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Game News

LoL esports Worlds 2021 location and format announced

Published: 13:40, 09 September 2021
Updated: 13:56, 09 September 2021
Riot
League of Legends Worlds 2021 location and format

League of Legends' most anticipated event of the year - Worlds 2021 - will be held in Reykjavik, Iceland. The organisers have also shared the upcoming event's format, dates and times.

League of Legends' esport event of the year is packing its bags and hopping a plane to Reykjavik, Iceland. Worlds 2021 will kick off on October 5 and end with the Finals on November 6. Laugardalshöll indoor sporting arena's newly refurbished Hall A will witness the action firsthand.

League of Legends Worlds 2021 location and venue details

Location: Reykjavík, Iceland

Venue: Laugardalshöll indoor sporting arena, Hall A

Dates: Oct. 5-Nov. 6

League of Legends Worlds 2021- schedule
  • Play-Ins: October 5-9
  • Groups: October 11-13 and October 15-18
  • Quarterfinals: October 22-25
  • Semifinals: October 30-31
  • Finals: November 6
League of Legends Worlds 2021- format

Worlds will host 22 teams from around the globe facing off across three stages of play: Play-Ins, Groups, and Knockouts. All stages of play will take place in the Laugardalshöll arena in Reykjavik in Hall A (MSI was held in Hall B).

The Play-Ins stage will feature 10 teams:

The first seeded teams from:

  • Brazil’s CBLoL, RED Canids Kalunga;
  • Japan’s LJL, DetonatioN FocusMe;
  • Oceania’s LCO, PEACE;
  • The Commonwealth of Independent States’ LCL, Unicorns of Love;
  • Latin America’s LLA, Infinity Esports;
  • Turkey’s TCL, Galatasaray Esports;

The second-seeded team from:

  • Southeast Asia’s PCS, Beyond Gaming;

The third-seeded team from:

  • North America’s LCS, Cloud9; and,

The fourth-seeded teams from:

  • China’s LPL, LNG Esports; and,
  • Korea’s LCK, Hanwha Life Esports.

The teams will be drawn into two groups of five and go on to compete for four available Group Stage berths. Each will play one game against every other team in their group. Top teams from both groups will be guaranteed a spot in the Group Stage. Third- and fourth-place teams will play a best-of-five, with winners challenging the other group’s second seed for the last two spots.

Matches during Play-Ins and Groups will begin at 11 a.m. GMT (5 a.m. PST, 1 p.m. CET, 7 p.m. CST, 8 p.m. KST).

Sidenote: Two teams from VCS will not be able to attend due to travel restrictions. The organisers are working on a solution.

The Group Stage

16 teams including the four Play-In qualifying teams and 12 new competitors:

  • The top three seeded teams from Korea’s LCK (DWG KIA, Gen.G, T1),
  • China’s LPL (FunPlus Phoenix, EDward Gaming, Royal Never Give Up) and Europe’s LEC (MAD Lions, Fnatic, Rogue);
  • The top 2 seeded teams from North America’s LCS (100 Thieves, Team Liquid) and;
  • The top-seeded team from Southeast Asia’s PCS (PSG.Talon Esports).

The teams will be split into groups of four and play two games against each team in their group. The top two teams from each group will face off in the Knockout Stage.

Matches during Play-Ins and Groups will begin at 11 a.m. GMT (5 a.m. PST, 1 p.m. CET, 7 p.m. CST, 8 p.m. KST).

The Knockout Stage

During the Knockout Stage, the remaining eight teams will compete in a best-of-five single elimination bracket, progressing through Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and Finals. 

Starting with the Quarter-finals, matches will begin at 12 p.m. GMT (6 a.m. PST, 2 p.m. CET, 8 p.m. CST, 9 p.m. KST).

The Finals

At Finals, the last two teams standing will play a best-of-five series – and that winner will be crowned the 2021 League of Legends World Champions.

More information, including all of the qualified teams, the Draw Show, and the broadcast talent, will be revealed at a later date.