League of Legends 2023 World Championship: The Road to the Finals
The highly anticipated 2023 World Championship for League of Legends is just around the corner, and teams from all over the world are vying for a spot in this prestigious tournament. Leagues from North America, EMEA, Korea, China, and other regions are wrapping up their seasons to determine their representatives.
This year, the World Championship returns to South Korea for the first time since 2018, when Invictus Gaming became the first Chinese team to win the title.
Riot Games has made some changes to the format of Worlds 2023, including introducing best-of-three matches, a Swiss-style stage, and more bracket-based play. These changes aim to create a more exciting and competitive event.
The tournament is set to begin on October 10 in Seoul, with the play-ins and group stages taking place there before moving to Busan for the finals. The grand finals will be held at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome, which can accommodate up to 17,000 spectators.
When the tournament kicks off in late October, we will have 22 League teams competing for the championship. This includes four representatives each from powerhouse regions like China and Korea, three to four from North America and EMEA, and several underdog hopefuls.
2023 League World Championship Teams
LCS (North America)
- NRG (LCS 2023 Championship Champion)
- Cloud9 (LCS 2023 Championship Runner-Up)
- Team Liquid (LCS 2023 Championship 3rd Place)
LCS Teams Still in Contention
- Golden Guardians (through NA vs. EU Qualifying Series)
Cloud9 has secured their spot at Worlds 2023 after a 3-0 victory over Evil Geniuses. NRG’s 3-1 win over Golden Guardians also guarantees their presence. Both teams will battle for a top-two seed in the upcoming matches.
Golden Guardians and Team Liquid have also secured their spots but will have to go through the Worlds Qualifying Series against the LEC fourth-seed.
NRG claimed the top seed for North America by defeating C9 in a four-game series. C9 will join them as the second representative from the region.
LEC (EMEA)
- G2 Esports (LEC 2023 Season Finals Champion)
- Fnatic (LEC 2023 Season Finals Runner-Up)
- MAD Lions (LEC 2023 Season Finals 3rd Place)
LEC Teams Still in Contention
- Team BDS (through NA vs. EU Qualifying Series)
MAD Lions secured the first Worlds slot for the LEC after a dominant showing in the 2023 LEC Season Finals. G2 Esports also earned their place by defeating Team BDS. Team BDS now has to face the LCS representative in the Play-In Qualifying Series for a chance to qualify for Worlds.
Fnatic, after defeating MAD Lions in the lower bracket, will join G2 at Worlds. G2 claims the top seed after winning the grand finals with a 3-1 score.
LCK (Korea)
- Gen.G (LCK 2023 Summer Champion)
- T1 (LCK 2023 Championship Points)
- KT Rolster (LCK 2023 Regional Finals Winner)
- Dplus KIA (LCK 2023 Regional Finals Runner-Up)
Gen.G secured their spot at Worlds 2023 with a 3-2 victory over T1. They are the first home team to secure a spot. T1 also earned their place with 170 championship points, making this the first time Faker will compete in the Summoner’s Cup in his home country.
KT Rolster and Dplus KIA qualified through the Regional Finals, defeating their opponents and securing their spots at Worlds.
LPL (China)
- JD Gaming
- Bilibili Gaming
- LNG Esports
- Weibo Gaming
JD Gaming won the 2023 LPL Summer Split, securing their spot at Worlds. Bilibili Gaming, with 150 championship points, will join them as the second seed for China. LNG Esports won the 2023 LPL Regional Finals, earning them a spot at Worlds alongside Weibo Gaming.
PCS (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Southeast Asia, Oceania)
- PSG Talon (2023 Summer Champion)
- CTBC Flying Oyster (2023 Summer Runner-Up)
PSG Talon secured their spot at Worlds by winning the 2023 Summer Split. CTBC Flying Oyster defeated Beyond Gaming to secure their spot as well. Both teams will compete in the Play-In stage.
VCS (Vietnam)
- GAM Esports (2023 Summer Champion)
- Team Whales (2023 Summer Runner-Up)
GAM Esports won the VCS and claimed the top seed for Vietnam at Worlds. Team Whales defeated Team Secret to secure the second seed.
CBLOL (Brazil)
- LOUD (CBLOL 2023 Split Two Champion)
LOUD defeated paiN Gaming to secure their spot at Worlds and continue their streak of appearances at the tournament.
LJL (Japan)
- DetonatioN FM (LJL 2023 Summer Champion)
LLA (Latin America)
- Movistar R7 (LLA 2023 Closing Champion)
Movistar R7 will represent Latin America after their victory in the LLA closing season.
Worlds 2023 Qualifying Series Winner
- TBA (Golden Guardians vs. Team BDS)
We will keep you updated as the competitive League seasons come to a close and determine the final qualifying team for Worlds 2023.