The League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) is the leading light of the gaming world and marks the end of this year’s LoL competitive season. Twenty-four of the best teams from around the globe will come together across Germany, France and Spain to compete for the honour of being named the world’s best. A place in history is also on the cards for the winners, with successful teams and players being catapulted into absolute super-stardom almost overnight.
The 2018 World Championship set a new benchmark for the world of Esports, with the total prize pool rising from just under $5 million in 2017, to a whopping $6.45 million in 2018. Not only is that the most lucrative League of Legends event in the history of the game, it is the ninth highest prize pool of any Esports competition in history. With major sponsors such as MasterCard, Alienware, SecretLab and even fashion tycoon Louis Vuitton signing on for this year’s event, 2019 looks set to smash all records put before it.
So, if you’re a newcomer to the scene and you’re looking for someone to root for, or you’re a seasoned veteran of the game and looking for this year’s hottest tip to back, read on for our definitive guide on who to root for in this year’s Worlds.
- Invictus Gaming
When it comes to looking at the favourites of a competition, the best place to start looking is right at the current champions, right? Invictus Gaming are a Chinese multi-Esports organisation founded all the way back in 2011 and boast strong teams in both League of Legends, and its MOBA rival Dota 2. Three out of the four semi-final places in the 2018 Worlds were occupied by North American and European sides, however it would be the Chinese Invictus that would claim the ultimate prize as they vanquished Fnatic 3-0 in last year’s final.
In terms of experience and prowess, you can’t bet against Invictus performing well at this year’s Worlds.
- G2 Esports
The absolute titans of the League of Legends world, G2 Esports also boast some of the best sides in titles ranging from Hearthstone, Rocket League and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. It is of course their League team that grabs all the headlines however: the team has won the 2016 Spring, 2016 Summer, 2017 Spring, and 2017 Summer EU LCS, the 2019 Spring LEC, the 2019 Mid-Season Invitational and the 2019 Summer LEC.
It is a mightily impressive trophy cabinet for the team based in Germany and they are sure to be amongst the esports betting favourites running right up to the start of the competition.
- Fnatic
One of the most recognisable, marketable and well-known organisations in the entire world of competitive video gaming, Fnatic are a British-based team with sides turning out in games ranging from Counter-Strike to Fifa. They remain one of the best League sides in the game, regularly reaching the last brackets in major competitions all year round, and famously reached the final of last year’s World Championship.
Fnatic have however recently lost their star mid laner Rasmus ‘Caps’ Winther to G2 Esports of all people which will desperately hurt their side’s chances, you would think. However, they remain one of the most seasoned and professional sides in the competition, and certainly have the backing from their thousands of fans across the world to go far this year.
- Team Liquid
Is there anything more well known in the world of Esports than the Liquid horse logo? For what seems like an eternity now, we’ve become used to seeing this famous logo turn out in every major Esport competition from Worlds to the International.
Liquid underwhelmed at last year’s Worlds, finishing in a lowly 9-12th position, but have bounced back incredibly well since then. They have comfortably sat in the top 10 rankings for most of the year and their talent is absolutely undeniable; Liquid certainly have the skill and ability to go a long way in this competition and would make for a great ‘wildcard’ selection to support. 2019 has been a great year far for Liquid, with their Counter-Strike team sweeping to an INTEL Grand Slam and becoming the no.1 ranked side in the world, might their League team also be on the verge of greatness?
This year’s World Championship looks set to be a classic. The League scene is poised on a knifepoint at this time, with so many teams possessing the talent and ability to go all the way. The stakes are higher, the skills on show are that much better, and the passion, enthusiasm and excitement for the game is only going to get stronger as the tournament rolls closer. Make sure you’re not missing out on any of the action when the tournament kicks off at the start of October.
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