Worlds 2023: Teams, Format, Results
The 2023 League of Legends World Championships, better known as Worlds 2023, represents a major change for the long-running tournament. Ahead of the 2023 pro season, Riot Games announced that major format changes would be coming to the season-ending tournament. Since 2017, the tournament has operated a play-in stage, a group stage, and a knockout stage.
Starting in 2023, the scope of the play-in stage will be reduced and modified. Firstly, the play-in will no longer feature teams from South Korea or China. Furthermore, a maximum of one team from Europe or North America will be present. The last of the eight teams to qualify for the play-in stage will be determined by a preliminary qualification tournament.
Furthermore, the Worlds Qualifying Series will pit the fourth seed from Europe against the fourth seed from North America. Subsequently, The winner of this best-of-five series will compete in the Worlds play-in stage.
Additionally, the Worlds group stage has been replaced by a Swiss Stage format. Teams will play a maximum of five matches, with their opponents determined by their previous results. Subsequently, the top eight teams in the Swiss Stage will progress to an unchanged single-elimination bracket.
When Is Worlds 2023?
Worlds 2023 will be held between October 10 and November 19, 2023.
Where Is Worlds 2023 Being Held?
Worlds 2023 is being hosted by South Korea. Games will be played in Seoul and Busan. Furthermore, the Grand Final will be hosted at Gocheok Sky Dome, a domed baseball stadium in Seoul. Additionally, it is the first time since 2018 that South Korea has hosted Worlds.
What Is The 2023 Worlds Song?
The official song of Worlds 2023 has not yet been released. The Worlds song is traditionally made available in October, usually around one or two weeks before Worlds begins. However, the Worlds 2022 song was “STAR WALKIN’” performed by Lil Nas X.
How Much Do You Get For Winning Worlds?
The prize pool for Worlds varies each year. There is a base prize pool provided by Riot Games. Furthermore, the prize pool is supplemented by the sale of in-game events and tickets for the event. However, the prize pool for the Worlds 2022 is $2.25 million. In 2022, the tournament champions received 22%, or $489,500, of the prize pool.
Who Won Worlds 2022?
Worlds 2022 was won by LCK team DRX. They defeated fellow Korean team T1 in a thrilling Grand Final in San Francisco. However, DRX have struggled immensely in 2023. If DRX do fail to qualify, it would be the first time since 2020 that the defending champion failed to make the subsequent Worlds.
Who Has Qualified For Worlds 2023?
22 teams will qualify for Worlds 2023 based on their performance in their regional Summer split. Furthermore, the 22 places at Worlds 2023 are divided as follows:
- 4 teams from South Korea’s LCK
- 4 teams from China’s LPL
- 3 teams from Europe’s LEC
- 3 teams from North America’s LCS
- 2 teams from Southeast Asia’s PCS
- 2 teams from Vietnam’s VCS
- 1 team from Brazil’s CBLOL
- 1 team from Latin America’s LLA
- 1 team from Japan’s LJL
- 1 team from the Worlds Qualifying Series (LEC or LCS)
Teams Still In Contention
Furthermore, here are all the teams still in contention.
- LCK: Hanwha Life Esports, DRX, DPlus
- LEC: G2*, MAD Lions*, Team BDS, Excel Esports, Fnatic, SK Gaming
- PCS: PSG Talon, Beyond Gaming, CFO Flying Oyster, Frank Esports
- VCS: GAM Esports, Team Whales, Team Secret, CERBERUS Esports, Team Flash, Saigon Buffalo
- CBLOL: RED Cainds, PaiN Gaming, LOUD, INTZ
- LLA: Rainbow7, Estreal Esports
*Teams have qualified for Worlds but their seeding is yet to be determined
Qualified for Worlds 2023 Swiss Stage
| Gen.G |
| T1 |
| KT Rolster |
| DRX/Dplus/Hanwha Life Esports |
| JDG |
| Bilibili Gaming |
| LNG |
| Weibo Gaming |
| MAD Lions/G2/TBD |
| MAD Lions/G2/TBD |
| MAD Lions/G2/TBD |
| NRG |
| Cloud9 |
| Team Liquid |
Qualified for Worlds 2023 Play-In Stage
| PCS Summer Champion |
| PCS Summer Runner Up |
| VCS Dusk Champion |
| VCS Dusk Runner Up |
| CBLOL Split 2 Champion |
| Rainbow7/Estreal Esports |
| DetonatioN FocusMe |
| LEC Finals 4th Place/Golden Guardians |
Changes From 2022
Three regions will no longer be represented at Worlds from 2023. Firstly, the TCL, which represents Turkey, vacated its Worlds spot to become part of the European Region League system. Similarly, the LCO, which represents Oceania, vacated its Worlds spot and will seek qualification through the PCS. Finally, the LCL, which represents Russia, has been suspended since the Russian Invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
With the elimination of Team Bliss and Chiefs Esports Club from the PCS playoffs, Worlds 2023 will be the first since 2016 not to feature any teams from Oceania.
Worlds 2023 Rosters
| Team | Top | Jungle | Mid | ADC | Support |
| Gen.G | Doran | Peanut | Chovy | Peyz | Delight |
| T1 | Zeus | Oner | Faker | Gumayusi | Keria |
| KT Rolster | Kiin | Cuzz | Bdd | Aiming | Lehends |
| LCK 4 | |||||
| JDG | 369 | Kanavi | Knight | Ruler | MISSING |
| Bilibili Gaming | Bin | XUN | Yagao | Elk | ON |
| LNG | Zika | Tarzan | Scout | Gala | Hang |
| Weibo Gaming | TheShy | weiwei | Xiaohu | Light | Crisp |
| LEC 1 | |||||
| LEC 2 | |||||
| LEC 3 | |||||
| NRG | Dhokla | Contractz | Palafox | FBI | IgNar |
| Cloud9 | Fudge | Blaber | EMENES | Berserker | Zven |
| Team Liquid | Summit | Pyosik | APA | Yeon | CoreJJ |
| PCS 1 | |||||
| PCS 2 | |||||
| VCS 1 | |||||
| VCS 2 | |||||
| CBLOL | |||||
| LLA | |||||
| DetonatioN FocusMe | apaMEN | Steal | Aria | Yutapon | Harp |
| LEC 4/LCS 4 |
Worlds 2023 Play In
The Worlds 2023 Play-In Stage will be conducted using the GSL format. The top two teams from each group qualify for a best-of-five series. The winners of those series will then qualify for the Swiss stage.
Group A
| TBD |
| TBD |
| TBD |
| TBD |
Group B
| TBD |
| TBD |
| TBD |
| TBD |
Worlds 2023 Swiss Stage
| Team | Match 1 | Match 2 | Match 3 | Match 4 | Match 5 |
| Gen.G | |||||
| T1 | |||||
| KT Rolster | |||||
| LCK 4 | |||||
| JDG | |||||
| Bilibili Gaming | |||||
| LNG | |||||
| Weibo Gaming | |||||
| LEC 1 | |||||
| LEC 2 | |||||
| LEC 3 | |||||
| NRG | |||||
| Cloud9 | |||||
| Team Liquid | |||||
| TBD | |||||
| TBD |
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