The 2023 League of Legends World Championship will have a new tournament format that may be unfamiliar to many spectators. Riot Games is introducing a Swiss-style format, which will change how most of the event is played.
This new format will bring exciting moments and ensure that the best teams continue to prove themselves against other top contenders. It also gives teams the opportunity to bounce back from losses and make their way to the top.
Before Worlds 2023 begins on Oct. 10, it’s important to understand the new format so you can fully enjoy the action when the teams take to the Summoner’s Rift in South Korea.
Worlds’ Swiss-style format, explained
In the Swiss-style format, the top 16 teams at Worlds 2023 will compete in a five-round format. There are no longer group stages, which means every team has a better chance of winning instead of being stuck in a tough group with little hope of advancing.
Teams will only face opponents with the same record as them, creating more opportunities to turn their performances around and secure a spot in the knockout stage. Some teams may win five games in a row, while others may face multiple best-of-one and best-of-three matches to earn their place in the next round.
Teams that win three matches will advance to the knockout stage, while teams that lose three games will be eliminated from the tournament. Overall, the Swiss stage will consist of 33 matches, including 20 best-of-ones and 13 best-of-threes.
Breaking down each round
Round one
In the first round of the Swiss stage, teams will play against a random team from a different region in a best-of-one match. This game will set the tone for the rest of the tournament.
Round two
In the second round, the eight teams with a 1-0 record will face off against each other, while the eight teams with a 0-1 record will compete against each other.
Round three
The third round will feature four undefeated teams with a 2-0 record, four winless teams with a 0-2 record, and eight teams that have split their first two matches with a 1-1 record. The 2-0 teams will play best-of-three matches, with the winners advancing to the knockout stage.
The 1-1 teams will continue with best-of-one matches, and the winless 0-2 teams will compete in best-of-three matches, with the losers being eliminated and the winners moving on to the fourth round.
Round four
In the fourth round, two teams will have already advanced, and two teams will have been eliminated. The six teams with a 2-1 record will play each other in best-of-three matches for a chance to advance to the knockouts. The other six teams with a 1-2 record will also compete in best-of-three matches, with the losing teams being eliminated from Worlds.
Round five
Finally, the fifth and final round of the Swiss stage will feature the six teams with a 2-2 record. They will compete in best-of-three matches to determine the final three teams that will move on to the next stage of the event.