groups and compete in a Double Elimination competition.
• All games are played in a Bo3 format.
• The top two clubs from each group advance to Play-In Round 2.
• The bottom two teams in each group are eliminated.

Play-In Round 2:

• Play-In round with four teams: Round 1.
• Each group’s Upper Bracket winner faces the Lower Bracket winner from the other group in this matchup.
• Every game uses a Bo5 format.
• We’ll send two winners to the Swiss round.

Swiss: October 19th- 23rd and 26th-29th:

• Fourteen teams with direct entry from China, South Korea, Europe, and North America join two teams from the Play-In Stage.
• Format for 16-Team Swiss Systems

1. Teams from Round 1 will be matched up against teams from another region.
2. Each team’s win-loss record determines its seeding for rounds two through five.
3. Matches for advancement and elimination are best-of-three.
4. Other games are all Bo1.

• Teams that have three victories in Swiss move on to the knockout stage.
• Teams are eliminated after three losses in Swiss.

Knockout Stage – November 2nd – 5th, November 11th – 12th and November 19th

• A single elimination bracket features eight teams.
• Advantage of Side Selection

1. The winning team gets to pick the side in game 1 if they have the privilege of side selection. After that, the losing team gets to pick the side in game 2.
2. TBA in quarterfinals.
3. The Side Selection Privilege will be decided by a coin flip in the following games.

• Every game is a Bo5.

Patch Information:

• On Patch TBA, Worlds 2023 will be played.
• Naafiri was not allowed to compete in this event because of the rule that states “New Champions and VGUs must be enabled for playoffs in all four of the top regions in order to be playable at the next international tournament.”

Teams and Rosters:

The fourth seed from the LCS and the LEC will compete in a qualifying match known as the Worlds Qualifying Series (WQS) before the start of Worlds 2023. The victor of this interregional contest will be awarded the final opening in the Play-In Stage.

JDG initially clinched their place at the Worlds, and with a victory over LNG, BLG also did so. JDG’s supporters, who were absent, held up a placard stating that they would reserve BLG’s slot. And they delivered on that promise after defeating LNG in a thrilling best-of-five match.

While everything was going on, Cloud9 advanced following a dominating 3-0 victory over Evil Geniuses. They appear to be once again the best team in North America because it wasn’t really close. While LNG qualified by defeating EDG in the regional qualifier, NRG refused to be left behind and defeated GG decisively 3-1 to clinch their own Worlds spot.

Gen.G and T1 distinguished themselves as the top teams in the LCK, which is what we can say about that. T1 had a significant comeback following their downturn, but it was not enough to prevent Gen.G from dominating them in the finals.

While this was going on, KT Rolster and Dplus KIA battled their way back to Worlds. Only Deft and Pyosik will be there to defend their title, and they will be on separate teams because Hanwha Life Esports and DRX are no longer in the running.

As the final major area that needs to submit its qualifying teams, the LEC is yet to be confirmed. The teams BDS and Fnatic will represent Europe, however it is yet uncertain which team will enter Worlds straight and which will need to defeat Golden Guardians.

Tickets:

The Play-In stage tickets for Worlds 2023 have already gone on sale. Tickets will be released in three waves. Below, you’ll find information about how and where to purchase tickets.

Play-In Stage tickets (July 10) 

Swiss Stage tickets (July 19) 

Knockout Stage tickets (August 4)