World Championship 2014 Preliminary Schedule

Riot·Aug 5, 2014·2 votes·141,661 views

It’s getting closer and closer to the ultimate showdown in Seoul on October 19th where we’ll crown the League of Legends World Champions 2014.

As teams from around the world battle to come out on top in their regional leagues, here’s a glimpse at the group stages, quarter-final and semi-final that are going to take us towards the final showdown at Sangam Stadium.

First of all, here’s a quick guide to how this will work. Each of the 16 qualifying teams for Worlds will be drawn into one of four groups (four teams per each group). Two out of the four groups will play the entirety of their group stage games in Taiwan, and the other two groups will play the entirety of their group stage games in Singapore. During the group stage, each team will play every other team twice (once on blue side, once on purple) - meaning that each team plays six games and there are 24 games per location. For more information on how this will all play out, check out our Worlds rulebook - and look out for more information on lolesports within the next few weeks.

Calendars at the ready - here are the dates and times for the upcoming stages.

GROUP STAGE ONE: September 18th - 21st

Taipei, Taiwan

Local time - 5pm - 11pm
PDT - 2am - 8am
CEST - 11am - 5pm
KST - 6pm - 12pm

GROUP STAGE TWO: September 25th - 28th

Singapore, Singapore

Sept 25th - 26th

Local Time - 5pm - 11pm
PDT - 2am - 8am
CEST - 11am - 5pm
KST - 6pm - 12am

Sept 27th - 28th

Local Time - 2pm - 8pm
PDT - 11pm - 5am
CEST - 8am - 2pm
KST - 3pm - 9pm

QUARTER FINALS: October 3rd - 6th

Busan, Korea

October 3rd

Local time - 5pm - 10pm
PDT - 1am - 6am
CEST - 10am - 3pm

October 4th - 5th

Local time - 2pm - 7pm
PDT - 10pm - 3am
CEST - 7am - 12pm

October 6th

Local time - 5pm - 10pm
PDT - 1am - 6am
CEST - 10am - 3pm

SEMI FINALS: October 11th-12th

Seoul, Korea

Local time - 5pm - 10pm
PDT - 1am - 6am
CEST - 10am - 3pm

FINAL: October 19th

Seoul, Korea

Local time: 4pm - 9pm - (3:30 Opening Ceremony)
PDT - 12am - 5am (11:30pm Opening Ceremony)
CEST - 9am - 2pm (8:30am Opening Ceremony)

Tickets will be on sale for all of the stops very shortly so check back into lolesports.com to secure your spot for the upcoming stages.

526 Comments

Dark WristbandAug 5, 2014528 votes

As someone who lives on the US east coast, I'm pretty disappointed that most of the live games will be happening while I'm asleep (5am-11am EST; 4am-10am EST; 3am-8am EST). Any chance we might get to have full replays stream the following afternoon? They could start at 1pm PDT (4pm EST), which would allow most of us in NA/SA to watch all the matches without having to sacrifice sleep to do so, and without interfering with the live schedule. Hopefully Riot will consider this as a possibility, because I'd love to be able to see these matches.

The Shaco BotAug 6, 2014101 votes

It is funny cause last worlds when held here in the states they adjusted times for other countries.

MusicAug 6, 201463 votes

It is literally impossible to adjust times to fit all three regions. Either North America, Europe or Asia will get a bad time, so it's best to tailor the schedule towards Asia since that's where the games are hosted.

LeeDarkAug 6, 201414 votes

No, it's best to tailor the schedule to the region that would contribute the largest number of viewers.

RinchinAug 6, 2014138 votes

dude, how many people do you think there are in asia?

MerdersenAug 6, 20149 votes

The original post isn't asking them to change when the games themselves are held, only to show repeat streams at a different time that is convenient for the other regions

VLR VIRTUALAug 6, 201430 votes

I believe they actually post all games that are streamed on their Youtube channel

sauce - https://www.youtube.com/user/LoLChampSeries

That GirlAug 6, 201412 votes

Why would the games be held during the waking hours of NA when from Stage One, which is in mid-September, they're already in Asia. Which means, like all professional sportsman, they would attune their bodies to local times and PLAY local times. There are just as many fans in Asia of LoL, if not more. The world doesn't revolve around you or your sleeping patterns.

RedxVelvetAug 6, 20146 votes

Because this season4 world championship held in South Korea, they trying to make good times for koreans

KaidoAug 6, 20145 votes

Seriously what the fuck were they thinking? The PDT time slot is awful. Hope they enjoy a lot less viewers

MusicAug 6, 201421 votes

Hope they enjoy a lot more Asian & European viewers.

namingnotmythingAug 6, 201416 votes

That is the point... Its hosted in Asia they want to sell tickets for local views. So yes they will enjoy Asian/European viewers.

MusicAug 6, 201414 votes

"1pm PDT." How do you expect Riot to sell tickets for games at 5am local time?

SkystrykeAug 6, 201410 votes

He said they should have a full replay stream at that time not have the live event at that time. Besides Im pretty sure they already replay LCS streams for Oceania so I would be surprised if they don't do that here as well.

MusicAug 6, 20146 votes

The Twitch and Youtube vods will all be uploaded by the time you wake up.

AGPro69Aug 6, 201418 votes

One Word, YouTube.

Qbeast360Aug 6, 20147 votes

Just watch it on youtube

PahimakasAug 6, 201420 votes

Boohoo. You are an online viewer. Are you paying to watch? No? Then shut up so they can make money on local viewers.

sirDartsAug 6, 20148 votes

It's called time zones... Last year the Championship was in NA, NA had the best times, Asia had OKish times, and EU had "middle-of-the-night" times. This year the Championship is in KR, KR/Asia have the best times, EU has OKish times, and NA has "middle-of-the-night" times. If next year the Championship will be in EU, EU will have the best times, NA will have OKish times, and Asia will have "middle-of-the-night" times.

Do you also cry when the Olympic games are hosted on the other side of the Globe, that you would have to watch the main events at night?!

NorpserAug 5, 2014104 votes

EAST COAST PEOPLES

GROUP STAGE ONE: September 18th - 21st Taipei, Taiwan EST - 5am - 11am

GROUP STAGE TWO: September 25th - 28th Singapore, Singapore

Sept 25th - 26th EST - 5am - 11am

Sept 27th - 28th EST - 2am - 8am

QUARTER FINALS: October 3rd - 6th Busan, Korea

October 3rd EST - 4am - 9am

October 4th - 5th EST - 1am - 6am

October 6th PDT - 4am - 9am

SEMI FINALS: October 11th-12th Seoul, Korea EST - 4am - 9am

FINAL: October 19th Seoul, Korea EST - 3am - 8am (2:30am Opening Ceremony)

NorpserAug 5, 201477 votes

Looks like I won't be watching any of the games live....

Truly PridefulAug 5, 201429 votes

Pretty much... Anyone that works the general 9-5 is kind of screwed.

DôngAug 5, 201415 votes

Welp GG rito i wont be watching any of those games at all.

MVP VisionAug 6, 201428 votes

It's sad how much Riot ignores us eastcoasters sometimes. They dont even post the EDT/EST times at all.

REE PrimeAug 6, 201441 votes

Can you not add the 3 hours?

ForerunnerrAug 6, 201453 votes

Let's be understanding... Not everyone here knows how to maths....

Peter KirkAug 6, 20145 votes

It's because the times are such a joke for east coast. The majority of them start at or after 3 am.

Midnights DaggerAug 6, 201418 votes

oh no! 3am!... that's around when all the lcs games are aired for us in Australia. stop your winging, your not the only demographic out there that has to deal with shitty times

Lettuce SammichAug 6, 201427 votes

This screws people in North America so bad. Especially East coasters. This was a bad idea

Vexen IVAug 6, 201412 votes

oh no you have to go to bed early and wake up early to watch matches while west coast has to stay up all night to watch

TbonezzAug 6, 201447 votes

It's called a job

Lee Singed GGAug 6, 20145 votes

Worlds is held in Singapore/Korea. They are scheduling it to be convenient for the people attending the tournament live.

PahimakasAug 6, 20146 votes

Sacrifices were made. -Stop spoon feeding NA. check

MigrañaboyAug 6, 20146 votes

This was a bad idea for asians last year, now its our turn to bear with this. Quit the qq.

Whit3 giveAug 6, 20146 votes

riot is a global company, the event is held in S.K. so its in those times. It was the same deal for the asians last year when worlds was held in LA.

SharpRyanAug 5, 201425 votes

summoner 4 summoner 6 On my way.

josheeAug 5, 201427 votes

TwistedFate see you there.

SeokjhinAug 5, 201433 votes

Shen coming with you.

Saqlain3Aug 5, 201425 votes

Zilean I knew you would do that

SyndruhAug 5, 201416 votes

World Championships should be in america... Just a suggestion riot item 2043

ForeveRInPeacEAug 5, 201410 votes

It wouldnt really be a world championship if it was held in North America would it? Plus league is mostly a korean game.. im sorry that youre not old enough to travel out of the country D: ill get you a tissue for your tears.

LeanGodAug 5, 201449 votes

Number one, it would be just as much as a world championship whether it was in the US or China or Korea. They are all countries?... Number two, how do you figure that league is a "mostly korean" game? Just because they are the best at it at this point in time?

nightblade564Aug 6, 20146 votes

Plus Riot as a corporation is centered in the United States, so how do you figure league is a korean game? Beta happened in the U.S. All the earliest worlds did, Equity in Riot games (the company that made and runs league of legends) is sold exclusively to private firms in the United States. To be honest it makes more sense for them to be U.S. centric as they have been in the past then korean centric, as the majority of there profits come from the U.S.