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Understanding the Group Draw

Riot·9/6/2016, 12:58:14 PM·1 votes·46,978 views

With the 16 teams decided for the 2016 League of Legends World Championship, it's time to dive into the Group Draw Show. If it’s your first time watching Worlds, or you’re new to League, here’s everything you need to know about the Group Draw.

What is the Group Draw?

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The Group Draw is the process that determines who will play who in the first part of Worlds 2016 called the Group Stage. The 16 teams are sorted into four groups with four teams to each group for the Group Stage. Teams are battling to be one of the top two spots in their group in order to advance to the Knockout Stage.

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

How does it work?

The 16 teams are allocated to three Group Draw Pools based on the MSI 2016 results and their seasonal performance. The draw process is the same as it was in 2015, but with LMS #1 being promoted to Pool 1 and EU #1 being demoted to Pool 2 due to MSI standings, some of the invalid draw possibilities have changed.

Groups are then randomly drawn based on the teams in each pool; see the Group Pool Structure graphic below for reference:

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As a reminder, each group may only have one team from any given region.

The Group Draw Show begins with each of the Pool 1 seeds being randomly assigned to their own Group, A, B, C, or D. Then, the Pool 2 seeds will be randomly drawn into Groups, followed by the Pool 3 seeds. For more technical information on how the Group Draw works, reference our 2015 Group Draw Manual and we’ll be releasing the 2016 version of the manual on September 8.

During the Group Draw Show, the on-air team will explain the teams, breakdown the process as it happens live, and share Worlds predictions based on the Group Draw results.

Why does it matter?

In the Group Stage, the 16 teams are divided into four groups, with four teams to a group. Each team will play the other teams in their group twice, a full double-round-robin schedule.

The top two teams from each group advance to the second stage of the tournament called the Knockout Stage.

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How do I watch?

Head over to Lolesports to watch the Group Draw Show live on September 10 at 11:00 AM PT.

47 Comments

Uther Doul9/7/2016, 1:04:28 AM9 votes

Legit q, why is China#3 in pool 2 above NA#3 in pool 3 when NA ranked higher at MSI?

coeurloyal9/6/2016, 8:52:44 PM7 votes

If MSI results now directly affect placements in Groups, shouldn't NA and LCK have their #3 seeds in Pool 2 because they were the top two seeds? Regardless of what historical precedents may be in place, I don't see any reason why the LPL should automatically have the extra Pool 2 seed this season.

warpenguin5559/6/2016, 6:44:07 PM4 votes

You know what would have been great Riot? Including which teams were in which pool in the post. But because its not included I'll post it: (https://www.reddit.com/r/leagueoflegends/comments/51cfsn/2016_worlds_group_draw_simulations/) thanks to this post for my info Pool 1(1 per group): ROX Tigers (KR 1), EDward Gaming (CN 1), Team SoloMid (NA 1), Flash Wolves (LMS 1) Pool 2 (2 per group): SK Telecom T1 (KR 2), Royal Never Give Up (CN 2), G2 Esports (EU 1), Counter Logic Gaming (NA 2), Samsung Galaxy (KR 3), I MAY (CN 3), H2k-Gaming (EU 2), ahq e-Sports Club (LMS 2) Pool 3 (1 per group): Cloud 9 (NA 3), Splyce (EU 3), Albux NoX Luna (IWC 1), INTZ e-Sports (IWC 2)

IwomboUwombo9/6/2016, 6:16:43 PM3 votes

You can guess the brackets all you want but there are 178 possible combinations since they are choosing from the pools randomly.

Reaper Soraka9/6/2016, 8:56:26 PM2 votes

This is what it looks like to me, a chrome user if it matters.

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"Show More" link works beneath it.

GotemGotem9/8/2016, 3:34:39 AM2 votes

I think one way to resolve the issue for which regions get the two additional pool two seeds would be to use the rankings from group stages of MSI where the top two teams ffrom the group stage get the two pool two seeds and if LMS/IWC get into the top two then they should be provided with 3 seeds for their region with the region finishing fifth and sixth (if not LMS/IWC) would get only two teams to represent in worlds.

Using the group stages as the criterion removes any "luck factor" that might play a role in the MSI playoffs.

QQsha9/6/2016, 7:04:25 PM2 votes

Group A: TSM, SSG, AHQ, ANX Group B: ROX, RNG, CLG, Splyce Group C: FW, IM, H2K, INTZ Group D: EDG, SKT, G2, C9

Let's go!

Pucking Purrfect9/8/2016, 2:08:50 AM1 votes

run it down mid hehe xd

Ozzieferper9/9/2016, 9:09:09 PM1 votes

Rito get's a lot of things wrong...this is not one of them. They need to fix the snowball first turret gold before worlds but...this - is the best way to do this and get best mix of regions and matches.

FroZen Ace 1st9/10/2016, 6:01:03 AM1 votes

so guys i just need to write My prediction in the comment ? if it was write i will win ?

HumidifiedGaming9/10/2016, 4:59:57 PM1 votes

how do u get to choose because I can't find it

Sariok9/6/2016, 1:25:29 PM1 votes

Any news on the updated Previewing HUD for worlds?

JohnnyBois9/10/2016, 6:43:01 PM1 votes

hi

FussyMongoose9/6/2016, 3:32:14 PM1 votes

For knockout stage, can we know which group plays on which day? As in "B1 vs C2 plays on thursday" and so fourth.

Miasma9/6/2016, 4:03:34 PM1 votes

Can we rank teams 1 through 16 and then split groups who cares if 3 na teams are in the same group

Doppio Vinegar9/6/2016, 4:49:19 PM1 votes

[deleted]

III BAKURYU III 9/6/2016, 9:16:10 PM1 votes

My prediction

GROUP A EDWARD GAMING G2 ESPORTS AHQ ESPORTS CLOUD 9

GROUP B TEAM SOLOMID SK TELECOM T1 H2K INTZ

GROUP C ROX TIGERS COUNTER LOGIC GAMING IMAY ALBUS LUNA

GROUP D FLASH WOLVES ROYAL NEVER GIVES UP SAMSUNG GALAXY SPLYCE

Also are the fish bowls making a return for the Draw again ? Or will it be the WWE Raw General manager style Computer generated behind the scenes like in 2014.

Can the casters actually talk about each team in some detail during the group draw, I feel like instead we get this

Fish bowls with balls in them Random players who didn't win to make it to Worlds (RIP) draws the balls. They stir for 40 secs even when there is only 1 ball in a bowl they will still stir it for like 40 secs LOL.

IDK I just feel like if the Draw is randomly 5 days after any lcs game it must be somewhat important but it feels super rushed and is only about 20 mins long mostly from the stirring.

MrRaptorTheDino9/7/2016, 8:24:06 PM1 votes

how do i get championship zed??

inonotafool9/7/2016, 11:31:13 PM1 votes

we should just draw # like seed 1 or 2