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The 2024 Esports World Cup had its run between July 3rd and August 25th and was an opportunity for everyone, both those familiar with the gaming environment and those who have only heard of it from others, to discuss the growth of this ecosystem and how big the industry has managed to become over the last few years.
In the UK, the retail revenue of the gaming market reached 1.13 billion pounds in 2021. Year-on-year, the market climbed by 140% in 2023, reaching £10.3m as a result. This is good news for both fans and players, especially as the United Kingdom has emerged as an esports club on the global landscape, providing new opportunities for businesses, tournaments and organisations.
As the market continues to develop, it also becomes essential to mitigate any possible threats and issues, such as data breach attacks with the help of https://www.databreachcompensationexpert.co.uk, injuries, and long working hours. There are still not enough incentives for fans to support their favourite athletes, and making the transition to the pro level can be challenging for many. Now, after the end of the World Cup, many fans have turned to the League of Legends World Championship, which is located in Germany, France, and England and hosted in the capital cities of each.
The Overview
The 2024 LoL Championship commenced on September 25th and will end on November 2nd. The venue for the finals is in London, while Berlin is hosting the play-in and Swiss Stage, and Paris supports the quarter- and semifinals. This is the fifth time that Europe is hosting the tournament, and twenty teams were qualified to participate based on the placements they obtained at the 2024 Mid-Season Invitational and the regional leagues. T1 of South Korea are the defending champions, having won a record of four championships in the past, namely in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2023. The T1 League team has also secured two wins at the Mid-Season Invitational tournaments in 2016 and 2024, ten League of Legends Champions Korea and the Esports World Cup title in 2024.
This is the last World Championship where teams from the PCS (the Pacific Championship Series) and the VCS (the Vietnam Championship Series) qualify for the Championship individually, as they will merge to form an Asia-Pacific League for the 2025 tournament alongside the Japan League and Circuit Oceania. There are also plans to join the Liga Latinoamérica, Campeonato Brasileiro de League of Legends and LCS into an Americas league.
The Format
This year’s Championship is based on a three-stage format: the play-in, swiss, and knockout. The first occured between September 25th and 29th and included eight teams competing in double-elimination brackets. Those from PCS, LLA, CBLOL, LEC and LCS played in best-of-three matches, with the top two from each bracket moving to the Swiss Stage. This phase will take place between October 3rd and October 7th and then again from October 10th to October 13th.
This second stage is more dynamic than the previous one and involves sixteen teams, including the four who qualify after the Play-Ins. The Swiss Stage includes best-of-one matches, and the teams will be separated into four different pools based on their seeding. The first matchups are predetermined so that the teams representing the same region don’t end up facing each other. Afterwards, the teams will be paired depending on their win-loss records, a process that will continue until the teams reach either three wins or three losses. The top eight that manage to obtain three wins move on to the knockout Stage.
This is the elimination category, where the eight teams compete in best-of-five matches. The quarterfinals are established through a draw, and the teams with a 3-0 score will play against those with a 3-2 record. The winner of the grand final match will of course win the 2024 Championship.
Music
League is also popular among fans for the music it delivers, as the songs fit the champions, themes, and game itself. However, they can also function as standalone pieces to enjoy if you’re not familiar with LoL. The anthems Riot chooses must get players and fans alike hyped up and ready for action, as well as fit the vibe and mood of a large esports competition. The song for the 2024 Championship comes from Linkin Park and is the band’s second release of new music in seven years. “Heavy Is The Crown” is a mix of nu metal and progressive rock, and apart from being the main theme for the World Championship, it has also been confirmed to appear on the soundtrack of Arcane’s second season, an animated series set in the League universe that is focused on sisters Vi and Jinx.
Critics and fans alike consider it to be one of the best video game adaptations ever made, a challenging feat considering that previous adaptations of other games were met with criticism in the past. In 2022, Arcane became the first streaming series to receive a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program. On November 20th 2021, after the first season’s finale, Riot and Netflix announced that a second season was in production. In June 2024, it was revealed that the second season will also be the last in the series and, just like the first one, will be delivered in three acts separated by one week. The official release dates were announced to be November 9, 16, and 23.
Summoner’s Cup
The Summoner’s Cup is the trophy awarded to the winners of the World Championship. It was originally introduced in 2012 for the Season Two Championship and weighs about 32 kg because no one at Riot specifically thought about how much a trophy should actually weigh. However, the actual weight of the finished cup was reduced so that it wouldn’t be too difficult to lift. The English luxury brand Thomas Lyte created the Summoner’s Cups in 2012 and 2014. In 2022, Riot entered a multi-year partnership with American luxury jewellery brand Tiffany & Co. to produce a newly designed cup that weighs 20 kilograms. The League World Championship has been praised for its ceremonial performances, as well as the emotional and often dramatic nature of the games. It is one of the most popular esports events in the world, being regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious tournaments. It is also the most-watched esports event in the world.
