It starts right here.
Updated May 23:Added Finals schedule
Ready for some intense League of Legends (LoL) esports action? Before theLoL MSI 2021starts, here’s everything you need to know about the tournament.
What is LoL MSI?
The League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) is an annual international tournament, held after the first half of the regular season.
All the regional champion teams for the season automatically qualify for a slot at the LoL MSI for a chance at the US$250,000 base prize pool and an additional team slot for their region at the 2021 World Championship (Worlds).
Format of MSI
The MSI 2021 format is divided into three stages — the Group Stage, Rumble Stage, and Knockout Stage.
Teams have been divided into three groups based on their seeding in the Group Stage. All matches will be played in a best-of-one (BO1) format where the top two teams will advance to the Rumble Stage.
This year’s MSI debuts the Rumble Stage, which is a double round robin format with matches also played in best-of-one. Only four teams will qualify to move on to the Knockout Stage.
The Knockout Stage is basically MSI’s Semifinals and Finals. Any mistake could be catastrophic for the remaining teams since this stage will be played in a single elimination format with matches played in best-of-fives.
In the previous MSIs, selected teams have to compete at the Play-In stage first. Riot Games changed the MSI 2021 format which now pits all teams on the same stage at the start of the tournament.
LoL MSI 2021 patch
The LoL MSI 2021 will be played under theLeague of Legends patch 11.9, withLulu expected to turn into a multi-flex championaccording toNick “LS” De Cesare’s patch rundown.
Additionally,new champions ViegoandGwenhave been disabled for the LoL MSI 2021 patch.
All qualified teams for LoL MSI 2021
Here are all the participating teams for the LoL MSI 2021 and their groups:
Group B
Group C
Due to national travel restrictions, the VCS (Vietnam) championsGAM Esportswill not be able to attend MSI. Group A will still play through in the same format, where the top two teams will move on to the next stage.
To find out the teams you should be watching, you can read the ONE Esports MSI 2021 power rankings here.
The MSI 2021 prize pool
As we’ve mentioned earlier, the winning team will get their lion’s share of the US$250,000 base prize pool, subject to increase taken from the sales of in-game MSI 2021 icons, emotes, capsules, and more.
The MSI 2021 champions will also get an extra slot for their region to compete at Worlds 2021, happening later this year November 6 in Shenzhen, China. However, with the MSI competition moving on with 11 qualifying teams,Riot Gameshas confirmed that the MSI champion will receive an additional regional team spot for their league at the 2021 World Championship.
After MSI, Riot will be calculating the final global power rankings of 2021 and will reward the highest-ranking league with an additional Worlds slot. If the top league happens to win MSI, the extra slot will go to the second-highest-ranking league.
The MSI 2021 full schedule
Here is the full 2021 MSI schedule, with times converted especially for SEA viewers. Note that all times are in GMT+8.
May 23 (Sunday)
Where to watch MSI 2021
The MSI 2021 will be streamed live onRiot Games’ TwitchandYouTube channels. you’re able to also watch it on theLoL Esports website.
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