Top 5 moments from the 2024 League of Legends Worlds Play-Ins

GAM Esports (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

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The 2024 League of Legends World Championship is underway and the Worlds Play-Ins stage has already delivered heart-pounding action, stunning upsets and unforgettable moments. 

For many teams, the Play-Ins represented the ultimate test—a final opportunity to break into the main event of Worlds and prove their worth against the best. The competition was fierce, the pressure immense, and for a select few, glory was earned, and if this was just the prelude to the rest of the tournament, we’re in for an explosive symphony.

From historic breakthroughs to unexpected exits, the Worlds Play-Ins had it all. Let’s take a look back at the top five moments that defined the Play-Ins and set the stage for the rest of Worlds 2024.

Levi’s Shyvana reigns fire over R7

GAM Esports cruised through their series against Rainbow7 thanks in large part to their star jungler, Levi, who showcased a dominant performance on Shyvana.

Bringing back the champion on the Worlds stage for the first time in over a decade, Levi controlled the map from start to finish, farming efficiently and applying pressure across all lanes.

Despite Rainbow7 securing the Hextech Soul in the first game of the series, they couldn’t withstand GAM’s relentless push, and in the following game, Kiaya’s Rumble and Emo’s Yone solidified GAM’s control, giving them a clean 2-0 victory and sending them to the Swiss Stage.

Related article: GAM Esports CEO TK Nguyen on Vietnam’s explosive esports growth and top eight goal at Worlds 2024

Pain Gaming’s historic qualification

For the first time in League of Legends history, a Brazilian team has advanced to the Swiss Stage of Worlds, and it was none other than Pain Gaming.

In a high-stakes best-of-three series, Pain secured a 2-1 victory against Rainbow7, breaking an eight-year drought for Brazilian teams at Worlds. 

100 Thieves’ shock exit after losses to PSG Talon and R7

North American side 100 Thieves came into Worlds 2024 with high expectations but faced an unexpected early exit after a crushing defeat against PSG Talon. Following their surprising loss to Rainbow7, 100T were unable to recover.

In their decisive match against PSG, 100T struggled to handle the early-game aggression from PSG’s Junjia and Maple.

Unable to regain composure and mental resilience, 100T left the tournament with fans stunned by their swift elimination.

Related article: 100T Sniper on critics, the loss against R7 at Worlds 2024 and the NA T2 scene

The end of an era for the LJL and LLA

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Gaming, known as Hawks, represented Japan in what was the last time the region had direct qualification to Worlds. Starting next year, the LJL will merge with the broader APAC region, losing its exclusive spot and making the journey to Worlds far more difficult.

Similarly, Rainbow7 took to the stage to represent LLA in what would also be their final Worlds appearance before the merging of CBLOL and LCS into a two-conference system. 

Despite their domestic success and consistent strong performances in their respective regions, both struggled to make a deep run in the global competition. 

Both teams leave a lasting legacy as they navigate an uncertain future, highlighting the challenges that minor regions face in the competitive landscape of LoL Esports.

With the shifting dynamics in play, these departures signify a sad moment for fans, as the road to Worlds becomes increasingly complex and competitive for aspiring teams from these regions.

PSG Talon’s redemption arc

After a shaky start in the Play-Ins, PSG Talon found their stride just in time to secure a place in the Swiss Stage. Their decisive 2-0 victory over 100 Thieves marked a turning point for the team, with Junjia and Maple stepping up to deliver standout performances.

In both games, PSG capitalised on superior team coordination and objective control, sending 100T home and redeeming themselves after an earlier loss to Mad Lions Koi.

From the 2024 Worlds play-ins, Mad Lions Koi, GAM Esports, Pain Gaming and PSG Talon have advanced to the Swiss stage.

With these incredible moments behind us, the excitement only builds as we head into the Swiss Stage. Tune in on October 3rd, when the next phase of Worlds 2024 kicks off with even more exciting matches from 1pm BST. See the Worlds 2024 Swiss stage teams here.

Related article: Worlds 2024 interview with Elyoya of Mad Lions Koi – homegrown talent ready to keep proving sceptics wrong

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