The 2024 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational is most likely the most significant esports event ever. Riot Games has revamped the annual competition with a new format and a tempting bonus: The MSI 2024 winner will also automatically enter the League of Legends World Championship later this year.
The winner’s region will also receive an extra seed at Worlds 2024, further raising the stakes. This unprecedented ruling adds an extraordinary layer of importance to MSI’s typically exhibition-style competition. No longer just an entertaining prelude to Worlds, MSI 2024 now represents a pivotal gateway to securing Summoner’s Cup contention.
The Revamped MSI Format
Riot has made massive changes to the MSI structure, starting with an expanded 12-team field. Each of the four major regions (LCS, LEC, LCK, LPL) will send two representatives, while the other four slots go to the best teams in the VCS, PCS, CBLOL, and LLA.
The tournament opens with a Play-In Stage from May 1–5, using a double-elimination GSL group format. Here, the eight non-major region teams will compete in two groups of four, with each squad needing to win two best-of-three series to advance to the Bracket Stage. The four teams eliminated from Play-Ins will be sent home.
From May 7-19, the eight Play-In survivors will join the pre-qualified major region teams in Chengdu for the pivotal Bracket Stage. This will adopt a comprehensive double-elimination format, with all matches being best-of-five, excluding the initial upper bracket round. The grand finals on May 19 will be a winner-takes-all, best-of-five affair to crown the MSI 2024 champion.
The Qualified Squads
The teams that have clinched their MSI 2024 berths so far are:
- G2 Esports (LEC Winter 2024 champion)
- Team Liquid (LCS Spring 2024 champion)
- FlyQuest (LCS Spring 2024 runner-up)
- Gen.G (LCK Spring 2024 champion)
- T1 (LCK Spring 2024 runner-up)
- Bilibili Gaming (LPL Spring 2024 champion)
- Top Esports (LPL Spring 2024 runner-up)
- Fnatic (LEC 2024 Spring runner-up)
The remaining four seats will be filled by the winners of the Vietnam, Taiwan/Hong Kong/SEA, Brazil, and Latin America competitions. Some of the favorites to potentially qualify for the remaining spots include the Vietnamese team GAM Esports, Taiwanese team PSG Talon, Brazilian team LOUD, and Latin American team Estral Esports.
The Lucrative Prize Pool
In addition to the primary prize of entry for Worlds 2024, MSI is offering a USD 250,000 USD prize pool. The following are the handsome payouts:
- 1st: $50,000
- 2nd: $40,000
- 3rd: $30,000
- 4th: $25,000
- 5th-6th: $20,000
- 7th-8th: $15,000
- 9th-10th: $10,000
- 11th-12th: $7,500
With Chengdu hosting, home crowds will be vociferously cheering on LPL champions Bilibili Gaming and runner-up Top Esports. But they’ll face an uphill battle against powerhouses like the LCK’s Gen.G – now a four-time domestic champion seeking their first international triumph.
All eyes will also be on T1, the most successful MSI team ever with two titles. No one can ever count out the Korean icons on the international stage, despite a tumultuous season mired in controversy. Will the legendary squad return to glory, or will new contenders like G2 Esports etch their own chapter in MSI history?
Fan Engagement and Viewership
For fans worldwide, MSI 2024 introduces an innovative way to support their favorite teams and players. The Showcase Empyrean-themed Event Pass, Pass Bundle, and Esports Premium Bundle will directly allocate 30% of all revenue towards the participating teams.
Similarly, a portion of sales from the stunning new Empyrean Nocturne skin will be distributed to MSI competitors. Viewers can purchase unique emotes designed by teams from each region to represent their allegiances throughout the tournament proudly.
With higher stakes than ever before, MSI 2024 is poised to smash existing viewership records across Riot’s official Twitch, YouTube, and other broadcast platforms. League of Legends fans won’t want to miss a single second of the barn-burning action as teams pursue Summoner’s Cup glory from day one.
As the brightest talents across twelve rosters descend on Chengdu, the race for the first Worlds 2024 seed has officially begun. Buckle up and get ready to bear witness to the League’s most spectacular international showcase yet!
