2018 World Championship Korea Cities & Dates

Riot·Aug 1, 2018·1 votes·230,495 views

As announced in February, the 2018 League of Legends World Championship is heading back to South Korea where the 24 top teams in the world will compete for the Summoner’s Cup! We’re excited to hold our first ‘All-Korea’ Worlds, and will be traveling to key corners of the country over the course of the event.

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Below is an overview of host cities and event dates.

PLAY-IN STAGE:

We’ll kick Worlds off in South Korea’s capital Seoul, where 12 teams will compete for the 4 remaining Group Stage spots. Dates for the Play-In Stage are as follows:

Oct 1-4
Oct 6-7

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GROUP STAGE & QUARTERFINALS:

After the conclusion of the Play-In Stage in Seoul we’ll head southeast to Busan - Korea’s second most populous city known for its beaches, mountains and temples. Dates for the Group Stage and Quarterfinals are as follows:

Oct 10-17 (Group Stage)
Oct 20-21 (Quarterfinals)

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SEMIFINALS:

Once the four remaining teams have been determined, we’ll travel southwest to Gwangju for Semifinals. Semis dates are as follows:

Oct 27-28

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FINALS:

The Worlds 2018 winner will hoist the trophy in Incheon on November 3rd.

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FAQ:

How and when can I buy tickets?

Event tickets will be sold globally through Interpark. More information regarding ticket sales dates, as well as venues will be provided over the next several weeks!

It looks like this Worlds is a little shorter than usual, how come?

We’re looking to reduce the amount of time pro players and their team staff have to be on the road (particularly when it comes to downtime), as Worlds can represent a commitment of up to a month or longer spent in a foreign country.

What this change specifically means is: Group Stage games will now take place over the course of 8 consecutive days (rather than over 2 weeks with a break in between), and Quarterfinal games will take place over 2 days, rather than 4. Aside from the changes to Quarterfinals, the total number of match days (compared to Worlds 2017) isn’t being changed.

Last year you announced venues, cities, and dates for Worlds as early as February. Why did this announcement take so long?

Short answer: we were scouting for cities and venues (and entering into negotiations) as early as late last year, but chose a finals location that fell through late in the process.

Since then, we put all of our efforts into locking down a location worthy of the League of Legends World Championship Finals.

We’re deeply sorry to those whose travel plans have been impacted by this short notice. This was a series of unfortunate events - many due to decisions that we made - and we have plans to fix this in the future, including a multi-year roadmap for which regions and cities we’ll be visiting.

If you'd like to hear more about the situation, you can read a letter from our global events lead HERE.

46 Comments

DragoniteDDAug 1, 201820 votes

Be aware that Korea has the tradition of bribing referees (they admitted bribing referees during World Cup 2002, similar things happened in the 2018 winter Olympics in Pyeongchang). They probably did not need to do so before as LCK dominated the world. However, this year, LPL is challenging their domination. We do want a fair tournament. Please make sure everything is fair. (Make sure referees are fair, equipments are fair, internet connections are fair and stable for all the teams) Thank you!!! Enjoy the worlds everyone.

Lord PandariusAug 1, 201813 votes

why do you have to talk shit about my country. You're bringing irrelevant statements to this thread

StrefaAug 1, 20189 votes

its not irrelevant

DragoniteDDAug 1, 201811 votes

I am talking about truth. I admire Korea players, particularly Faker, who keeps practicing so hard and is the true god, No.1 league player in the history. However, the sports society of Korea does not have a good reputation, and they even admitted it publicly. This is an serious concern.

expertofluxAug 1, 20184 votes

Sports society of South Korea does not have a good reputation in the country because of its culture and attitude toward the players. For example, the Korea Skating Union is nefarious for infighting. South Korea has admitted, in fact, that the sports society is corrupted, but only within its association. They have not admitted that they have bribed referees at national matches.

top very dieAug 1, 20189 votes

Comparing soccer and olympics with league world championship, and trying to imply that there even would be a way to actually cheat?

The referees in league function differently than in sports. There are no tough calls, there is no eye balling. The teams deal with their own arrangements and if you think that the korean teams will pay to ruin the other team's internet connections where they are staying? Please.

Not to mention that China, the country that is trying to tie with Russia for the most corruption in their sports organizations, is the country you are trying to say would be hurt by Korea's impossible cheating.

You don't like Korea. This is not a serious concern.

DragoniteDDAug 2, 20184 votes

You cannot think of way of cheating does not mean there is no way. It is just that your thinkings are limited. Did you ever check rules and what the referees are responsible for before you typed your answer? Obviously no, otherwise, with normal intelligence level, it is just impossible to be totally unaware of the possibility of cheating. You realize matches have pauses sometime right? Do you know players are prohibited from communication during short pauses? Do you aware (I bet you won't if your elo is not high enough to realize how strategic this game actually is, especially when you play as 5) how much difference can this communication make? No clue why you would mention China and Russia, which are totally irrelevant to the discussion here. However, since you mentioned the two countries. Did you see any tiny bias towards Chinese teams during S7 Worlds? The audience even cheered for Korean teams when they won series. Did you observe any tiny bias towards Russia during World Cup 2018? Did you hear any news regarding unfairness or bias towards Russia during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi? Be fair, don't be shortsighted, what you are doing here just corrupts Korea's reputation even more, that you don't even dare to admit mistakes and facts. Sad.

BigBellBruteAug 2, 20182 votes

{quoted}

You cannot think of way of cheating does not mean there is no way. It is just that your thinkings are limited. Did you ever check rules and what the referees are responsible for before you typed your answer? Obviously no, otherwise, with normal intelligence level, it is just impossible to be totally unaware of the possibility of cheating. You realize matches have pauses sometime right? Do you know players are prohibited from communication during short pauses? Do you aware (I bet you won't if your elo is not high enough to realize how strategic this game actually is, especially when you play as 5) how much difference can this communication make? No clue why you would mention China and Russia, which are totally irrelevant to the discussion here. However, since you mentioned the two countries. Did you see any tiny bias towards Chinese teams during S7 Worlds? The audience even cheered for Korean teams when they won series. Did you observe any tiny bias towards Russia during World Cup 2018? Did you hear any news regarding unfairness or bias towards Russia during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi? Be fair, don't be shortsighted, what you are doing here just corrupts Korea's reputation even more, that you don't even dare to admit mistakes and facts. Sad.

Oh yes, the first refuge of a crack pot. "You're just a limited thinker."

How do you expect they are going to let the Korean team talk during a no talking time without their mouths moving and everyone seeing it? Do the Korean teams practice ventriloquism or something I don't know about? Do tell us oh hard stuck plat. You do know that you are closer to a bronzie than you are to a challenger don't you? Hmmmmm?
And do tell us how Riot, not affiliated with Korean sports organizaitons, is going to cheat. Never mind Korea kicks everyone's rump every year whether Worlds is in the U.S., Europe, or whereever.

Take your bigotry and tinfoil hat conspiracy theories elsewhere.

DragoniteDDAug 30, 20184 votes

After lost to China 1-3 in the final of Asian Games 2018, Korean KBS purchased the copyright of the final on YouTube and remove all the videos of the Final on Youtube. Korean also banned all LPL and high elo Chinese players' LOL account on the Korean Server (Chinese Server is usually 1 week late for the newest patch). Tell me more about your country. I am really worried about Visa issues for S8. There is literally nothing Korean CANNOT DO.

BettnachlegerAug 31, 20184 votes

[zombie-brand-facepalm]

DragoniteDDOct 9, 20181 votes

https://twitter.com/aphromoo/status/1046966586488365056 I bet you must have heard other news how Korean players inting LPL pro players in Korean server, to waste their time, to ruin their practice, to tilt them and bait them to be banned in tournament. What an unexpected trick LMAO. Korean has enough citizens who have no honor to make fair game a serious concern. I have no bias towards Korea, I got some very decent, nice and well educated Korean friends. The history and facts make me concern. That's it.

DragoniteDDAug 30, 20182 votes

DragoniteDDOct 9, 20181 votes

https://twitter.com/aphromoo/status/1046966586488365056 I bet you must have heard other news how your fellow citizens inting LPL pro players in Korean server, to waste their time, to ruin their practice, to tilt them and bait them to be banned in tournament. What an unexpected trick LMAO. Your country has enough citizens who have no honor to make fair game a serious concern. You should be shamed of them, and be shamed of defending them.

expertofluxAug 1, 20185 votes

Can you give us sources? Are there any credible news sources that have stated what you have said?

DragoniteDDAug 1, 20182 votes

https://www.quora.com/Some-people-actually-believe-that-South-Korea-cheated-in-the-World-Cup-2002-Did-any-other-country-cheat-in-the-World-Cup-besides-South-Korea-so-far (In English) http://sports.sina.com.cn/g/2014-06-11/21097203493.shtml (In Korean and Chinese) You can search more regarding this. Chung Mong-Joon, the former Fifa vice-president, admitted it in his campaign for Mayer election in Korean on June 4, 2014. He gifted the World Cup referees Hyundai Cars.

Walrus WrestlerAug 1, 20184 votes

Really? Quora as a site of reference?

expertofluxAug 21, 20182 votes

Lol Quora as a reference and the second link does not even work. Give me real references. Even in the Quora answers, they only say that they have been accused of and do not know what the truth is.

BigBellBruteSep 4, 20182 votes

{quoted}

https://www.quora.com/Some-people-actually-believe-that-South-Korea-cheated-in-the-World-Cup-2002-Did-any-other-country-cheat-in-the-World-Cup-besides-South-Korea-so-far (In English) http://sports.sina.com.cn/g/2014-06-11/21097203493.shtml (In Korean and Chinese) You can search more regarding this. Chung Mong-Joon, the former Fifa vice-president, admitted it in his campaign for Mayer election in Korean on June 4, 2014. He gifted the World Cup referees Hyundai Cars.

Brazil had the best team in 2002 and Brazil won. My heart bleeds for Spanish and Italian crybabies. They lost. get over it. We lost on a hand ball not called against Germany. But you don't see us crying about it.

staticX26Aug 1, 20183 votes

World cup 2002 is the most corrupted fifa tournament in the history of the game. There is no better way to describe South Korea play-offs games as dirty and unfair.

DragoniteDDAug 1, 20183 votes

2018 winter Olympics in Pyeongchang has a chance to contest that statement.

top very dieAug 1, 20185 votes

Riot is an independent organization from the Korean Government and their sports organizations. Try not to bring nationalism into this, as every country the size of korea+ has at least some history with bribing.

DragoniteDDAug 30, 20182 votes

DragoniteDDOct 9, 20181 votes

ChocoSaltyBallsAug 1, 20187 votes

LOL what?? are u like actually stupid? This is esports, that has nothing to do with league world championship. You just want to start argument over something that is not even relevant to this event. You just hate the fact that its happening at South Korea, Kid u need help, you racist fk.

DragoniteDDAug 30, 20181 votes

ChocoSaltyBallsSep 12, 20184 votes

Show me the proof that they did that but guess what, that does not justify what you said before. It is still irrelevant to this event. Also there was league world championship in Korea before (2014 league world championship) and nothing happened. Don't make issue out of something that is not even relevant to this event. You need help.

DragoniteDDOct 9, 20181 votes

LTYRAug 1, 20182 votes

dude, don't even start. That happens in every country they host so just get over with it.

DragoniteDDOct 9, 20181 votes

https://twitter.com/aphromoo/status/1046966586488365056 I bet you must have heard other news how Korean players inting LPL pro players in Korean server, to waste their time, to ruin their practice, to tilt them and bait them to be banned in tournament. What an unexpected trick LMAO. LOL Worlds have been hold in EU, U.S., CN, and these behaviors were unheard of. Korean has enough (definitely not all, but enough) citizens who have no honor to make fair game a serious concern. I have no bias towards Korea, I got some very decent, nice and well educated Korean friends. The history and facts make me concern. That's it.

Lux JudiciusAug 2, 20182 votes

dont even try to argument with em many of them r just too young to witness the most unfair (and heartbreaking for Europe) FIFA game in history

DragoniteDDAug 2, 20181 votes

Oh that's absolutely true... damn I'm old now...

mMayheMmSep 4, 20181 votes

While i do think OP is a little paranoid, but Its funny everyone downvoting this post seems to forgot Azubu was fined 30k for cheating against TSM in 2012! LOL Although ofc Koreans got so good in the following years theres no need anymore.

megaFly06Sep 15, 20183 votes

Ignore this as it's just copy paste no matter what what you post. Just a salty player that doesn't comprehend what actually is and isn't affiliated with RIOT. Plus, most of the player base is in China. So... I'm pretty sure if any one was gonna bribe and get away with it, it'd be the country that has Tencent based in it which is China if you didn't know... (Not stating China would, will, or has bribed.)

JoiyGamingAug 3, 20186 votes

#KPOPATWORLDS

ŁaythAug 1, 20185 votes

Looks like Im traveling all the way from Seoul to Busan to see my favorite NA teams. See ya there Riot. :D

Hanman004Aug 1, 20184 votes

Fighting!

DlXONAug 1, 20183 votes

"Many due to decisions we made"

Mainly?

KazekibaAug 1, 20182 votes

I read it as "many of the events are admittedly a result of our decision making"

rtbf244568277Sep 25, 20182 votes

So is the NA curse still valid? You know, now that there is no week 2 group stage.

hotarseAug 1, 20181 votes

Group Stages are always the best games of the whole tourney. I'm really tempted to book a trip to Busan but honestly I wish they'd done a leg in Singapore like they did a few years ago, or at least somewhere in South East Asia. Vietnam is a hotbed for League of Legends and they're right next door to me. That would have been hot, even though League is total trash right now.

Oh and what the hack mountain is up with gwang ju and that one apartment building that seems to be leaning?

CobozcoAug 1, 20181 votes

What's the best way for an NA player to meet others from NA going to world's :o. Add me? #notEgirl

MisterWolfeAug 11, 20181 votes

if a Pro has been banned from the Korean server for hate-speech during a previous Korean boot-camp, are they allowed to compete at Worlds if their team makes it?[sg-lux-2]

BigBellBruteAug 12, 20182 votes

{quoted}

if a Pro has been banned from the Korean server for hate-speech during a previous Korean boot-camp, are they allowed to compete at Worlds if their team makes it?[sg-lux-2]

The pros play lan. They don't play on the region's server.

DragoniteDDOct 9, 20181 votes

They do during Worlds, and that's exactly what many Korean players are trying to do LMAO, they are trying to tilt pro players from other region and bait them to make mistakes to be banned by RIOT LMAO. WHAT AN UNEXPECTED TRICK. Fair game & tournament must be a joke there LMAO.