22 teams from 10 regions participate in the League of Legends World Championship. In the tournament, the teams compete for the biggest sporting goal in LoL esports: The world championship.

Cover Image: Riot Games

List of all World Champions and Runner-Ups

Season Winner Region Winner Runner-Up Region Runner-Up
2022 DragonX LCK (South Korea) T1 LCK (South Korea)
2021 Edward Gaming LPL (China) Damwon Gaming LCK (South Korea)
2020 Damwon Gaming LCK (South Korea) Suning LPL (China)
2019 FunPlus Phoenix LPL (China) G2 Esports LEC (Europe)
2018 Invictus Gaming LPL (China) Fnatic LEC (Europe)
2017 Samsung Galaxy LCK (South Korea) SK Telecom T1 LCK (South Korea)
2016 SK Telecom T1 LCK (South Korea) Samsung Galaxy LCK (South Korea)
2015 SK Telecom T1 LCK (South Korea) KOO Tigers LCK (South Korea)
2014 Samsung Galaxy White LCK (South Korea) Star Horn Royal Club LPL (China)
2013 SK Telecom T1 LCK (South Korea) Royal Club Huang Zu LPL (China)
2012 Taipei Assassins PCS (Taiwan) Azubu Frost LCK (South Korea)
2011 Fnatic LEC (Europe) against All authority LEC (Europe)

Who is Participating in Worlds 2023?

While only 8 teams took part at first Worlds in 2011, there are now 22 teams in 2023. The best teams from around the world (top seeds) qualify for Worlds through the playoffs in their league.

These regions are participating in Worlds 2023:

  • Europe - LEC (3 teams)
  • North America - LCS (3 teams)
  • South Korea - LCK (4 teams)
  • China - LPL (4 teams)
  • Taiwan/Hong Kong/Macau/South East Asia/Oceania - PCS (2 teams)
  • Vietnam - VCS (2 teams)
  • Brazil - CBLOL (1 team)
  • Latin America - LLA (1 team)
  • Japan - LJL (1 team)
  • Worlds Qualifying Series (1 team)

Tournament Format

14 teams qualify directly for Stage 2 of the World Championship through their placement in the regular season. The remaining 8 teams have to make up the remaining 2 slots in the play-in phase.

Play In (Stage 1)

In the Play-In stage, eight teams play in two double elimination brackets (best-of-3). The winners of the upper bracket then play against the winners of the lower bracket (best-of-5). Both winners of these qualification matches participate in the second stage.

Swiss System (Stage 2)

16 teams are now taking part in the second round. The Swiss system is now played for five rounds. Teams with three wins qualify for Stage 3, teams with three losses are disqualified.

Knockout (Stage 3)

Eight teams are now taking part in the Knockout stage. In a single-elimination bracket, the winner of the World Championship will be determined in best-of-5's. The winner of the tournament will receive millions of dollars in prize money (2020: $2.500.000).

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