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What is the 2017 World Championship?

Riot·9/14/2017, 12:50:02 PM·5 votes·56,445 views

Join us along the journey to crown a champion at the largest and most prestigious League of Legends esports event of the year: Worlds.

The 2017 League of Legends World Championship is right around the corner, so let’s break down everything you need to know about League’s most epic event:

What is the 2017 World Championship?

The 2017 League of Legends World Championship, also known as Worlds, is an international esports event where top teams from across the globe battle to hoist the World Championship trophy. The event moves host regions every year and this year the event will take place in multiple venues across China.

When is Worlds happening?

Worlds will begin with the Play-In Stage on September 23 and conclude with Finals on November 4.

Who is participating at Worlds 2017?

We’ve expanded Worlds this year to include more teams/regions than ever before. Here’s a breakdown of the regions competing at Worlds and the amount of spots (referred to as ‘seeds’) their teams are allocated:

  • Korea (LCK) - 3 seeds
  • China (LPL) - 3 seeds
  • Europe (EU LCS) - 3 seeds
  • North America (NA LCS) - 3 seeds
  • Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau (LMS) - 3 seeds
  • Southeast Asia (GPL) - 2 seeds
  • Brazil (CBLOL) - 1 seed
  • Commonwealth of Independent States (LCL) - 1 seed
  • Japan (LJL) - 1 seed
  • Latin America North (LLN) - 1 seed
  • Latin America South (CLS) - 1 seed
  • Oceania (OPL) - 1 seed
  • Turkey (TCL) - 1 seed

The teams that will be attending are:

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Korea - LCK:

  • Longzhu Gaming (LZ)
  • SK telecom T1 (SKT)
  • Samsung Galaxy (SSG)

China - LPL:

  • Edward Gaming (EDG)
  • Royal Never Give Up (RNG)
  • Team WE (WE)

Europe - EU LCS:

  • G2 Esports (G2)
  • Misfits (MSF)
  • Fnatic (FNC)

North America - NA LCS:

  • TSM (TSM)
  • Immortals (IMT)
  • Cloud9 (C9)

Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau - LMS:

  • Flash Wolves (FW)
  • ahq e-Sports Club (AHQ)
  • Hong Kong Attitude (HKA)

Southeast Asia - GPL:

  • GIGABYTE Marines (GAM)
  • Young Generation (YG)

Brazil - CBLOL:

  • Team oNe eSports (ONE)

Commonwealth of Independent States - LCL:

  • Gambit Esports (GMB)

Japan - LJL:

  • Rampage (RPG)

Latin America North - LLN:

  • Lyon Gaming (LYN)

Latin America South - CLS:

  • Kaos Latin Gamers (KLG)

Oceania - OPL:

  • Dire Wolves (DW)

Turkey - TCL:

  • 1907 Fenerbahçe Espor (FB)

What’s changed this year?

The LMS has been awarded a third seed due to consistently strong international performances. In addition to this, as a result of their finish at MSI, the GigaByte Marines earned an extra spot for the Southeast Asia region.

As mentioned earlier, this year’s World Championship has the most teams we’ve ever hosted, and more teams equals more seeds. The regions that used to participate in wildcard events now have seeds that send them straight to Worlds. Win your regional final and punch your ticket -- it’s that simple.

To accommodate the additional teams we’ve added another stage to the tournament. Just like earlier this year at the Mid-Season Invitational, there will be a Play-In Stage preceding the Group Stage. This stage allows us to invite more great teams and give them a chance to earn a spot in the Group Stage. Come out of the Play-Ins as one of the top four teams and you’re on to the next round.

What’s the format?

Worlds will be played in three stages this year: A Play-In Stage, then the Group Stage, followed up by the Knockout Stage (Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals).

Play-In Stage (September 23-26 + September 28-29)

The new addition to the 2017 format is the Play-In. In this stage, 12 teams are split into four groups, where they’ll play a Double Round Robin, Best of 1 (Bo1) within their group. Based on those results, the top two teams from each group will advance to Round 2 where the #1 and #2 seeds are randomly paired to play a single Best of 5 (Bo5) match to determine who moves on to the Group Stage.

Group Stage (October 5-8 + October 12-15)

For the Group Stage, 12 teams will have auto-qualified based on their performances before Worlds. They will be joined by the four teams who successfully battled their way out of the Play-Ins. These 16 teams will be sorted into four groups comprised of four teams. Each group will play in a Double Round Robin, Best of 1 format. The top two finishers from each group will move on to the final leg of the tournament: the Knockout Stage.

Interested in how groups are selected for the Play-In and Group Stage? Check out the Draw Shows that aired on Lolesports on September 12 at 5 AM PT.

Knockout Stage (October 19-22 + October 28-29 + November 4)

Eight teams will move on to the third and final stage of the 2017 World Championship that’s made up of the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals. The tournament will transition to a single-elimination bracket with all matches being played in the Best of 5 format. The team who emerges victorious will be crowned the champions of Worlds 2017.

How do I watch?

You can catch all the action here on Lolesports throughout all of Worlds 2017. Check out our roundup page to catch up on all of the action so far!

Play-In Match Schedule is now available here and our rebroadcast schedule for North America is below. 

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Download a Worlds Wallpaper

Hyped for Worlds as we are? Grab a 2017 wallpaper below. Desktop wallpaper is 1900 x 1200 and mobile wallpapers are 409 x 729.

Desktop 

Mobile 1 

Mobile 2 

Mobile 3 

Mobile 4

 

48 Comments

Sõõ9/14/2017, 10:18:39 PM12 votes

I only hope for two things. One is that NA gets out of groups, specifically TSM and hopefully to semis. My second hope is that Korea does not win again. I actually like Korea, they're my second favorite region after NA (gotta represent even if we're bad :P). However, I can't be the only one who's bored of SKT winning over and over again. Sure I could say, "any team but SKT", but I don't want a dominant Korean team to be replaced by another one. I remember season 2 when Taipei won worlds, it was CRAZY. The complete underdogs, and nobody expected them to win, it was so hyped. I want to see another underdog story. Not anymore of these stories in which Goliath grabs Davids balls and rips them off.

TrollFan019/14/2017, 4:53:56 PM6 votes

I hope TSM can make semis. That'll be an accomplishment.

trollsbane179/14/2017, 11:25:39 PM5 votes

just wondering, is someone doing or already done wallpapers for each team like they did last yeat? i really want a imt wallpaper for my fav team

SwordOfRome9/14/2017, 8:48:06 PM5 votes

Can i see some ekko buffs so he's played at worlds.... i miss cancertank ekko.

Edge2P9/14/2017, 8:47:21 PM4 votes

I mean lets face it C9 has made it to Quarter final in 2013,2014 and 2016 TSM has only made it in 2012,2014 since what they made third in 2011 season . C9 has performed better on the world stage consistently more recently than TSM

The Birch9/14/2017, 2:04:50 PM4 votes

More SKT skins sounds so redundant, so I hope Longzhu can take it home. It would be nice if our teams had a trick up their sleeve. I'm also excited to see how the Gigabyte Marines fare.

Yordle Xayah9/14/2017, 2:29:55 PM3 votes

EDWARD GARBAGE PogChamp

Why349/14/2017, 2:18:48 PM3 votes

I know TSM aren't going to win it all. I hope SKT doesn't win again. I want someone else to take it home, overthrow the kings. Honestly I want to see the Marines and TSM make it out of groups so we can have that NA pride again like we did after rift rivals, and so we can have an underdog story so we can put hope behind a team. Sad not to see ANX this year I loved them last year. I hope this worlds is just as competitive as last years

Zidaryn9/15/2017, 5:33:06 AM2 votes

Only part I don't like is that the Group Stage is a best of 1. It should definitely be best of 3s. Flub a SINGLE game in the Group Stage and your out. I want to see a bit more of the international matches that we'll get to see in the groups. I just remember how last years Knockout stage was. item 3070 It was pretty much predictable in what would happen. (SKT 1's win)item 3070 I want to watch games where it's not as much of a given who will win. Or at least, if it is a given let me see a story of a group that fought hard, made it to worlds some how, and then got wrecked, but fought hard and in their own style, against one of the stronger/ well known teams. Give me EXITMENT!! [slayer-pantheon-popcorn]

Panthalas9/15/2017, 4:30:55 AM2 votes

Legends NEVER Die!

Cheesed Bae9/14/2017, 4:13:07 PM2 votes
  1. please more skt skins <3
Hipster699/14/2017, 3:29:38 PM2 votes

can u guys update the world championship page? and also you guys updates on other regions (besides NA and EU) are really slow, even for LCK

Im Zinc9/14/2017, 9:57:14 PM2 votes

What is the Worlds 2017 Championship paragraph has an error 2nd line down 17th word. Move move regions.

King Seki IV9/14/2017, 6:07:54 PM2 votes

Loving the wallpapers! So beautiful.

number noise9/17/2017, 8:47:06 PM1 votes

Is the worlds pick 'em thing still happening this year? I haven't been following much of the news for the past couple months so I've got no clue.

Edit: For those wondering, it is starting on September 30th. http://pickem.na.lolesports.com/en-US

Edge2P9/14/2017, 8:47:47 PM1 votes

I am curious to see how IMT handle them selves at worlds though.

Lurkingghost9/14/2017, 9:02:43 PM1 votes

When will tickets for the actual finals go on sale the nov 12th

MrOmegaton9/14/2017, 11:23:44 PM1 votes

yes tsm

LionScar9/15/2017, 12:28:20 AM1 votes

Are we "viewers" gonna get any rewards for watching?

LPL WE Xiye9/15/2017, 1:15:28 AM1 votes

英雄志逐传奇summoner 6 summoner 4 Akali

6GC9/15/2017, 3:23:10 AM1 votes

That wallpaper looks like it was made in MS paint.

StairwaytoBronze9/15/2017, 9:38:03 PM1 votes

Even G2 in that hellhole group C has a better chance of getting out of groups than TSM does. World Elite has a 90% chance of getting out of play-ins and a 50% chance of getting into Group D (100% chance if all the pool 1 teams from the play-in stage make it to groups). That makes WE and FW in TSM's group, which is to say two teams that beat TSM at MSI and two teams that advanced out of groups at MSI, whereas TSM did not. Yes, Doublelift will be there instead of Turtle, but Doublelift doesn't do anything to make Svensk a world class jungler, because he's not even a great jungler by NA standards. Karsa and potentially Condi will eat him up.

Zero North American teams make it out of groups this year, again. Not trying to hate, and I'll still pull for them, just trying to be objective.

SynMid9/14/2017, 1:38:47 PM1 votes

Can I get RP for the first comment rito ?