Everything you need to know about the upcoming LoL Worlds 2023
The highly anticipated League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) for 2023 is just a few months away, and it’s set to return to South Korea. In the realm of League of Legends esports, this prestigious event stands as the ultimate pinnacle, where top teams from around the globe compete for the coveted title of world champion and the revered Summoner’s Cup.
Worlds 2023 marks a significant return to South Korea, a country that previously hosted the latter stages of the 2014 edition and the entire 2018 event. Unlike the 2022 competition, which took place in Mexico and the United States, the 2023 tournament will be exclusively hosted in one nation.
While the event is still a few months away, Riot has already shared important details about this competition. Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming LoL World Championship.
Dates, Schedule, and Venues
In order to accommodate the LoL Esports professional players who will be participating in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, the Worlds event will be scheduled slightly later than its usual timing. The competition will take place from October 10 to November 19 and will be hosted at four distinct venues across South Korea. Below are the important dates and locations for Worlds 2023:
Play-Ins: October 10-15 at LoL Park, Seoul
Group Stage: October 19-29 at KBS Arena, Seoul
Quarter-finals: November 2-5 at Sajik Indoor Gymnasium, Busan
Semi-finals: November 11-12 at Sajik Indoor Gymnasium, Busan
Finals: November 19 at Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul
In the upcoming Worlds 2023, a total of 22 teams representing various regions worldwide will compete. The tournament will kick off with the Play-In Stage, during which lower-ranked teams will battle for two slots in the Swiss Stage. Once qualified, these teams will join the 14 seeded teams from major regions (LCK, LPL, LCS, and LEC) in the next phase of the competition.
Play-In Stage (October 10-15)
In Round 1, the 8 teams are divided into two double-elimination groups, where the top 2 teams from each group will progress to Play-In Round 2. All matches in this stage are best-of-three (BO3).
During Round 2, the winner of the upper bracket in each group will compete against the winner of the lower bracket from the other group. Both of these matches will be played in a best-of-five (BO5) format, and the victorious teams will advance to the Swiss Stage.
During the Swiss Stage taking place from October 19th to 29th, 16 teams will participate in a five-round competition. Initially, teams will be randomly paired with opponents from different regions. As the stage progresses, matches will be determined based on each team’s win-loss records.
Teams that secure 3 wins will advance to the playoffs, while those with 3 losses will be eliminated from the tournament. The progression and elimination matches will be played in a best-of-three (BO3) format, while the remaining matches will follow a best-of-one (BO1) format.
When it comes to the Playoffs, taking place from November 2nd to 19th, the competition will feature 8 teams in a single-elimination bracket. All matches in this stage will be played in a best-of-five (BO5) format, where teams will battle fiercely for a chance to progress further in the tournament.
Tickets for Worlds 2023 will be released in three different waves. Here are the ticket links for each stage:
Play-In Stage tickets (July 10)
Knockout Stage tickets (August 4)
Teams and Rosters
Prior to the start of Worlds 2023, there will be a qualifying match known as the Worlds Qualifying Series (WQS), showcasing the fourth seed from the LCS and the LEC. The victor of this cross-region clash will secure the last spot in the Play-In Stage.
Furthermore, JDG has already secured their position as the first team to qualify for Worlds 2023, and the identities of the remaining competing teams will soon be unveiled.
