What is the 2016 World Championship?

Riot·Sep 6, 2016·0 votes·89,237 views

Be a part of the global celebration of competitive esports mastery this Fall. October marks the pinnacle of every League of Legends Season: Worlds.

With the 2016 League of Legends World Championship kicking off in a couple of weeks, here’s everything you need to know about the international tournament:

What is the 2016 World Championship?

The 2016 League of Legends World Championship, more commonly called Worlds, is an international esports event takes place over five weeks of competitive play with 16 top teams.

The World Championship travels to different host regions and this year, the event will take place in North America.

Who is participating at Worlds 2016?

Here’s the breakdown of the regions with teams competing at Worlds 2016 and how many spots each region gets:

North America - NA League Championship Series (NA LCS) - 3 seeds
Europe - EU League Championship Series (EU LCS) - 3 seeds
Korea - League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) - 3 seeds
China - League of Legends Pro League (LPL) - 3 seeds
Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan - League of Legends Master Series (LMS) - 2 seeds
Wildcard regions determined at the International Wildcard Qualifier (IWCQ) - 2 seeds

Top teams from LCK, LPL, LMS, NA LCS, and EU LCS receive direct invitations to Worlds 2016, while squads from Wildcard regions qualify via an International Wildcard Qualifier.

The teams attending Worlds are:

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LCK:

ROX Tigers
SK Telecom T1
Samsung Galaxy

LPL:

EDward Gaming
Royal Never Give Up
I MAY

LMS:

Flash Wolves
ahq e-Sports Club

NA LCS:

TSM
Counter Logic Gaming
Cloud9

EU LCS:

G2 Esports
H2K
Splyce

IWCQ:

INTZ
Albus NoX Luna

What are they playing for?

In addition to international pride and glory, teams are competing for the chance to be the 2016 World Champions, the Summoner's Cup, and a prize pool of over $2,000,000 USD. Teams will earn prize money based on their finish in the event.

World Champion - $1,000,000 USD
2nd place - $250,000 USD
3rd / 4th place - $150,000 USD
5th - 8th place - $75,000 USD
9th - 12th place - $45,000 USD
13th - 16th place - $25,000 USD

What’s the format of Worlds?

Worlds is played out in two stages: A Group Stage followed by a Knockout Stage.

Group Stage

In the Group Stage, 16 teams are sorted into four groups comprised of four teams each. They play in double Round Robin-style, Best of 1 (Bo1) matchups, meaning each team plays every other team in its group twice. Learn more about the process of how we determine which teams will face each other at the Group Stage on our Group Draw Starter Guide.

To find out which group your favorite team is playing in, watch the Group Draw Show on September 10 at 11:00 AM PT.

Knockout Stage

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After Groups, eight teams advance to the the Knockout Stage and matchups will transition to Best of 5, single elimination bracket. The winner of the Knockout Stage will be crowned our 2016 World Champion at Finals.

What are the rules for Worlds 2016?

Our policies for Worlds 2016 are consistent with what we used at the 2016 Mid-Season Invitational. The only major policy update is side selection - starting in regional playoffs, dynamic side selection (described below) was implemented.

Side Selection

Teams’ sides will be pre-selected by coin flip during the Group Stage. During the Group Stage, each team will play every other team twice, once on blue side, once on red side. In Quarterfinals, the higher seed will have side selection for all odd games. The lower seed will have side selection for all even games. For example, the higher seed may choose to play game 1 on blue side, but game 3 and 5 on red side and the lower seed may choose to play game 2 on red side and game 4 on blue side.

The higher seed will be required to submit their decision for game 1 by 10:00 PM local time two days prior to the stage start. If no decision is submitted the team will default to blue side for its game. In Semifinals and Finals, side selection will be determined by coin flip. The coin flip will take place the night the matchup is decided.

Side declaration for best of matches will be decided between games after game 1. Teams with side choice for the respective game (lower seed for game 2 and 4, higher seed for game 3 and 5), will have 4 minutes after the nexus explodes to select their side for the next game. This will be at the same time as the substitution declaration. The coach will inform the referee with the team about their selection.

Full Ruleset
We’ve been working closely with all the regional leagues in advance of Worlds to give them time to understand and comply with the ruleset. If you’d like to review the official language in the ruleset, read the 2016 World Championship rules here.

When is Worlds happening? How can I watch?

The Group Stage takes place over two weeks. The Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals will all be held a week apart from one another. For more information about ticket availability, head over to the Tickets page.

Group Stage

Dates: September 29 - October 2 and October 6 - 9

Location: San Francisco, CA

Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove St., San Francisco, CA 94102

Quarterfinals

Dates: October 13 - 16

Location: Chicago, IL

The Chicago Theatre, 175 N State St, Chicago, IL 60601

Semifinals

Dates: October 21 - 22

Location: New York, NY

Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001

Finals

Dates: October 29

Location: Los Angeles, CA

STAPLES Center, 1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Stay tuned to Lolesports to cheer on the best teams in the world as they meet on the premier stage during the 2016 League of Legends World Championship starting on September 29.

68 Comments

GlaedrSep 6, 201610 votes

I like how all the teams are listed with their full names except TSM

HanoniahSep 6, 20164 votes

That was actually a choice made by Regi.

nrj6490Sep 6, 20168 votes

Yeah, Regi put the "official name" as TSM instead of Team SoloMid this year.

ProtostituteSep 7, 20161 votes

H2K?

TaihlSep 8, 20161 votes

H2K is their full name. Much as TSM is now the full name for ... well TSM. With Their expansion into multiple other ESports venues Regi has chosen to rebrand as just TSM rather than Team Solo-Mid. Pretty sure it was in one of the episodes of TSM Legends actually. Unsure as to which episode however.

SeekorSep 7, 20167 votes

Prize pool is pretty sad. These guys could place 5th in the DOTA International and win almost as much money as 1st in worlds. A game this big and with such a huge fanbase and esports following should be shelling out a lot more money. Especially since they are earning 1.6 billion dollars a year off the game.

DBIEVQVV1Sep 8, 20161 votes

dude. I know. I had this thought for such a while. Can you believe 10 million $ for the firstteam for dota? What i really like about dota is that the prize poool isnt consistent. It depends how muich people buy the ingame cash. Also im sure you know this by now but Riot is all about the money. Release a new skin? Make it ultimate. $25? I dont care. That is riot in a nutshell

AdmitSomeSep 13, 20161 votes

League of legends as a game is making that billions dollars of money. lolesports is a sepreate thing, and its still new to the scene, compared to DOTA as an esport. I do agree though, the prize money seems a bit off for what league brings in as a game. But league esports is still new, and its still growing, expect big things in the future!

The LexerSep 7, 20164 votes

It's getting pretty ridiculous how Riot hasn't changed the prize pool in years despite the growth of League since the early days

DBIEVQVV1Sep 8, 20163 votes

Yeah. dota makes less money but gives more money.

AlexanderMagnusISep 7, 20163 votes

Anyone else remember last year and how Doublift and the rest of NA tilted off the face of Earth in the second week of group stages? Remember how CLG and C9 were at the top of their groups right before that happened? Anyone remember that? Yea, that's going to happen again. #Rigged

AlexanderMagnusISep 7, 20161 votes

Pretty hard to argue against it, I mean Korea makes Riot the most money so it only makes sense that they win EVERY worlds since 2012. Amiright?

LustIifeSep 7, 20161 votes

considering theyve only won 3 of the 5 worlds doesnt really mean rigged skt had to work for it in 2013 and prior to that fnatic won the first and tpa won the second in 2012. skt in season 3 didnt look super dominate. and as for it the teams from other regions even say korea is just that strong

AlexanderMagnusISep 11, 20161 votes

...you took that too seriously...but whatever, doesn't really matter

PµnkzSep 8, 20161 votes

yea everyone remember this and they still deny it man ... DAMN NA server to fucking heavy to even carry them selves LMAO,FNC went 0-3 first week but huni/reignover got back on their feet carried the fuckk out of FNC to the quarter finals and now NA LCS teams too heavy they could'nt even secure a spot at worlds.

AlexanderMagnusISep 11, 20161 votes

NA teams aren't too "heavy" as most bronzies would have you believe, I mean these are professional players who live around league. The reason they don't do well is because other teams are just a little bit ahead of them in macro or micro game, and then there's Korea who are on a whole different planet altogether. I mean Korea has won 3 of 5 worlds, all back to back, and 2 out of 3 of those wins were in a super dominate fashion (SKT last year lost 1 game THE ENTIRE TIME AT WORLDS, and SSW did it in a similar fashion in S4 only they lost 2 games instead of 1).

PµnkzSep 7, 20163 votes

NA sucks i have only very little hope for C9 but CLG and TSM will Get shiiiittt on trust me remember my words

ScrubSTCSep 7, 20161 votes

boi i will remeber these fucking words when i get my tsm skins it will be those teams Graves after tsm beats them [slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

PµnkzNov 6, 20162 votes

Where are you now ?!

ScrubSTCNov 8, 20161 votes

im here sad and alone Amumu item 3070

M Dragon14Sep 7, 20161 votes

But TSM absolutely crushed C9.

Am RuddySep 8, 20164 votes

They did not crush C9. It was a 3-1 series... And probably would have went to 5 games if Meteos hadn't tilted

Serena LeonhardtSep 8, 20162 votes

why would use meteos' tilt as an excuse? Meteos tilting just shows that TSM is a formidable opponent to fight against. Using Meteos' tilt to somehow argue that TSM is the worse team of the two just does not make any sense xD

458Sep 8, 20162 votes

I think you might be a little bit special. It even shows in your rank. lol

PµnkzSep 8, 20163 votes

Well i play in 3 different servers, NA, EUW(C9 frozq) and Garena LMS (C9 frunkzz) go check them and then my ranked statue in here(NA) shows how bad this server is i always get placed with baddies hell i get placed with people don't know how to grab thresh lantern or what it does LOL!! i dare you to pass B5 in garena(LMS) then get back to me scrub + add me and come 1v1 me :D i dare you and my ping is like 100+, anyway when did NA made out of group stage huh ?? LMAO

Dekay360Sep 11, 20161 votes

Season 4. It was also the season nobody from EU made it out of worlds.

BlongTreyLoSep 6, 20162 votes

Hope NA atleast get through the quarter finals this year lmao last year not a single NA team even went through haha.

TheSequelsRBadSep 6, 20163 votes

I think this is NA best year to do big things, I would not be surprised if TSM makes semis this year. And I have a hope (albeit a tiny one) that maybe we can get a team in the finals.

Hope springs eternal in the human breast.

PapaDwarfSep 7, 20163 votes

I trust in doublelift he's gonna carry tsm to the finals

Sezo DezoSep 7, 20163 votes

what ?? who is that ?? lol

PapaDwarfSep 8, 20161 votes

He's tsm ad carry lol he's one of the best adc atm if not the best. Lucian main

Persona RoyaleSep 8, 20161 votes

it's gonna be another LCK finals like last year worlds finals

Sezo DezoSep 8, 20161 votes

i was kidding when i said who is that, go check what does Koreans and Chinese players say about him xD and go check his statues last summer at worlds lol and go check him on twitch or youtube how he get fucked by every other adc in NA it's just bjergsen and the Korean biofrost carried his ass and tsm to worlds thats all

FUUUDG3Sep 8, 20162 votes

Eh. I think the NALCS "Power Rankings" at the end porbably have been TSM>C9>IMT>CLG>NV>TL. I feel they should place maybe a 75% weight on summer and a 25% on spring? So current means more?

ShadowatomSep 8, 20163 votes

Yeah, it's a little weird how 1st seed is based completely on recent performance, the 3rd seed is rewarded for spring performance while still needing to prove current performance, but 2nd seed is based on doing well during spring while not tanking in the summer. I think C9 and CLG should have done a Bo5 to see who gets 2nd seed/3rd seed imo (CLG earned their spot for Worlds, but not their seed in my eyes).

PµnkzSep 8, 20162 votes

TRUE, actually they should not be at worlds at all IMT would be a better team for NA, we all saw how Huni/Reginover carried FNC to the quarter finals but DAMN NA server is HEAVY AS FUCKK they couldn't even get a spot at worlds.

PµnkzSep 8, 20161 votes

yes exactly, CLG sucks really hard and they do not deserve a spot on worlds, they will do really really aweful bad at worlds wait and see!

Persona RoyaleSep 8, 20162 votes

SKT for 3rd win worlds!!

RiondriusSep 7, 20161 votes

Ugh, more Bo1 :(. I sincerely hope this is the last year for Bo1 at worlds... do a split stream or increase the length of the tournament and give us Bo3s please ! Also, the prize pool still hasnt changed.... disappointed to say the least, for the most popular esport, and its biggest event you would expect it to have the biggest prize pool.

IRON W0LFSep 8, 20161 votes

There is a Error in the Team seeding since EU has no Top seed team since G2-8 lost them that spot at MSI then top seeds are TSM Flash Wolves Rox TIgers and EDG

LQD LuxOct 9, 20161 votes

summoner 32

WeeDetarianSep 6, 2016

[deleted]

ShadowatomSep 6, 20166 votes

Team Envy was far worse than CLG later in the Summer Split... anyways, I think it's fine that CLG is going after thinking about it, but I'd prefer if they went as 3rd seed rather than 2nd personally. I though about it and find it odd how the 1st seed is based on recent performance with disregard for past performance (Winning the Summer Split), the second seed takes into account both past and current performance, but with equal regards to both (Championship points from both Spring and Summer), and the third is based mainly around current performance with a reward for past performance (Gauntlet seeding, but needing to play for the last spot). Imo CLG should lock in a spot, but not a seed and should need to face C9 for the 2nd seed, I think this would be a nice compromise since CLG did earn their spot by winning Spring and not completely tanking Summer, but C9 has obviously shown they are better than CLG at the moment.

WeeDetarianSep 6, 20161 votes

[deleted]

ShadowatomSep 6, 20163 votes

I was agreeing with you in a way, but explained a different method that could possibly be better than what it currently is. Do I think CLG did poorly this split? Absolutely. Should they still go to Worlds? In my opinion, yes, BUT, as 3rd seed. IMT is the only other team that remotely came close to deserving a spot for Worlds and I, as a fan of them, am now a little glad they aren't going.

They have shown 3 times now that they can't win when it matters, so I can only assume they'd do poorly at Worlds. Especially if the other teams figured out to just shut down Reignover to screw the rest of the team. CLG at least has a chance to have the ability to play around other members of the team. Do I think CLG will do well? They could, but probably will be left in the Group Stage, but I think the same would happen with Immortals. C9 and TSM are who I think are even remotely close to getting out of the Group Stages (considering TW and EU probably aren't going to do amazingly).

(use a dictionary or in your case google translator might be good enough).

I'm not sure if you meant for this to come off the way it did, but this makes you sound like an ass to me.

ManwalrusSep 6, 20162 votes

As a fellow C9 fan I'm glad they made it but I think you're selling CLG short, do you want it to go back to where spring split didn't matter at all? CLG almost won MSI and won spring split, they burned out horribly in summer, sure, but they got back into the grove and came in 4th place still and I'd argue they're better than IMT because quite frankly outside of groups they wouldn't be able to do shit at worlds and they've proven time and time again that they can't. They went 33-3 in regular season and can't actually do anything when the pressure mounts, CLG have actually proven themselves, they made it all the way to the finals at MSI and even though I think that CLG isn't the second best team in NA, they're still the third best because Immortals just tilt off the face of the earth whenever things are actually of importance.

Am RuddySep 8, 20161 votes

And you sir are selling C9 short. The NA power rankings as of recent go TSM>C9>CLG. Yes CLG achieved a lot in the spring, but as of summer, C9 placed 2nd, and proceeded to beat IMT in the gauntlet. CLG lost to IMT in the 3rd place match as well. C9>IMT>CLG (as of now)

ManwalrusSep 8, 20161 votes

I never said CLG were better than C9, I even said that "CLG isn't the second best team in NA" Implying that C9 are clearly better than CLG.