THE COUNTDOWN TO MSI BEGINS!
We are on the cusp of the 2024 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational. Teams and fans alike are eagerly anticipating the start of this year's first international championship.
INCREASED PRESSURE AT MSI
Teams qualifying for MSI this year face unprecedented pressure as, for the first time, two spots at the end-of-year World Championship will be distributed. The MSI champion will directly qualify for this year's Worlds Swiss stage, securing an additional spot for their region. However, the victorious team cannot rest on their laurels; they must also qualify through the Summer Playoffs to retain their spot at the Championship.
It's not just the top finisher who benefits this season. The second-best performing region will also gain an extra spot at the World Championship. However, it's important to note that this is a fixed slot for the league at the Swiss stage, not for the qualifying team itself.
WHAT IS THE MID-SEASON INVITATIONAL?
The MSI is an annual international championship held regularly, rotating from region to region. This year, a city in China hosts the event. MSI offers teams and viewers a chance to gauge the competitive landscape among different leagues mid-season. Due to its invitational nature, teams from all regions, including major leagues like the LPL, LCK, LEC, and LCS, participate, with two teams invited from the larger regions and one from smaller regions.
WHEN AND WHERE CAN I WATCH THE MSI?
The 2024 MSI is divided into two parts: the Qualifying stage (May 1-5) and the Knockout stage (May 7-12, May 14-19).
- Qualifying stage starts daily at 9:00 AM GMT on May 1st and runs through May 5th.
- Knockout stage sessions begin at different times, starting from 10:00 AM GMT on May 7th, with earlier starts at 6:00 AM on May 11th and 12th. The final match is on May 19th at 10:00 AM GMT.
WHO WILL BE PLAYING?
This year at the MSI, you can see teams from:
- CHINA - LPL: Bilibili Gaming (BLG), TOP Esports (TES)
- KOREA - LCK: GenG (GEN), T1 (T1)
- EUROPE - LEC: G2 Esports (G2), Fnatic (FNC)
- NORTH AMERICA - LCS: Team Liquid Honda (TL), FlyQuest (FLY)
- ASIA-PACIFIC - PCS: PSG Talon (PSG)
- BRAZIL - CBLOL: LOUD (LLL)
- LATIN AMERICA - LLA: Estral Esports (EST)
- VIETNAM - VCS: GAM Esports (GAM)
JUST LIKE LAST YEAR
The format has not changed significantly from last year. During the Qualifying stage, we will say goodbye to four teams, and the other four will advance to join BLG, GEN, G2, and TL in the Double-Elimination stage. The final main bracket is determined by a draw after the qualifiers, which could potentially be set up in only one feasible way.
For further insights on how esports are evolving globally, you can read more about recent events at our blog.