Guide to the 2015 Group Draw

Riot·Sep 10, 2015·2 votes·32,566 views

A procedural guide to the Group Draw.

In the 2015 World Championship format announcement, we shared some details on how the 2015 Group Draw works. In this article, we’ll be going into greater detail on how the groups are drawn from a procedural standpoint. In the Group Draw Show this Saturday, September 12, at 1 PM PDT, we’ll be holding the draw according to the rules and structure described below.

The info in this post is pretty dense and technical. It’s designed to give you a solid understanding of the mechanics of the draw process and a clear idea of what to expect during the live draw.

Group Draw Structure

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Group Draw Rules

No group can have more than one team from the same region. So, for example, CN #1 and CN #2 cannot inhabit the same group.
Each group must have exactly one team from Pool 1
Each group must have exactly two teams from Pool 2
Each group must have exactly one team from Pool 3

Procedure

The draw begins with the seeds physically separated into three bowls by Pool. The groups are arranged in alphabetical order from left to right - A, B, C, and D. First, all of the seeds from Pool 1 are drawn randomly, then Pool 2, and finally Pool 3.

When a seed is drawn, it is placed into the next group available in alphabetical order so long as that would not render the draw invalid at any future point by preventing another seed from being placed in a valid spot. For example, if placing the next drawn seed into Group A would make it impossible to place a future seed without violating a rule, that seed would need to “skip” Group A and be placed in B, C, or D, depending on what spot is available - more on this later.

In Pool 2, each group must have one Pool 2 seed before any group has two Pool 2 seeds, unless doing so would create an invalid draw.

For example, imagine #2 CN has just been drawn as the first team from Pool 2, but #1 CN already occupies Group A. Because of rule #1 (no group can have more than one team from the same region), #2 CN cannot occupy Group A, and is placed in the next available group, Group B, which currently has space for Pool 2 teams and has no CN seeds.

Invalid Draws

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Because seeds are drawn randomly and there are several rules governing where those seeds can go, there are a few situations we can run into in which a draw cannot be completed, rendering the draw “invalid”.

In the above example, #3 KR has nowhere it can go because:

Group A already has two Pool 2 seeds
Group B already has two Pool 2 seeds
Group C already has a seed from KR
Group D already has a seed from KR

#3 CN is in a similar dilemma:

Group A already has two Pool 2 seeds
Group B already has two Pool 2 seeds
Group C already has a seed from CN
Group D already has a seed from CN

There are two ways to deal with situations like this. One would be to simply restart the draft until we avoid an invalid draw, but this could result in an infinite number of restarts and, since the show is live, isn’t realistic. Alternatively, we could monitor the draw as it proceeds, and use a series of logical checks to identify when placement of a specific team would create an invalid draw down the road. If that happens (specifically before picks 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, and 15), we can move the team to the first available placement that would avoid the invalid draw.

To see an example of how one such check would work, let’s revisit the invalid draw example pictured above. In that example, we’re already at a point where the draw cannot be resolved. The problem arose when #2 EU was drawn - when #2 EU was placed into Group A (despite satisfying Rule #1), that left two teams (#3 KR and #3 CN) who could only fit into one spot - the third slot in Group B.

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However, if we rewind to before Pick 9 (when #2 EU was drawn), we can see that it’s possible to anticipate and prevent this by placing #2 EU in a spot that would not create an invalid draw further along in the draft. What follows is the logic for deducing where #2 EU must go when drawn at Pick 9.

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In this example, exactly 1 KR and 1 CN team remain, and two of the four groups have both KR and CN teams. To avoid putting ourselves in an invalid draw, if the 9th overall pick is not a KR or CN team, it must be drawn into the next available group that contains both a KR and CN team. This means if we draw #2 EU next, it must go to Group C:

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If we had instead drawn #3 KR or #3 CN, that team would be placed in Group A. These kinds of checks ensure that the draw can proceed without the need to restart and will stay in compliance with the rules of the draw.

Conclusion

To see how the groups turn out, don’t forget to tune in to the Group Draw Show on September 12 at 1 PM PDT. Keep your eyes on Lolesports to catch all the exciting Group Stage action starting on October 1.

25 Comments

TrollFan01Sep 11, 20154 votes

Watch TSM gets a hard group and still somehow scarps by and makes it into Quarters just like C9 did last year.

BloodtotemzSep 11, 20152 votes

To be fair, C9 would have still had a chance to get out of groups last year even if Alliance had not fucked themselves by losing to Kabum. So in reality they still earned their spot in the Quarters.

TrollFan01Sep 11, 20152 votes

I know. I'm not saying they couldn't have gotten out had ALL not shit the bed. Ppl were divided on who would get out between then. C9 still got out all on their own.

I just think we should wait to see the groups before we write any team out.

ShadowFiend812Sep 11, 20154 votes

Yup we just gotta believe! Or then again we could get lgd flash wolves and Bangkok titans

TrollFan01Sep 12, 20152 votes

{quoted}

Yup we just gotta believe! Or then again we could get lgd flash wolves and Bangkok titans

That would garentee TSM gets out then.

People hate NA and hate TSM even more so just watch all our comments get marked down lol.

ShadowFiend812Sep 12, 20152 votes

Yeah that's already started so I upvoted yours so it would be +1

TrollFan01Sep 12, 20151 votes

Thx man;)

BedaBedaBedaBedaSep 12, 20153 votes

TSM made it into quarters too last year ;)

TrollFan01Sep 12, 20154 votes

They did and they can do it again this year too. Look at how many times my comment is marked down. People know it and hate it so they mark it down like that mean something LOL!

XantakSep 12, 20152 votes

{quoted}

They did and they can do it again this year too. Look at how many times my comment is marked down. People know it and hate it so they mark it down like that mean something LOL!

It will all depend on which version of TSM shows up. The version where they got hammered in MSI, or are they going to take the leashes off of Wildturtle and Dyrus? Will Santorin show up and have a good impact? I hope they let Wildturtle get rolling, and also let Dyrus have the opportunity to play League of Legends, especially if it turns out to be his final ride. Give him Olaf if you can, or let him bring Renekton along for that sunset tour. Turn TSM into a multi-carry threat, and I think they'll go far. Turn it into The Bjergsen Show with 9 wards, and they'll crash and burn. Plus if you distribute the resources better, and bring out aforementioned multi-carry threat, it divides the pressure more efficiently. And now is the time to hold nothing back.

TrollFan01Sep 12, 20151 votes

You have a very good point there. I hope that TSM shows up too. Release Dyrus and Wildturtle, and then Bjergsen can get loose and not have to worry as much.

The LexerSep 12, 20151 votes

I actually thought that was the easiest group last year. The top 3 looked even from the start. It was just decided because of one weird game

TrollFan01Sep 12, 20151 votes

Group D?

XantakSep 12, 20152 votes

{quoted}

Group D?

Group D will most likely be the bloodiest, most hotly contested group for the first stage. Of course, everyone's written off TSM already, but that can be to their advantage. And they've got tons of international experience, with a pretty early Korean bootcamp that they've also been attending. And for the games that they're on red side, don't give the counterpick to Bjergsen. Give it to Dyrus. Give Dyrus more priority. He has Ssumday, Soaz, and Acorn/Flame to dance with.

TrollFan01Sep 13, 20152 votes

{quoted}

Group D will most likely be the bloodiest, most hotly contested group for the first stage. Of course, everyone's written off TSM already, but that can be to their advantage. And they've got tons of international experience, with a pretty early Korean bootcamp that they've also been attending. And for the games that they're on red side, don't give the counterpick to Bjergsen. Give it to Dyrus. Give Dyrus more priority. He has Ssumday, Soaz, and Acorn/Flame to dance with.

Group D is this season's Group of Death. Best thing is no one can mock the 2 teams that can get out. If TSM cut loose and win some games and get out of the group so many of their haters will lose their damn minds it'll be hilarious! If KABUM can beat ALL and C9 beat last year's 3rd seed KR team then TSM can get out of Group D.

XantakSep 13, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Group D is this season's Group of Death. Best thing is no one can mock the 2 teams that can get out. If TSM cut loose and win some games and get out of the group so many of their haters will lose their damn minds it'll be hilarious! If KABUM can beat ALL and C9 beat last year's 3rd seed KR team then TSM can get out of Group D.

That's what I'm fuckin' talkin' about! I want to see TSM do well. And imagine how many people would lose their shit if two NA teams squared off in the quarterfinals, semifinals, or even somehow, in the finals? Or if TSM made it to the finals, and/or took the World Championship?

So many people have already smugly counted TSM out, but we'll see when the tournament is underway.

TrollFan01Sep 13, 20151 votes

{quoted}

That's what I'm fuckin' talkin' about! I want to see TSM do well. And imagine how many people would lose their shit if two NA teams squared off in the quarterfinals, semifinals, or even somehow, in the finals? Or if TSM made it to the finals, and/or took the World Championship?

So many people have already smugly counted TSM out, but we'll see when the tournament is underway.

Can you imagine it if TSM gets 2nd and CLG gets 1st and they face off in Quarters? An NA team would be locked into semis. Plus if TSM 3-0 CLG there it will add a whole new layer to the rivalry back home!

XantakSep 13, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Can you imagine it if TSM gets 2nd and CLG gets 1st and they face off in Quarters? An NA team would be locked into semis. Plus if TSM 3-0 CLG there it will add a whole new layer to the rivalry back home!

What if by some miracle, depending on their placing, and going through the opposition, CLG and TSM both reached the finals? Or the scenario happened with C9 and TSM? Doubt it would go to game 5, because TSM hates Silver Scrapes, but...if you got that, imagine how heated the rivalry would get.

TrollFan01Sep 13, 20152 votes

{quoted}

What if by some miracle, depending on their placing, and going through the opposition, CLG and TSM both reached the finals? Or the scenario happened with C9 and TSM? Doubt it would go to game 5, because TSM hates Silver Scrapes, but...if you got that, imagine how heated the rivalry would get.

I can and can you imagine the level of HATE TSM would get for winning Worlds?

GlørÿSep 11, 20152 votes

GG, even in a hypothetical situation Regi pays off Nick allen again, gets easy group and gets Fnatic, Flash wolves, and IWC inb4 it actually happens.

DeathToHereticsSep 11, 20152 votes

FNC = Easy group? Lolololol

JaegybombSep 12, 20151 votes

Comparatively probably. No matter what they are going to draw a top 4 team.

IHackGGWPSep 12, 20152 votes

LMS actually deserve 3 teams

EleshakaiSep 12, 20151 votes

Ya but it's impossible without limiting the rest of the world to one team. I think two wildcard to represent like a dozen regions is a good number, and Riot's primary regions are Korea, China, NA, and EU so there's no way for a third seed from LMS. Unless Riot expands its worlds format and goes for 5 team groups and maybe gives Brazil and SEA 1 guaranteed seed with the rest of the places fighting over the Wildcard spot.

Hi im PhiloSep 12, 20151 votes

I Believe in CLG so hard and i think they are gonna go far . I like them so much . As for TSM the only way they can go far is if everyone finds his good self his good performance i mean if u watch the lcs summer playoffs finals when they lost from clg the plays they made were few and not that good . I wish best luck for every team in the world . LET THE MATCHES BEGIN AND THE BEST SHALL WIN !!!!