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The League of Legends 2024 World Championship returns to Europe, with London to host the Worlds 2024 final. We’re set up for an action-packed tournament, with T1 scraping through Worlds qualifying as the fourth seed, LNG’s Scout possibly being forced to miss Worlds (update – he’ll make it!), multiple rookies making their Worlds debut, jungle picks being dominated by mages or engage champions, and a potential return of the lane swap meta. LCK specialist Jack ‘JackelBat’ Freeman runs through seven things to watch out for in this Worlds 2024 preview.
Are the Dreaded Lane Swaps Back?
Towards the end of the season, teams across many of the major regions began to use lane swaps to push for early turret plates for bot lane carries, and sometimes top lane bruisers. By securing early gold, Voidgrubs, and perfect macro play, teams could secure early advantages and control the game.
This became especially effective with Ziggs, who could melt through the typically resilient final turret plates. Paired with Vi or other reliable engage champions, it created a menacing, snowball-heavy team composition that could obliterate opponents.
So, are these lane swap shenanigans really back? Thankfully, not!
Riot Games noticed this trend and added changes to turret plates and Ziggs, specifically targeting this strategy. With turrets now increasingly fortified per turret plate destroyed, and Ziggs’ passive now dealing significantly less damage to turrets at early levels, it’s safe to say this specific strategy is buried for now.
Despite this, it’s possible that Ziggs will still make an appearance as their power in team fight and dive compositions is extremely potent. This also opens the door for a variety of mid lane picks, such as Tristana, Corki, and Yone. Some of these have been flexed into the top lane to further diversify the draft.
In response to this, we can expect to see the likes of Miss Fortune or Jhin. The former offers more consistent and reliable damage while achieving the same goal, and the latter is a strong counter pick against Ziggs.
Are T1 as the Fourth Seed Significant for Worlds This Year?
Surprisingly, reigning World 2023 champions T1 almost didn’t make it this year, barely scraping through game five in an intense series against Korean telecom rivals KT Rolster. Does this demonstrate the high quality of LCK teams coming into Worlds, or does it indicate a downward trend for one of the game’s most recognisable teams?
Over the offseason, T1 made no changes to their Worlds-winning roster, which initially proved effective, as they started the season in strong form. Despite frequent stream sniping and DDoS attacks in the LCK earlier in the year which heavily affected the team’s ability to practice, they managed to secure second place in the Spring split behind future MSI 2024 champions Gen.G.
The Summer split, however, told a different story. T1 struggled throughout the split, often appearing lost and finishing fourth at the end of the regular season. During the Playoffs and the Regional Finals, they had difficulty adapting to each series due to being slow to adapt to the emerging meta.
In an era of Korean dominance, exemplified by many teams signing Korean imports to bolster their rosters, the LCK has become highly competitive, with all the top five teams displaying qualities worthy of winning the World Championship. Therefore, T1 fans could argue that the region is simply too strong, rather than acknowledge their decline.
Whichever side you take, there’s one thing everyone should know: Never doubt T1 in a best-of-five.
Will LNG Esports Succeed at Worlds 2024 Without Mid-Laner Scout?
The third seed from China, LNG Esports, is dealing with a crisis ahead of Worlds, as mid laner Lee ‘Scout’ Ye-chan has been restricted from traveling due to ongoing contract disputes with his former team EDward Gaming (EDG).
The issue surrounding Scout’s Worlds participation stems from 2021, with his former team EDG, after winning Worlds that same year. He expressed interest in returning to South Korea and began negotiations with LCK teams without properly notifying EDG, while still under contract. Ultimately, this was unsuccessful, and Scout stayed with the team for 2022 with no further issues.
The real dispute began in 2023, when Scout joined LNG Esports. Scout reportedly had an additional commercial contract with EDG, which conflicted with his signing for LNG Esports. Subsequently, EDG filed a lawsuit against Scout, leading to his travel ban earlier this year.
Due to the extraordinary circumstances, Riot Games’ esports division allowed LNG Esports to use an emergency substitute outside their registered roster. This came in the form of JD Gamings’ (JDG) Zeng ‘Yagao’ Qi, who was heavily criticised for his performance after JDG was knocked out in the second round of the LPL Summer Playoffs.
Currently, LNG Esports will have to proceed with Yagao or face disqualification from the tournament. However, if Scout is able to travel, he will need to join the team immediately.
The situation is still ongoing with rumours suggesting Scout could be allowed to compete. However, the source is unverified and no further official announcement has been made by LNG Esports or Riot Games.
Update (September 27th 2024): Scout says he will be able to play at Worlds after all!
Which Surprise Champion Picks Could Be in Store?
In the lead-up to Worlds, champion diversity has diminished, with picks like K’Sante, Corki, and Rell becoming staples of the draft phase. Despite this, some alternate picks could make an appearance.
In the mid lane, we’ve seen a surge in ADC picks being favoured in the role. This could change with the buffs to mages and their items in recent patches. Champions like Azir, Orianna, and Syndra have emerged as favourites to take over the mid lane meta. However, it remains uncertain whether teams will adapt to these changes or stick with tried-and-tested picks.
In the case of the ADC in mid lane meta, there is the possibility of seeing Nasus mid with his devastating ability to slow attack speed and movement, nullifying ADC effectiveness. Viewers of the LCS and LCK might know what comes next but for those unaware, Garen mid emerged as an unusual counter to this, though the results have been mixed.
For the jungle role, the option has diverged into two schools of thought. The more traditional tank engage picks like Sejuani and Maokai offer a solid frontline for carries, while mage/AP junglers such as Lillia, Zyra, and Brand provide fast early clears and stronger skirmish potential.
Poppy remains a versatile flex pick that could return this year. With their high base damage, disruption and utility, they’ve remained a popular choice by teams having been played top, jungle, support and even mid in some regional leagues.
Of course, pocket picks may still surprise players and fans alike. For example, MAD Lions’ KOI’s (MDK) Alex ‘Myrwn’ Pastor Villarejo recently brought out Neeko top during the LEC Summer Playoffs. Meanwhile, across the pond, we saw FlyQuest’s mid laner Song ‘Quad’ Su-hyeong presenting Aurelion Sol as a viable option which he seemed comfortable playing in the LCS.
LCK teams have a range of players with unique comfort picks, from Kim ‘Canyon’ Geon-bu’s Nidalee to Heo ‘ShowMaker’ Su’s Twisted Fate, and Ryu ‘Keria’ Min-seok’s seemingly endless pool of unexpected picks.
Could Rookies Steal the Limelight?
Moham, support player at DPlus KIA (photo courtesy of Riot Games Korea)
Taking a peek at the team rosters this year, three rookies in the Main Stage will make their debut on the Worlds stage alongside a further eight in the Play-In Stage.
Two of these rookies are Jeong ‘Moham’ Jae-hun and Choi ‘Lucid’ Yong-hyeok from Dplus KIA (DK), who were promoted from their challenger team this year. Their support Moham came in as a last-minute substitute during the Summer Playoffs, replacing Kim ‘Kellin’ Hyeong-gyu who had been with the team since 2022. Thrown into the deep end and then some, Moham proved formidable on engage supports, most notably on Rell.
For Lucid, his season has been quite different having joined the team ahead of the 2024 season after being within DK’s challengers team since 2021. Whilst looking shaky at times, Lucid has proven to be a valuable member of this roster as a playmaker and baron-stealing genius for the team.
Another rookie of note is Fahad ‘Massu’ Abdulmalek who came from FLY’s challengers team and currently has the highest KDA in the team throughout the year. Having been within an increasingly waning academy ecosystem, the hope is that Massu (alongside fellow rookie Rayan ‘Sniper’ Shoura from 100 Thieves) can prove to North American teams that regional talent is worth the investment.
A standout rookie from the Play-In teams is Nanaue from Vikings Esports. The top laner from Vietnam reached Challenger at 14 years old and made his professional debut in June this year after turning 18, making him one of the youngest players at Worlds. He joined Viking Esports whilst amid turmoil, as multiple players from the roster were suspended due to the match-fixing scandal during the VCS Spring split earlier in the year.
One final rookie to keep on the radar is an up-and-coming player from T1 Esports Academy, someone called Reckels or Rockless. In all seriousness, it’s of course unlikely that we’ll see Carl Martin Erik ‘Rekkles’ Larsson compete for T1, but some in EMEA call him ‘King in the North’ and he’s certainly been a good face for T1.
Who Are the Best Teams at Worlds 2024 This Year?
The representatives from each of the major regions look strong this year, with LPL and LCK teams once again considered favourites to win.
Recently, Riot Games announced the first iteration of the LoL Esports Global Power Rankings to help compare each Tier 1 team’s strength globally ahead of Worlds.
The power rankings incorporate a mixture of factors purely based on a team’s performance including the Win/Loss record across the season, the strength of the region, and the stage of the season (playoffs valued higher than the regular season).
At the moment the top five teams according to the Global Power Rankings are:
1 – Gen.G (LCK)
2 – BiliBili Gaming (LPL)
3 – Hanwha Life Esports (LCK)
4 – Top Esports (LPL)
5 – G2 Esports (LEC)
Some notable rankings include placements of JDG in 8th and KT Rolster in ninth, despite not qualifying for Worlds. PSG Talon’s ranking of 19th makes them the highest-ranked team from a minor region. This is juxtaposed by 100 Thieves being the lowest-ranked team from a major region down in 34th position.
Overall, BiliBili Gaming (BLG), Gen.G, and Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) have emerged as the top contenders. Recency bias may have come into play in the case of HLE who struggled against the likes of T1 and Gen.G with the exception of their recent Summer Split title.
Gen.G enters Worlds as the biggest favourite, having dominated LCK and conquered MSI 2024. With the additions of Kim ‘Kiin’ Gi-in and Kim ‘Canyon’ Geon-bu, the team looked almost unstoppable and nearly achieved the LCK’s first-ever perfect split. Every member of Gen.G has the potential to carry games, making them a force to be reckoned with.
The only team able to end Gen.G’s era of supremacy was… Gen.G? To be precise, the current LCK Champions HLE holds three former Gen.G members on its roster alongside two former World Champions. This roster, dubbed ‘Gen.G Orange’, has displayed the ability to execute team compositions perfectly on top of making comebacks from large deficits on more than one occasion.
The pairing harkens back to the days of Samsung White and Samsung Blue back in 2014, under the new titles of Gen.G Black and Gen.G Orange. During that season, Samsung White was the underdog against their sister team Samsung Blue until defeating them at Worlds 2014 on their path to becoming World Champions. History may repeat itself almost a decade later with Gen.G Orange being the underdog against Gen.G Black until the Summer split finals.
However, the one team that will strike fear into the hearts of both these teams is BLG, who are also huge favourites to win this year. The players of HLE have a history against this team and will remember their struggles and subsequent defeats against BLG at MSI and Worlds last year. Likewise, Gen.G won’t underestimate their strength, having faced them in the MSI Finals earlier this year. BLG has maintained an upward trajectory since last year and look to be in peak form heading into Worlds.
On the other side of the world in Europe, G2 Esports have continued to reign supreme in the LEC and present EMEA’s best chance of winning this year. The team has proven to be a formidable opponent with jungler Martin ‘Yike’ Sundelin being an integral part of their roster.
London-based team Fnatic have been the only squad to challenge G2 Esports as they’ve been improving throughout the year. Using the momentum they’ve built up, the team will hope to challenge the best and maybe even create upsets in many people’s predictions.
From North America, 100 Thieves is a team to watch. Despite their inconsistencies, they managed to knock out Worlds regulars Cloud9 to qualify for the World Championship. Their rookie mid laner Quid quickly impressed and is a surprisingly consistent member of the roster. Quid is currently one of the highest ranked non-European based Worlds players on EUW with a win rate of 91% according to community stats website TrackDiff. He is tearing through solo queue, similar to world champion Zeka before Worlds 2022.
The dark horse to watch throughout the tournament is PSG Talon who are rated highly amongst esports analysts and personalities on top of the LoL Esports Global Power Rankings. This may come as no surprise when you find Huang ‘Maple’ Yi-Tang and Lu ‘Betty’ Yu-Hung on the roster, who together have continually vexed the top teams on the international stage.
For the more superstitious fans, it was recently highlighted by Ashley Kang that every Worlds winner since 2014 has worn either a white or black jersey. This alternating pattern now favours white, which might bring some extra luck to the teams sporting white jerseys this year.
Worlds 2024 Preview Pick’Em Predictions: Can you beat Esports News UK’s crazy forecasts? Join our leaderboard
Pick’Ems have returned, and Esports News UK is getting in on the action with some picks and predictions of our own, featuring Dom, Jack, and Cecilia.
Starting with the event predictions, Dom has gone for a ‘more is better’ approach, choosing the maximum option for every prediction possible (read into my nonsense picks at your peril! – Dom) . The only thing the team agrees on is the expectation of numerous Pentakills during Worlds.
For champion predictions, Cecilia has predicted a return to the mage meta, believing Orianna will be the most banned, alongside Syndra having the highest win rate. Meanwhile, both Dom and Jack are steadfast on the ADC-centric meta, predicting Corki and Tristana respectively as the most banned champions at Worlds.
As for player predictions, we’ve mostly leaned toward LPL and LCK players, alluding to the ever-constant gap between the Eastern and Western teams. There’s a glimmer of hope for our Pick’Ems, as Dom is banking on Yike to score the most First Bloods, while Cecilia hopes for MDK’s David ‘Supa’ Martínez García to secure at least one Pentakill.
Finally, we look at the teams where we’ve diverged the most across our predictions. Jack seems to have lost all faith in Western teams, choosing only LCK teams and BLG where possible. Opposed to this notion, Dom and Cecilia have faith in G2 Esports, with Cecilia going so far as to predict that 100 Thieves will win the shortest game of the tournament.
Ultimately the most important prediction goes down to who we think will win Worlds this year.
Our picks for the 2024 World Champions are:
Dom – G2 Esports
Jack – Hanwha Life Esports
Cecilia – BiliBili Gaming
Our full predictions can be found by viewing the Esports News UK Pick’Ems leaderboard. Come and join the Esports News UK Pick’Em leaderboard here.
ENUK Worlds 2024 Pick’Ems results
See the final standings here! Thanks to everyone who took part and congrats to the four joint winners: Tigropod, CrambleThePsyCho, ZaydesX and JamOnTopOfCream, who received some RP prizes from us:
