The League of Legends World Championship, or “Worlds,” is the most prestigious annual tournament in the world of esports. Organized by Riot Games, Worlds brings together the best professional teams from all over the globe to compete for the Summoner’s Cup, a massive prize pool, and the title of World Champion.
It is consistently the most-watched esports event of the year, drawing tens of millions of viewers worldwide.
Why Worlds Matters
Worlds is the pinnacle of competitive League of Legends. It serves as the ultimate test of a team’s skill, strategy, and mental fortitude.
The tournament is famous for producing legendary moments, career-defining performances, and shocking upsets that shape the history of the game. For professional players, winning Worlds is the highest accomplishment they can achieve.
The 2025 World Championship
The 2025 Worlds tournament will be held in China from October 14 to November 9. The event will travel through major cities, with the Grand Finals culminating at the Dong’an Lake Sports Park Multifunctional Gymnasium in Chengdu. The prize pool for the event is a staggering $5,000,000.
Tournament Format
Worlds is structured in several progressive stages to narrow down the competition:
- Play-In Stage: The tournament begins with a Play-In Stage where teams from emerging regions compete for a spot in the main event.
- Swiss Stage: In this stage, 16 teams compete in a Swiss-style format. Teams that achieve three wins advance, while those with three losses are eliminated.
- Knockout Stage: The remaining eight teams enter a single-elimination, best-of-five bracket, where they battle until only two teams remain for the Grand Finals.
This year’s format introduces a continuous Knockout Stage, removing the pause between quarterfinals and semifinals to increase the pressure and excitement.
Worlds vs. MSI
While Worlds is the definitive championship, the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) is another major international tournament. Here is a brief comparison:
| Feature | Worlds | MSI |
| When? | End of Season (Oct–Nov) | Mid-Season (June–July) |
| Teams | 17 (2025) | 10 |
| Title | World Champion | MSI Champion |
| Significance | Crowns the world’s best team | Establishes mid-year power rankings and impacts Worlds seeding |
In summary, Worlds is the ultimate battleground for League of Legends athletes. It is a cultural phenomenon that shapes the game’s meta, forges legacies, and unites a global community of fans in a shared passion for competitive play.
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Written by:
Christian