MSI 2017 Play-In Draw Guide

Riot·Apr 12, 2017·4 votes·22,195 views

Your guide to the 2017 Mid-Season Invitational Play-In Draw.

As we crown new split champions around the globe, the 10 teams who will face-off in the Play-In Stage of the 2017 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) are being locked. To determine the groups for the Play-In Stage, we’ll be hosting a Play-In Draw Show on April 19 at 4:00 PM PT.

What is the Play-In Stage?

As we previously announced, the Play-In Stage is a new stage of the tournament and will be played before the Group Stage. The Play-In Stage consists of three rounds with 10 regional teams including:

CBLOL’s Red Canids - Brazil (BR)
LCL’s Virtus.pro - Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
LJL’s Rampage - Japan (JPN)
LLN's Lyon Gaming - Latin America North (LAN)
CLS’s Isurus Gaming - Latin America South (LAS)
TBD (NA LCS Finals on 4/23) - North America (NA) - Round 1 bye, starts in Round 2
OPL's Dire Wolves - Oceania (OCE)
GPL's Gigabyte Marines - Southeast Asia (SEA)
TBD (LMS Finals on 4/23) - Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau (LMS) - Round 1 bye, starts in Round 2
TBD (TCL Finals on 4/22) - Turkey (TUR)

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Round 1 takes place on April 28-May 1 with each day featuring six games from one of the two groups.

The winners of each group in Round 1 advance to Round 2 and randomly be paired against NA or LMS. Round 2 takes place on May 3-4 and the winners of Round 2 advance to the next stage of the tournament, the Group Stage.

The losers of Round 2 will face-off in Round 3 on May 6 for the final spot at Groups.

What is the Play-In Draw?

As noted in the above graphic, the eight teams are randomly sorted into two groups. The Play-In Draw is how we randomly sort the two groups for the eight participating region for the Play-In Stage, Round 1. Play-In Draw Show takes place live on Wednesday, April 19 at 4:00 PM PT.

During the Play-In Draw Show, the on-air team will explain the teams and breakdown the process as it happens live.

How does Play-In Draw work?

Eight teams will be sorted into two pools based on past regional performance for the Play-In Stage, Round 1. As with MSI 2017 seeding, we’ll be using the last two years of competitive results where all Round 1 regions participated including IWCI 2015, IWCI 2016, and IWCQ 2016. Because IWCQ 2015 took place as two separate tournaments and not all eight regions participated at the same event together, those competitive results were not counted.

When determining seeding for the Play-In Draw, we relied on principles similar to the ones used for overall MSI 2017 seeding:

We prioritize events that qualified for Worlds over MSI (as Worlds is the most important tournament of the year) - in this case, IWCQ 2016
We prioritized recent results over older results as a better indicator of current strength - IWCI 2016 and IWCQ 2016.
We evaluated tournament results by the stage achieved, regardless of opponent or game record.

Here’s the Play-In Draw seeding results:

Pool 1: Brazil, Commonwealth of Independent States, Turkey, and Southeast Asia
Pool 2: Japan, Latin America North, Latin America South, and Oceania

It’s important to remember that exactly two teams from each of the pools will be sorted into each group.

The draw process will start by drawing one team from Pool 1 into Group A. Then, we’ll draw one team from Pool 1 into Group B. We’ll switch to Pool 2 and repeat the process with Pool 2 - The first team drawn from Pool 2 will go to Group A and the second team will go to Group B Finally, we’ll repeat this entire process again for the remaining four teams.

Why does the Play-In matter?

The top three teams from the Play-In Stage will advance to the Group Stage in Rio de Janeiro on May 10-14. The recently crowned split champions from China, Europe, and Korea will join these teams for the Group Stage. As we previously announced, the Group Stage schedule will be confirmed immediately after the Play-In Stage.

How do I watch?

Watch the live MSI 2017 Play-In Draw Show on Lolesports on April 19 at 4:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM BRT.

Don’t miss any of the MSI 2017 action starting with the Play-In Stage on on Friday, April 28 at 11:00 AM PT.

Chris “Grza” Greeley is one of our League Operations Leads. He leads a team focused on supporting the operations of NA LCS and international events. He is not the former congressional representative from Maine, but he is an ex(ish)-lawyer from New York City. He channeled years of raiding on his Resto Druid into life in the bottom lane dropping wards and shooting gliterlances. You can find him on Twitter as @IAmGrza.

37 Comments

GrammApr 12, 201711 votes

good way to include more regions in the international scene and expand their fanbases, definitely a step in the right direction

NagakaebourosApr 12, 20173 votes

Not to mention exposing new players to the international scene. Time to see some fail flashes summoner 4

WhiteFireKirinApr 13, 20171 votes

i agree they probably put NA and LMS in there just to get ppl to watch it.

TolkmitApr 12, 20175 votes

How long has it been since an EU team beat an NA team at MSI or Worlds? Over a year at least. How does it make any sense that the random group draw at worlds, which determines how far you go as much as anything else, determines MSI status instead of actual competitive play?

ArchäenApr 12, 20171 votes

It's based off the last 2 years of performance, which includes EU having 2 teams in semi-finals of 2015 Worlds.

TolkmitApr 14, 20171 votes

Those teams aren't even in EU right now, they are in promo series. How does it make any sense that EU's current placement is determined by teams not even in EU right now? And teams at worlds constantly admitted last year that how far you go is determined as much by group draw as by anything else.

World' set up is to ensure the best team wins; but not that the third and fourth best team come in third and fourth.

Juggernaut628Apr 19, 20171 votes

FNC 3rd place match = Not in EU

SpooApr 19, 20171 votes

Doesn't matter, its based on the region's performance as a whole. If we had to keep track of the 'teams' that essentially stick together than you might as well throw Huni's results out for th epast 2-3 years.

Juggernaut628Apr 19, 20171 votes

Not to mention H2K last year

GeminiRuneApr 12, 20171 votes

It's produced off of regional results, not who beats whom. Nobody's really saying FW should be the overlying factor as to why TW/LMS should be put above KR. That in itself would be ridiculous in its own right, especially if you brought the result and performance of said team at those events.

ShadòwApr 16, 20172 votes

mad NA players LUL

geobizApr 12, 20173 votes

Personally I feel this set up is garbage and could have thought of something better within 5 minutes. The fact that LMS and NA have to play their way in is laughable. As someone who has been watching for four years and has seen every region strive at some point, this is just a head scratcher #mustbeaboutthemoney

grownupgamerApr 20, 20171 votes

Well, if you're so sure something better could be thought up in five minutes, why don't you take five, come up with something better, and share it with us?

TrollFan01Apr 12, 20172 votes

NA & LMS are gping to advance. They're too good not to against IWC teams in BO5s.

In the loser brackets is where things will heat up.

Blue SocialistApr 12, 20171 votes

helps that CLG got eliminated in playoffs.

WhiteFireKirinApr 13, 20171 votes

clg always choked had c9 or tsm been in their shoes albus wouldnt be so hyped, but then again clg did get 2nd place at msi after beating every1 at least once in group stages.

DebtlesscandyApr 12, 20172 votes

Why do NA and LMS have to fight to get into MSI?

ArchäenApr 12, 20173 votes

They based the decision off last 2 years of MSI and World's. LMS and NA were the two regions that performed the lowest during that period, so they have to play in the 2nd round of the pre-group qualifiers.

Bovine GhotiApr 13, 20171 votes

How did Rito Manage to make something more complicated than the EU 2017 Spring Split?

Espy PsycheApr 16, 20171 votes

Since 2015:

NA -- 5th at 2015 MSI 0 top 8 teams at 2015 Worlds 2nd at 2016 MSI ** 1 top 8 team at 2016 Worlds

EU -- 3rd at 2015 MSI ** 2 top 8 teams at 2015 Worlds (2 top 4) ** 5th at 2016 MSI 1 top 8 team at 2016 Worlds (1 top 4) **

Despite the failings of 2016 EU, TSM and CLG didn't do significantly better than G2 and Splyce at Worlds. Yes, TSM and CLG placed third in groups while G2 and Splyce placed fourth, but none of the above made it out of groups, so a third place is the same as a fourth as far as the rankings. Even if Origen's performance is omitted because they got relegated, EU would have 1 top 4 team at 2015 Worlds (Fnatic, who is still very much alive in EU LCS). The EU team at MSI in 2015 was Fnatic, not Origen.

MuddyBuddyMudkipApr 19, 20171 votes

Not to discount EU but NA teams have consistently had harder group stages which have played to that. Not that I can really blame anyone for that its just unfortunate.

Ale non è maleApr 19, 20171 votes

{quoted}

Not to discount EU but NA teams have consistently had harder group stages which have played to that. Not that I can really blame anyone for that its just unfortunate.

In 2015 Worlds Origen get through the group that included TSM, a Korean and a Chinese team, CLG got eliminated in the group with the 2nd LMS team and a Wildcard, and C9 went out in the group that included Fnatic which advanced to QF

TSM and CLG didn't go through the same group that included G2 and Spy that didn't get through as well. C9 was the worst team in group stage of the 8 qualified team (seriously, those games in that group that were decisive for them to advance were a big hour long clownfiestas), so even if you swap TSM for them the number of teams that NA would advance would be the same

Do not try to play the "harder group stage" card, please, when NA teams were good they performed and it showed up in results (see CLG at 2016 MSI when they were even lucky to had the easy semifinal or C9 at 2014 Worlds), the problem is that those istances have been historically be too few and far inbetween

SpooApr 19, 20171 votes

I see the point, but:

How do we evaluate MSI vs. Worlds. Does a 1st at MSI mean more...why should it you're facing less than half the competetion.
What happens if two regions are tied in this? Who makes the arbitrary decision on who has to play in vs. who gets in automatically.

If anything they should have based their playins by who still had their 1st round world seeds from previous years. That way the only way to get out of a play-in is earn it for your region. I guess I don't see how a potentially a few lucky worlds group draws should potentially impact future worlds by impacting MSI. MSI should impact MSI and worlds. World's should not impact MSI.

Ale non è maleApr 21, 20171 votes

{quoted} If anything they should have based their playins by who still had their 1st round world seeds from previous years. That way the only way to get out of a play-in is earn it for your region.

That's idiotic. So a region with less internal competition should be favoured because...well... no particular reason? And what if SKT disbanded and their players joined other KR orgs, then KR should have to play to get in (ROX Tigers that lost 3-2 in a super close series with SKT in semifinals disbanded and they could have been the world champions here)?

SpooApr 22, 20171 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ale non è male,realm=EUW,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=uvja2RMJ,comment-id=000600010000,timestamp=2017-04-21T12:42:59.165+0000)

That's idiotic. So a region with less internal competition should be favoured because...well... no particular reason? And what if SKT disbanded and their players joined other KR orgs, then KR should have to play to get in (ROX Tigers that lost 3-2 in a super close series with SKT in semifinals disbanded and they could have been the world champions here)?

Are you even readin gmy argument.

My point was that the best of each region is going. Then if a team's region earns a #1 seed in the region, by placing 1-4 at MSI, they don't have to worry about play-in at the following MSI? How is this in any way favoring anybody. If anything its the same concept as the two bottom teams potentially getting relegated. The only difference is the MSI play-in Region teams are relegated based on the the worst performing MSI region teams of the previous year.Each region still gets 1 team and that team is presumed the best in the region, so if anything it favors noone.

Why should an IWC team that earned a #1 seed the previous year (assuming it happens) have to play in the following year. (They've already shown their stuff so to speak). The region proved itself the previous split by earning that spot and beating up on the bigger regions. So it makes sense that if the bigger regions want it back, they should have to earn that spot. More teams go to worlds out of the bigger regions, why should the IWC or other regions be punished because their small and have less statistical oppornity(notice i said opportunity...not likilihood) of placing high. It's a fact, more teams in a tourney the higher chance of you placing better. If anything the current 2-yr span does nothing but protect the big regions wayyyy too much. (Why baby the big regions if a smaller region took there spot. The reason they did is the big region team stunk it up at MSI, boo hoo!!!) item 3070

No 'extra' teams make it into MSI and nooone's getting favored. So what if SKT splits, the korean team would still get to defend the MSI #1 seed and the world #1 seed. If they perform well, no problem to Korea. If your good enough to earn it in a tourney where 1 team 1 region, then you ought to have a chance to defend it. Not this lame protect the super region BS.

Ale non è maleApr 22, 20171 votes

{quoted}

Are you even readin gmy argument.

Dude YOUR phrasing. Check it. If you put the world "still" in this sentence

If anything they should have based their playins by who still had their 1st round world seeds from previous years.

I have to read It like you would give the bye to the teams that still had the same returning teams that earn the 1st seeds , because otherwise it make no sense to put the word "still" in your sentence.

If you express yourself incorrectly It is not the other people's fault.

SpooApr 24, 20171 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ale non è male,realm=EUW,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=uvja2RMJ,comment-id=00060001000000000000,timestamp=2017-04-22T09:24:27.950+0000)

Dude YOUR phrasing. Check it. If you put the world "still" in this sentence

I have to read It like you would give the bye to the teams that still had the same returning teams that earn the 1st seeds , because otherwise it make no sense to put the word "still" in your sentence.

If you express yourself incorrectly It is not the other people's fault.

How does 'still' affect your bad interpretation. I don't recall mentioning anything in that post about changing the rules on which teams from each region are invited. That was never in the discussion thread. The whole point of the thread was which region's team should have to play in. The point of reading a post sir is using context clues, and clearly nothing in my post called out that we should invite 'a specific' team back. Nothing in the article called that out, so why the hell would I suggest picking a specific team, over basing it on which team represents that region. Doesn't that seem just a little bit random to you? Context clues!

If you know anything about the current rules of MSI, which teams get invited, and how that affects worlds seating you should know those regions that have or 'still have/had' their 1st round seed at worlds are based on a region's team that places 1-4 at MSI. Errgo, if I go into the next split, they(that region) 'still had a first round seed at worlds the previous year... and 'will continue to have' one until they perform poorly at that current/next year's MSI. (Assuming you used my suggestion.)

Ale non è maleApr 24, 20171 votes

{quoted}

How does 'still' affect your bad interpretation.

Are you freaking serious dude???

The "still" changes everything in the interpretation of your sentence

"If anything they should have based their playins by who still had their 1st round world seeds from previous years."

You talk about context, but that is what failed you. The "still" implies something that has been return, not being interrupted, something that has not changed...AKA the returning of those previous 1st round seeds (teams) world years into the next MSI, and has still held their position in their region (hence how the world still change the structures) insted of the 1st round seeds that have lost it

There was no reason to put the word "still" in that your originale sentence, take away the "still" from your sentence, and it works so much better and is so much cleaner in relation to YOUR opinion, YOU put confusion in it

Your phrasing is even worse than tour agrument, deal with it

SpooApr 26, 20171 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ale non è male,realm=EUW,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=uvja2RMJ,comment-id=0006000100000000000000000000,timestamp=2017-04-24T10:24:56.615+0000)

You talk about context, but that is what failed you. The "still" implies something that has been return, not being interrupted, something that has not changed...AKA the returning of those previous 1st round seeds (teams) world years into the next MSI, and has still held their position in their region (hence how the world still change the structures) insted of the 1st round seeds that have lost it

So something that didn't change huh. How hard is it to understand that the 'region' and not the 'team' was the thing that wasn't changing. The same regions who had their #1 seed last year would still have had it this last year no matter when I talk about it(nothing I can do changes that unless I got a time machine). But since I was talking about #1 seeds changing based on MSI(which are allocated to regions not teams AT MSI) would be the thing that could be changing. Thus, using still had was completely correct and justified.

If you still can't admit it, your a lost cause. In any case you needn't respond because I'm done with you heathenish troll.

Your terrible at reading comprehension because:

My post was about region selection not team selection.
The entire mile long post before the thread was on how deciding regions should be selected into MSI. (Not individual teams).
We already know based on the fact that they didn't announce anything in the post that the team that makes MSI for a region is the team that performs the best in the summer split for that region.

So how in the heck could any sane person change my sentence: From: "If anything they should have based their playins by who still had(assumed team that traditionally represents the region, or region in general) their 1st round world seeds from previous years."

To: "If anything they should have based their playins by who still had(assumed team that had there #1 when in fact worlds took place last year, to hell with traditional MSI invitees and winning the Summer Split) that gets selected by that region) their 1st round world seeds from previous years."

Ale non è maleApr 27, 20171 votes

{quoted}

If you still can't admit it, your a lost cause.

Nah, you are a lost cause. There are actually guys in other threads on boards that had that exact idea (only teams return should get auto-invite), so the "still" was essential to understand your opinion on the matter.

EDIT:

{quoted}

Total crap to be honest.
G2 shouldn't benefit from the performance of Fnatic and Origen two worlds ago or from H2k getting a cushy draw. G2 themselves finished tied for last at worlds and got dumpstered at MSI. Why should they get any consideration? But on the same note, why should TSM benefit from CLG's performance at last year's MSI? * They shouldn't. Handing out benefits to regions instead of the teams that actually earned them is moronic*

Suck it up and admit you had bad phrasing or shut up once and for all

P.S. and the argument make way less sense than the criteria decided by Riot, anyway

The Joyous QueenApr 16, 20171 votes

IDK why the teams that "play-in" are determined by some weird, lifetime value criteria. Why not just directly base this on either MSI or worlds? It isn't more fair to reward slumping regions (like EU) than to play in for next MSI this MSI and so on. IN fact, the team that puts EU in was just relegated from the EU LCS...it's just a head scratcher.

Ale non è maleApr 19, 20172 votes

[{quoted}](name=C9 Buffy,realm=NA,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=uvja2RMJ,comment-id=0007,timestamp=2017-04-16T20:28:31.949+0000)

IDK why the teams that "play-in" are determined by some weird, lifetime value criteria. Why not just directly base this on either MSI or worlds? It isn't more fair to reward slumping regions (like EU) than to play in for next MSI this MSI and so on. IN fact, the team that puts EU in was just relegated from the EU LCS...it's just a head scratcher.

Dude, it's determined exactly on past 2 seasons MSI and Worlds results, not on some weird criteria. NA has performed better than EU or China in only 1 out of 4 tournaments considered, namely last season MSI, that's why they are in the play-in stage. You sound really delusional

The Joyous QueenApr 23, 20171 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ale non è male,realm=EUW,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=uvja2RMJ,comment-id=00070000,timestamp=2017-04-19T17:02:39.454+0000)

Dude, it's determined exactly on past 2 seasons MSI and Worlds results, not on some weird criteria. NA has performed better than EU or China in only 1 out of 4 tournaments considered, namely last season MSI, that's why they are in the play-in stage. You sound really delusional

I mean, that's obviously not true. Flash Wolves has outpreformed both EU and NA alone, not even counter their regions' AHQ. So if the past 2 season best performances created this criteria, then Taiwan would be auto-in not EU.

Ale non è maleApr 24, 20171 votes

[{quoted}](name=C9 Buffy,realm=NA,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=uvja2RMJ,comment-id=000700000000,timestamp=2017-04-23T00:32:47.539+0000)

I mean, that's obviously not true. Flash Wolves has outpreformed both EU and NA alone, not even counter their regions' AHQ. So if the past 2 season best performances created this criteria, then Taiwan would be auto-in not EU.

Nope. You remember wrong

2015 MSI, AHQ goes out in semifinals as well as FNC did, it's even 2015 Worlds, EU beat clearly LMS (heck, FNC tops the group with AHQ and Origen beat FW in quarters to get to semi, EU teams basically stop the run of LMS one) 2016 MSI, LMS beat clearly EU 2016 Worlds, EU beat LMS, LMS is without any doubt the worst region at Worlds, the only one that do not qualify a team to QF (including Wildcards with ANX)

Out of 4 tournaments, LMS performed better than EU or CN only once (vs CN 2015 Worlds, vs EU 2016 MSI) and gets beaten 2 times by EU and 3 by CN

If LMS qualified a team to 2016 Worlds QF, they would have deserved to play in group stage at MSI skipping the play in because of the superior consistency compared to EU/CN despite the lower peaks. But the 2016 Worlds bad run sealed their fate

Dankiskhan127Apr 17, 20171 votes

where is albus nox?

SpooApr 19, 20171 votes

If they're going to do something like this, I'd rather them use a point accumulation system for each region than some oddball metric. While I understand what's happening in this system it seems like a totally arbitrary system (kind of like the coaches poll in NCAA) to a point. I would rather have some hardline metric we could use to prepare this then some arbitrary one, at least for Clarity's sake. Isn't Rito all about clarity?