2017 League of Legends World Championship

Tournament Format and Qualification

The 2017 World Championship featured 24 teams from around the globe. Qualification was based on placements in regional leagues like the LCK in South Korea, the LPL in China, the NA LCS, and the LMS. Due to strong performances in prior international events, all teams from South Korea's LCK were seeded directly into the group stage. The LMS region also received an extra seed. Other regions, including North America and Southeast Asia, had their seeding adjusted based on results from the 2017 Mid Season Invitational. Twelve of the 24 teams began their journey in a play-in stage, competing for the final spots in the main event's group stage.

The qualification system was influenced by the results of the previous two years of the Mid Season Invitational and the World Championship itself. This led to specific seeding decisions. For example, because North America's NA LCS champion did not finish in the top four at the 2017 MSI, that team was placed into Pool 2 for the group stage draw. Meanwhile, the champion team from the Southeast Asian GPL region earned a direct group stage seed for their summer champion, with the summer runner-up receiving a slot in the play-in stage.

The Road Through China

The tournament was held across four Chinese cities, moving from stage to stage. The play-in stage and the initial group stage matches took place in Wuhan. The competition then moved to Guangzhou for the conclusion of the group stage. The quarterfinals were hosted in Shanghai. Finally, the semifinals and the grand final were held in Beijing, with the championship decider taking place at the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest. This multi-city tour helped bring the event to a wide audience within the host country.

The tournament progressed through a play-in stage, a group stage, and a single elimination knockout bracket. The group stage and knockout matches were held in these different Chinese cities. The knockout stage delivered several dramatic series that captured global attention. The competition built towards a final that was a rematch of the 2016 championship, setting the stage for a major showdown between the reigning dynasty and a former champion seeking redemption.

Knockout Drama and the Final Showdown

The knockout stage provided the high drama for which the World Championship is known. The bracket led to a final that was a direct rematch of the 2016 championship, pitting the three-time world champion SK Telecom T1 against the 2014 champion Samsung Galaxy. This created a narrative of a dynasty facing a challenger from its own region seeking to reclaim the throne. The grand final was held at the National Stadium in Beijing. In a decisive victory, Samsung Galaxy swept the heavily favored SK Telecom T1 with a 3 0 scoreline in a best of five series.

This win marked Samsung Galaxy's second world championship. The loss for SK Telecom T1, and particularly the emotional reaction from their star player Faker, was seen as one of the greatest upsets in the history of the sport. The moment was widely discussed and drew tributes from fans across the world, acknowledging both the end of an era and the pain of defeat for one of the game's most successful players. Samsung Galaxy's AD carry, Park Ruler Jae hyuk, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player for his outstanding performances throughout the event, particularly in the final.

The Spectacle of the Ceremonies

The 2017 Worlds was known for its high production value and memorable ceremonies. The eve of the finals featured a special event called League of Legends Live, held at the Beijing National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube. This 90 minute concert commemorated the tournament and included international artists and community musicians. It included a wide variety of music from League of Legends, such as Get Jinxed, hits from the virtual band Pentakill, music from DJ Sona, Warsongs, Star Guardian, The Curse Of The Sad Mummy, and medleys of Worlds and champion themes. DJ and music producer Alan Walker also performed.

The opening ceremony of the finals was an elaborate production. Dancers wore different masks as the ground around them displayed visual effects and colors. This was followed by Jay Chou's performance of his Worlds 2017 song Hero, and a live version of the tournament anthem Legends Never Die by Against The Current, with Jay Chou playing the piano during the latter. An augmented reality dragon, modeled after the in game Elder Drake, flew around the arena, and the Summoner's Cup rose from the stadium floor. The closing ceremony featured Alan Walker performing his own remix of Legends Never Die, with Chrissy Costanza on vocals. The overall performances of the ceremonies were very well received by the audience.

Record Breaking Reach and Charitable Impact

The final match broke esports viewership records at the time, attracting 60 million viewers worldwide and surpassing the record set in 2016. This global attention was attributed to the high quality of the tournament, its dramatic series, and the poignant moments involving SK Telecom T1. The event also had a significant charitable impact. Riot Games collaborated with artists for the tournament. Against The Current and Jay Chou worked with Riot to produce the exclusive songs Legends Never Die and Hero respectively for the event.

Through the sale of a special in game cosmetic, the Worlds 2017 Championship Ashe skin, fans raised a donation of 2.35 million US dollars. These funds were distributed to three different charities: BasicNeeds, Learning Equality, and the Raspberry Pi Foundation. This initiative demonstrated the community's ability to mobilize for positive causes around a major esports event.

Prize Distribution and Lasting Legacy

The total prize pool for the tournament was over 4.5 million US dollars. The champion team, Samsung Galaxy, claimed 1,723,721 dollars from that pool. Beyond the prizes, the 2017 World Championship is remembered for the emotional narrative of SK Telecom T1's defeat and Faker's moment of vulnerability, which drew tributes from fans worldwide. The event set a new standard for production and global engagement in esports, confirming the World Championship as a premier sporting spectacle. The very next year, in 2018, the final's viewership record would be broken again, reaching 99.6 million people, highlighting the event's growing prominence which was accelerated by the success of the 2017 edition.