The Excitement Builds for the 2024 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational
The 2024 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational is less than a month away, and fans from around the world are already reaching a fever pitch as excitement ramps up for the tournament. Riot Games recently unveiled its latest format changes for MSI 2024 to ensure fair and exciting games from start to finish for every team attending this May. Starting this year, play-in teams will be separated into different tiers to guarantee the play-in draw will be as fair as possible without resulting in lopsided matches. There will be two play-in brackets with one team from each tier, making sure every team has a fighting chance.
Play-In Stage: A Chance for All Teams
The play-in stage of the 2024 MSI will feature four tiers, each with a set of high-caliber teams. In Tier one, we have the LPL second seed and the LCK second seed. Tier two consists of the LCS second seed and the LEC second seed. Tier three includes the PCS first seed and the VCS first seed. Finally, Tier four is home to the LLA first seed and the CBLoL first seed, completing the diverse lineup for the play-in stage.
The Bracket Stage: Separation and Excitement
For the Bracket Stage, another major shift has been implemented. In a similar vein to the play-in stage, the eight remaining teams will be separated into four tiers. The LPL and LCK, as the powerhouses of the League of Legends scene, will be placed in Tier one. Tier two will be occupied by the LCS first seed and the LEC first seed. Tier three will feature the two play-in teams with 2-0 records, while Tier four accommodates the two play-in teams with 2-1 records. This division ensures a dynamic and balanced competition in the bracket stage.
No More Inter-Regional Matchups: A Game-Changer
The biggest change that has fans buzzing is that each side of the bracket will only be allowed to have one team per region. This means that there won’t be any same-region matchups during the first two rounds of the upper bracket or the first round of the lower bracket. This decision has garnered plenty of support and approval from fans worldwide. Fans have even started to dub MSI as the superior event over the World Championship due to these exciting changes. League enthusiasts have expressed their opinions on the format, highlighting that Worlds may have the prestige and hype, but the MSI format shines in comparison.
Looking Ahead: Improving the World Championship
Fans hope that Riot listens to the widespread praise for the new MSI format and eventually brings double elimination and the “no inter-regional matchup” changes to Worlds soon. Last year’s World Championship drew criticism for its lackluster matchups and uneven games, with some suggesting that T1’s victory saved the tournament from disappointment. To maintain the excitement and quality of international tournaments, the implementation of these changes would be a welcomed improvement for the World Championship.