The biggest international event of the season is nearly upon us! Read up below for all the information you need before tuning in for our first match-up this Wednesday!
Had no idea MSI was happening or what it even is? We’ve got you. The Mid-Season Invitational is the second most important international tournament in League of Legends esports. It happens right around this time each year just as all of the various regions have wrapped out their respective spring splits. This year, champions and runner-ups from eight different regions will compete in Chengdu, China, for a shot at the MSI title.
Starting from Wednesday, you can catch MSI at your streaming platform of choice, including Twitch, YouTube, or directly from the lolesports website, the latter of which would enable you to receive special in-game drops while watching the broadcast.
MSI Format
The overall tournament is split into two stages - Stage 1, or the Play-In Stage, and Stage 2, the Bracket Stage. The Play-In Stage is commencing on Wednesday this week, while the Bracket stage is kicking into gear early next week!
The general format is pretty similar for both Stage 1 and 2, with the biggest difference being match-up length and, of course, the stakes of the games. In the Play-In Stage, eight teams, including the spring split champions from Oceania (PSC) Vietnam (VCS), Latin America (LLA), and Brazil (CBLOL), as well as the second place teams from Korea (LCK), China (LPL), North America (LCS), and Europe (LEC) will be duking it out in best-of-three matches. These eight teams will be pooled into two separate double elimination brackets, which means each team can lose once without it affecting their chances of proceeding to the Bracket Stage.
From left to right: T1, Top Esports, Fnatic, FlyQuest, GAM Esports, PSG Talon, Estrel Esports, LOUD
Of these eight teams, only four will proceed into the Bracket Stage, joining the champions of the LCK, LPL, LCS and LEC in the battle for the MSI title. Like in Stage 1, the Bracket Stage will feature a double elimination format, though it will be one huge bracket, rather than two. Additionally, the teams will be playing in more exciting, and more gruelling, best-of-five matches each time.
From left to right: Gen.G, BiliBili Gaming, G2 Esports, and Team Liquid.
MSI Schedule
The Play-In stage commences on Wednesday with a match between FlyQuest and PSG Talon. On Wednesday and throughout the week we’ll be watching two best-of-three match-ups until two teams are left standing in each of the two brackets. After a day of rest, the fighting will continue on Tuesday, the 7th of May, and it won’t stop until finals, on the 19th of May.
Play-In Teams
LCK SECOND SEED: T1
Zeus / Oner / Faker / Gumayusi / Keria
In all likelihood a team that needs no introduction - T1 will be coming to MSI as LCK's second seed, having lost to Gen.G in the LCK finals with a score of 2-3. If you didn't watch the finals of LCK, don't let this domestic defeat surprise you - T1 is still at the top of their game. After all, a short few months ago, it was T1 that lifted the Worlds Cup, and the roster has remained completely intact for this year as well.
LPL SECOND SEED: Top Esports
369 / Tian / Creme / JackeyLove / Meiko
Coming off of a disappointing 2023 Season, Top Esports made it to finals in the Spring Season of the LPL this year, ultimately losing to BiliBili Gaming with a score of 1-3. Their last international appearance before now was in 2022 during Worlds, where they were disqualified during the Group Stage. The team received a huge roster shake-up for this year, with the most significant change perhaps being the inclusion of JDG's former top laner, 369, who was a part of the roster that won MSI last year!
LEC SECOND SEED: Fnatic
Oscarinin / Razork / Humanoid / Noah / Jun
After a long adjustment period following many roster changes in the past few years, Fnatic looks to be back to a formidable form. They finished fourth in the LEC's Winter Split and second in Spring, garnering enough championship points to join their rivals, G2 Esports, in representing Europe. All eyes will be on their marksman Noah, as he tackles his second ever international tournament, after performing fantastically throughout the entirety of the most recent split.
LCS SECOND SEED: Flyquest
Bwipo / Inspired / Jensen / Massu / Busio
FlyQuest are making their first international appearance since Worlds 2020, following a huge roster revamp in 2023 that saw them fielding former LEC players Bwipo and Inspired, alongside LCS veteran Jensen. While this new roster couldn't defeat Team Liquid in the LCS Spring Split finals, the team is looking better than... perhaps ever? And we'll be watching to see what this young roster can do on the MSI stage!
PCS CHAMPIONS: PSG Talon
Azhi / JunJia / Maple / Betty / Woody
If you've ever watched Worlds or MSI before, you'll likely have heard of this team even if you don't watch PCS. This is because PSG Talon is the most successful team the region has produced. However, internationally, they haven't seen nearly as much success as on home ground. Their best performance was at MSI 2022, where they made it all the way to the semi-finals before losing to the eventual winner of the tournament, RNG. Of course, in two years, the team is completely different, and in fact their roster has remained unchanged since the previous MSI, where they finished 9th.
VCS CHAMPIONS: GAM Esports
Kiaya, Levi, Emo, EasyLove, Elio
Much like PSG Talon, GAM Esports has been a staple at international events, having dominated their region since 2019 with almost no contention. Their roster has remained stable for years, with no changes since MSI 2023, when they failed to proceed past the Play-In stage, having lost to the Golden Guardians and then to Movistar R7.
LLA CHAMPIONS: Estral Esports
Zothve, Josedeodo, cody, Snaker, Ackerman
Estral Esports is a brand new face at international esports, having defeated Movistar R7 with a score of 3-0 in the LLA 2024 Opening finals. Of this lineup, only Josedeodo is likely to be familiar, having been a part of both Movistar R7 in 2020 and a part of FlyQuest between 2021 and 2022. While on R7, Josedeodo had attended Worlds 2020, making him the only member of Estral Esports with experience on the big stage. This green roster will need to rely on their jungler for guidance in the series to come!
CBLOL CHAMPIONS: LOUD
Robo, Croc, tinowns, Route, RedBert
LOUD is back on the big stage, having made appearances both at MSI 2023 and Worlds. Unfortunately, like the other minor regions, LOUD hasn't had any success on the international stage, never having made it past the Play-In stage before. The only roster change LOUD has undergone is in the support role, where Ceos has been replaced by RedBert, a veteran of Brazilian professional play - but not someone who has any more international experience or success than the rest of the team.
Play-In Schedule
Below, you can take a look at what match-ups await us in the next few days.
The opening series will be between FlyQuest and PSG Talon, with T1 and Estrel Esports brawling next. The very first match-up promises excitement, with both teams hankering to prove they can succeed internationally - one, a new roster, the other, a team that’s dominated their region for years but has yet to achieve success on the big stage. Later, T1 takes on the champion of a minor region - a series that is sure to be one-sided, but hopefully exciting nonetheless.
On the 2nd of May, the LEC’s second seed takes on Vietnam’s GAM Esports. Fnatic has always had more success internationally than GAM, so we’re going to predict a victory for EMEA in this round. Top Esports then faces LOUD, which will likely be another bloodbath.
