As the Summer Split winds down across the world the race for the last remaining slots to the League of Legends World Championships becomes desperate. This year we saw Cloud 9 and last year’s champion FPX crash out.
Precious few tickets to Shanghai remain open as more and more teams lock in their participation for this year’s LoL highlight. Utilizing the bubble system akin to the NBA and other major sports leagues Riot is determined to host this year’s League of Legends World Championships.
North America – Cloud 9 misses out
— Cloud9 (@Cloud9) August 29, 2020
After last split’s dominance and this split’s regular second place Cloud 9 seemed all but locked into one of North America’s three slots in Shanghai. However TSM said otherwise as they unceremoniously upset them 3-1 in the Lower Bracket of the ongoing Summer Playoffs to deny them. This marks the first time C9 misses out on Worlds in their LoL history.
Team SoloMid, FlyQuest and Team Liquid will be North America’s representative’s in Shanghai. With a close 3-2 victory over Team Liquid in the Lower Bracket of the Summer Playoffs, TSM secured their straight advance into the group stage. Team Liquid will have to go through Play-Ins.
China – No FunPlusPhoenix, no Invictus Gaming
China’s LPL remains one of the most competitive regions in League of Legends. After the dust settled over the Summer Split a couple of fresh faces will be heading to Shanghai to represent the home crowd. Top Esports, JD Gaming, Suning and LGD Gaming are the four Chinese teams at Worlds 2020. Only LGD has attended the biggest LoL tournament before in 2015.
Let’s give a huge shoutout for FPX, the reigning World champions!
2020 might not have been their best year, but the defining trait of a Phoenix is that it will rise from its ashes once more. Best of luck to FPX next year!
Till then, #AllWeFightFor. pic.twitter.com/lisH260X03
— LPL (@lplenglish) August 29, 2020
Last year’s champion FunPlusPhoenix as well as 2018’s winners Invictus Gaming both were bested during the gauntlet. They have had middling results throughout the year but missing out on Worlds will still be quite the blow to them.
Europe – Old friends and some upstarts
The LEC is on the last legs of quite the memorable season. With perennial contenders Fnatic and G2 showing signs of weakness early on to upstarts Rogue and MAD Lions challenging them and a miracle run by Schalke 04 fans really had it all. After all is said and done Europe’s four representatives will be G2, Fnatic, Rogue and MAD Lions as Schalke’s run fell just short.
Unfortunately, this loss ends our #LEC Season. We hope you enjoyed our #S04MiracleRun. Despite the disappointing ending, coming back from last place with a 1-10 scoreline to make Playoffs & finishing 5th is an achievement in itself. Never give up.
Thank you for your support.
💙
— Schalke 04 Esports (@S04Esports) August 28, 2020
While the remaining matches determine the seeding for Worlds G2, Fnatic and Rogue are safely through to the Groupstage. MAD Lions will have to weather the Play-Ins before making it there.
Korea – T1 falls short in Regional Finals
After DAMWON Gaming and DragonX took the first two slots, the final ticket to Shanghai became closely contested in Korea. While T1 managed to dispatch of Afreeca Freecs in the Regional Finals, they lost the final Best of Five against Gen.G in a clear 0-3 loss.
We’re just getting started.
Next stop, 2020 Worlds!#GenGWIN #Worlds2020 #TigerNation pic.twitter.com/OMKj2dSdNb— Gen.G Esports (@GenG) September 9, 2020
This marks the third time that Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok misses out on the World Championships in LoL. It also showcases once more how highly competitive the Korean region is, where you should not take anything for granted.
No Vietnamese teams in 2020
Initially the Vietnamese league VCS was supposed to have two teams qualify for Worlds 2020 as well. The Summer Split winner would advance to the groupstage, while the runner-up would start in the Play-Ins. Due to the ongoing travel restrictions in Vietnam both qualified teams had to forfeit their participation as they would be unable to reenter their home country after playing in Shanghai.
Riot reacted by shuffling the qualification process and format of Worlds. The LCK’s third slot was upgraded to a direct groupstage ticket, while the number of Play-In teams was reduced to 10.
List of all 22 qualified teams for Worlds 2020:
12 Teams seeded into the Groupstage:
- DAMWON Gaming DragonX (LCK)
- FlyQuest (LCS)
- Fnatic (LEC)
- G2 (LEC)
- JD Gaming (LPL)
- Machi Esports (PCS)
- Rogue (LEC)
- Suning (LPL)
- Team SoloMid (LCS)
- Top Esport (LPL)
- DRX (LCK)
- Gen.G (LCK)
10 Teams competing in Play-Ins:
- Legacy Esports (OPL)
- LGD Gaming (LPL)
- MAD Lions (LEC)
- INTZ (CBLOL)
- PSG Talon (PCS)
- Rainbow7 (LLA)
- Super Massive Esports (TCL)
- Team Liquid (LCS)
- Unicorns of Love (LCL)
- V3 Esports (LJL)
At the end of the LCS finals broadcast, the date for the group draw for Worlds 2020 was also announced. On September 15 teams will know exactly who they will be facing.
Update September 15:
The groups for Worlds 2020 have been drawn and can be found here:
Worlds 2020 – These are the play-in and main event groups
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