Attending the Worlds 2015 Quarterfinals in London
With the Worlds Semifinals kicking off in Brussels imminently, we wanted to take this last opportunity to look back at all the fun from the Quarterfinals in London.
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As with all the venues on the Worlds 2015 tour of Europe, we wanted to make the approach to the stadium as much of a celebration of League of Legends as the show itself.
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As players walked towards the SSE Arena in Wembley from the train station, there was no doubt in their minds that they were going in the right direction. On all sides, we had Worlds graphics and the team logos plastering the walls and flying above the fans' heads on flags.
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Worlds celebrates all things League of Legends and esports and hopefully this physical take over of the real world helped bring that to life.
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Just like in Paris, players attending the show in London had an opportunity to get hold of League of Legends merchandise. Some of this stuff is completely sold out online, so for the time being, attending a Worlds show is the only way to get your hands on it. We'll be replenishing online stock as soon as we can. Anyone attending Brussels will also be able to get hold of fresh merch, too. Including the new Worlds T-shirts and track jackets, plus the Championship Thresh figurine.
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Got a favourite team? Why not show the world by proudly wearing a temporary tattoo of their logo? They're quick and easy to apply and you can wear it anywhere (within reason…) to demonstrate your pride. This includes teams that have already been eliminated from the tournament, so if you're a diehard EDG fan (we know there are a lot of you out there), you're in luck!
You can also create your own signs to wave in the audience and spread your favourite meme or hashtag. Or, as a lot of people have been doing, announce to the world that you're Bronze V and totally okay with it. We love that!
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Players gathered outside the SSE Arena to meet up with friends and fellow players before the festivities commence.
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A wild Sp4zie appears! We spotted a bunch of popular YouTubers and streamers milling around outside the venue each day, all of them eager to meet their fans and take a selfie or two. We had a chance to meet a few of you, too. Make sure you check out our Meet The Fans piece from London, if you haven't already.
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Cosplayers swarmed the plaza outside The SSE Arena in Wembley, with a frankly disgusting amount of incredible costumes on display. Cosplayers, you continue to outdo yourselves and we can't wait to see who shows up this weekend in Brussels. Just look at this:
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Even in this photo, we still couldn't fit in all the fantastic cosplayers who showed up over the week. For more photos, check out the LoLesports Flickr feed. Not only are there more cosplay photos over there, but more shots from inside the arena and the surrounding activities. See if you can spot yourself!
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Of course, where the summoners go, so goes the Summoner's Cup. The honest-to-goodness, totally real grand prize of the tournament is tagging along on the tour of Europe until it finally gets handed over to the winning team in Berlin on October 31st. It will be prominently on display in Brussels too, so if you haven't yet had a chance to gaze into its shiny, reflective glory, then there's still time.
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Above is one of our favourite shots of the energetic London crowd. The SSE Arena and all the attendees of the Quarterfinals were such an excellent audience.
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The size of the venue and the energy in the audience resulted in an amazing atmosphere. One we hope will be at least equaled when we land in Brussels!
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It's almost impossible to fit the entire London audience into one photo, but hopefully these shots give you an idea of what it was like to be among the sea of excited fans. We spoke with James "Stress" O'Leary and Richard "Pulse" Kam, who were helping with the BBC Three broadcast throughout the week, about the British audience and what it's like to have Worlds in their home country.
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The games begin! The crowd presses in as the players take to the stage and the competition gets underway.
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As Sjokz interviews the champions of Day One, Origen, the fans swarm around, getting close enough to whisper sweet nothings into xPeke's ear. The SSE Arena allows for intimate moments like this, as well as the grand spectacle of a roaring crowd of thousands of chanting players.
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London was brilliant, so thank you to everyone who showed up and tuned in online. Tell us about your favorite part of the London Quarterfinals, and hopefully we'll see you in Brussels!
