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If LMS finishes first at MSI should they be granted a third team at worlds? [MSI Spoilers]

AlphaWolf3·5/10/2016, 5:29:21 AM·2 votes·770 views

With LMS advancing out of the group stage as the #3 seed, they secured a Group A seed for the new Worlds format. The Flash Wolves looked strong early in the tournament and after the first few days many casters and analysts predicted a final between RNG and FW. While the path to winning MSI looks less bright for FW than it did those first few days at MSI it is still possible they could come out on top.

The current format for Worlds gives the LMS two teams regardless of their performance at MSI. LMS have already proven they are worthy of the Group A seed and raised their former starting position at worlds. If the LMS region were to win MSI do you think they should be granted a third team slot at worlds? What would the region need to do to earn an extra team slot? Which region would lose out on one of their team slots at worlds?

To me it seems to make sense that if the LMS prove they are one of the strongest regions in the world at MSI they be given the luxury of an additional team slot. While some people think the LMS region lacks depth, despite their strong international performances, and do not need an additional team slot it seems like the #3 seed from the strongest region could outperform the #3 seed from a region who is performing worse even if that region is historically strong or iconic. It is my opinion, based on the performance of teams through the MSI group stage, that if the Flash Wolves are able to get first or second place at MSI they should be granted a third team slot at worlds and that EU, the region that finished 5th, should lose their third seed team slot. (IWC finished 6th, but are also only granted 2 team slots and demoting them to 1 doesn't seem fair).

What do you think about this? Should Riot change how the number of teams representing each region is determined for Worlds?

Edits: Spelling/Grammar mistakes

6 Comments

Smart Kitty5/10/2016, 3:02:36 PM1 votes

Funny how this gets downvoted now, but last year at worlds when people said TW should get NA's third spot, it got several upvotes.

Guyy Fieri5/10/2016, 7:30:47 PM1 votes

Idk...it's too tough to tell. In order to LMS to get three spots either someone needs to lose a spot or the field needs to widened.

Let's say they take away a spot. You can't really justify removing one from Korea or China because those regions have seen quite a bit of international success lately (even with China's lackluster performance at Worlds 2015). Europe, while they had a poor showing from G2 at MSI, has also shown strong international play of late, (with Fnatic and Origin at Worlds 2015, Origin won an IEM event I believe, Fnatic made it to IEM Katowice finals). The IWC already only has two spots so that simply wouldn't be fair. That would leave NA but CLG is making a very strong case for why NA deserves the three spots (even considering the regions poor performance at Worlds 2015). Anyway you do it, someone is getting screwed and it wouldn't fair.

What if, instead, they game LMS three spots, expanded 20 teams and gave the IWC 5 spots. Not sure how seeding for pools would work but considering that IWC covers more nations then any other region but EU, it would seem fair to say that IWC could get more spots to round out to a full 20. Perhaps you could then have five groups, with each major region getting a number 1 seed and each IWC team being the number 3 seed. The knockout stage would have to be altered slightly because ten teams is weird for bracket style. Say maybe twelve teams make it out of groups with each of the top teams from each group and the two teams with te next best record. From there four teams would get a bye (not sure how to figure that out) and you would play out bracket style from there. I feel like everyone would be happy. LMS would get three spots without screwing over another region, IWC gets more representation (I know some people would disagree that they need it but it seems like the fairest idea), we wouldn't have this issue where a team can perform poorly at MSI and hinder their regions chances at Worlds (cough cough G2). Just an idea.

III BAKURYU III 5/10/2016, 8:10:01 PM1 votes

Few years ago there were only 8 teams in NA and EU but the same amount of teams went to Worlds. 3 out of 8 teams in NA and EU went to worlds and etc etc but now its 10 teams in NA and Eu for the regular splits. WORLDS should be expanded to every region having a best and possible way to prove to the world and their region that they belong at WORLDS. In my mind it would not surprise me instead of 16 total teams it will become like 30 teams for worlds in a few years or maybe close to next year. 5 Teams per region and have the top 2 teams from each group move on to the eliminated bracket stage. With the top 4 region teams ( LPL- NA-LCK-LMS )-2016 that made it out at MSI get a free bye in the first round of the bracket stage, IDK but I think Worlds will get bigger it has to its WORLDS and just like real life the WORLD is expanding and growing.

JimmyNtheKudos5/11/2016, 8:31:07 PM1 votes

The best solution to this is to expand the tournament completely. Every region is getting more and more competitive. There are multiple teams at the top that may not actually win worlds, but can stand toe-toe with other top teams of other regions. For example C9, TSM, TL, IMT, CLG (that's 5 teams for NA), and G2, H2k, Origen, FNC (another 4-5 EU). Before the gap was much wider between the top teams and the rest of the region.