Worlds 2024 Play-In Stage: Teams, Format, Opening Fixtures and More
Worlds 2024 is right around the corner! Before heading over to the Swiss Stage, however, several teams will first have to make their way through the play-in stage for a chance to hang with the big boys.
Starting September 25th, the top seeds from minor regions, plus the third seeded teams from the LEC and LCS, will face off against one another to kick off the 2024 League of Legends World Championship.
Teams
- MAD Lions KOI (LEC #3)
- 100 Thieves (LCS #3)
- GAM Esports (VCS #1)
- paiN Gaming (CBLOL #1)
- PSG Talon (PCS #1)
- Movistar R7 (LLA #1)
- Vikings Esports (VCS #2)
- SoftBank HAWKS (PCS #2)
Worlds is a tournament like no other in League of Legends, and no team will want to go home before they get a chance to play against the very best. (Credit: Marv Watson/Riot Games)Worlds play-ins: Opening Fixtures
MAD Lions KOI (LEC #3) vs Vikings Esports (VCS #2)
MAD Lions comes off an incredible run in the LEC Season Finals. Despite the team's third place finish, MDK defeated European powerhouse of G2 Esports in the first round of the bracket, and then took Fnatic to five games in the upper bracket final.
As for the Vikings, the team had a remarkable run through the summer group stage in the VCS, in which they finished in first place with a 11-1 record. Eventually, however, VKE got swept by GAM Esports in the grand final in a disappointing end to a great season.
While MDK will come into the play-in stage high on confidence, VKE should not be underestimated.
PSG Talon (PCS #1) vs paiN Gaming (CBLOL #1)
After partnering up with the Oceanic and Japanese leagues, the PCS sees PSG stay atop the region all the same, this time having handily defeated the Japanese SoftBank HAWKS in the grand final this summer.
PSG are no strangers to the Worlds stage, having participated in the biggest international tournament in 2020, 2021 and 2023. Last year, the team came oh-so-close to making it past play-ins and into the Swiss Stage, but ultimately fell to Team BDS in a nail-biter of a series.
paiN Gaming comes into Worlds having shown an amazing level up play in the CBLOL. The team defeated a strong Vivo Keyd Stars team with a 3-1 score twice in a row to win the tournament, earning the right to represent Brazil at Worlds.
With PSG eager to exorcise last year's demons and paiN coming off a great run of form, expect this to be an explosive match.
GAM Esports (VCS #1) vs SoftBank HAWKS (PCS #2)
The Vietnamese powerhouse has done it again. A team that has dominated the VCS over the course of the past several years, GAM are no strangers to international tournaments. The team has taken part in Worlds three times in the past, and the Mid-Season Invitational twice.
Despite the team's experience, however, GAM has never made it into the knockout stage at Worlds, and will be coming into this year's tournament looking to prove that they are more than just a regional sensation.
SoftBank HAWKS had a rough showing at the PCS Summer Playoffs, where they managed to take only a single game off of PSG across two best-of-five series.
Led by fan favorite veteran Evi in the top lane, however, there is always the chance that SHG show up at Worlds and create something special.
100 Thieves (LCS #3) vs Movistar R7 (LLA #1)
100 Thieves qualified for Worlds 2024 after a miraculous surge in form throughout the LCS Championship. After finishing the LCS Summer Season in 5th place, the team shocked North America when they defeated Cloud9 in the lower bracket of the LCS Championship to deny the legendary organization a spot at Worlds.
Despite coming in as the LCS' third seed, 100 Thieves has shown remarkable growth as of late, and will hope to continue that trend. Squaring up against Movistar R7 to start their Worlds run, however, 100 Thieves will find their path ahead is not an easy one.
R7's domination of the LLA Closing Season has been outstanding to watch, where they haven't lost a single series. After going undefeated in the regular season, R7 breezed through the closing stages of the playoffs to win the title in style.
Against 100 Thieves, Movistar R7 will be hungry to prove their stellar form can be replicated against international competition too.
Play-in stage format
All matches for the play-in stage at Worlds will be best-of-three series. Teams will face off in two separate brackets, with two teams from each side of the bracket moving on in the tournament.
That means a total of four of the aforementioned teams will qualify to play in the Swiss Stage against the very best teams in the world.
*Match dates and times TBD
Credit: LoL Esports
Where to watch
To begin your Worlds experience, you can catch all of the play-in stage action at the official LoL Esports channels on Twitch and YouTube.
For the latest League of Legends news, follow Strafe Esports. Also, follow the Strafe YouTube channel for exclusive interviews with players and coaches.
Image source: LoL Esports
Read More:
LCS Championship Grand Final: FlyQuest Earn Another Shot at Team Liquid
Bjergsen to meet the public eye for the first time in a year