All LoL World Championship winners so far

We list all the World Championship winners in League of Legends thus far.
All LoL World Championship winners so far
Written By Eray Eliaçık

Reviewed by : Naim Rosinski

(Content Manager & Editor)

Last UpdatedAugust 7, 2024 at 09:39AM
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League of Legends World Championship has evolved from its modest beginnings at DreamHack Summer, where Fnatic claimed the inaugural title, into a global phenomenon. Held at venues like the Staples Center and Seoul World Cup Stadium, each season has set new standards for esports, attracting record viewership and showcasing unforgettable moments from legendary teams like SK Telecom T1 and Taipei Assassins.

Here is every LoL World Championship winner since 2011.

All LoL World Championship winners 

From intense rivalries to groundbreaking performances, here are each LoL World Championship and its winners:

Season 1 (2011)

The inaugural League of Legends World Championship took place in June 2011 at DreamHack Summer. It featured a $100,000 prize pool and saw Fnatic emerge victorious, with Maciej "Shushei" Ratuszniak named the MVP.

Image credit: LoL Esports/YouTube
Image credit: LoL Esports/YouTube

Season 2 (2012)

Season 2 expanded dramatically with a $5 million prize pool, setting a new standard for esports. The Taipei Assassins triumphed over Azubu Frost in the grand finals held at the USC Galen Center, marking Taiwan's first championship win.

Season 3 (2013)

Held in Los Angeles, Season 3 saw SK Telecom T1 from Korea defeat China's Royal Club in the Staples Center finals. It set records with 32 million viewers and cemented the event as a global esports phenomenon.

2014

The tournament grew in scale and spectacle, with Samsung Galaxy White winning over Star Horn Royal Club in Seoul's World Cup Stadium. Imagine Dragons performed, and the event drew 27 million viewers for the grand final.

Image credit: LoL Esports/YouTube
Image credit: LoL Esports/YouTube

2015

SK Telecom T1 claimed their second title by defeating KOO Tigers in Europe, showcasing their dominance. The tournament was notable for its viewership of 36 million and the rise of Faker as a legendary player.

2016

Held across North America, the tournament culminated in a memorable final at the Staples Center where SK Telecom T1 secured their third championship against Samsung Galaxy.

2017

The event moved to China and concluded in Beijing's National Stadium, where Samsung Galaxy redeemed their loss from the previous year by sweeping SK Telecom T1 3-0 in the finals, watched by 60 million viewers.

2018

In South Korea, Invictus Gaming became the first Chinese team to win Worlds, defeating Fnatic 3-0 in the finals. The event set a new viewership record with 99.6 million unique viewers and 44 million concurrent viewers.

Image credit: LoL Esports/YouTube
Image credit: LoL Esports/YouTube

2019

FunPlus Phoenix continued China's dominance by defeating G2 Esports in Paris, marking back-to-back victories for the LPL. The finals were watched by over 100 million viewers, highlighting the tournament's global reach.

2020

Damwon Gaming secured Korea's return to the top by defeating Suning in Shanghai. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, the event attracted 46.07 million peak viewers and showcased memorable gameplay.

Image credit: Red Bull/YouTube
Image credit: Red Bull/YouTube

2021

In Iceland, Edward Gaming triumphed over DWG KIA in a thrilling 3-2 final, capturing China's fourth title. The event maintained high viewership, peaking at 73.86 million concurrent viewers.

Image credit: LoL Esports VODs and Highlights/YouTube
Image credit: LoL Esports VODs and Highlights/YouTube

2022

T1 faced DRX in San Francisco, with DRX emerging as the surprise champions from the play-ins, defeating T1 3-2 in the finals. This marked T1's fourth world championship, and Faker's record-setting achievement as the first player to win four titles.

2023

The tournament returned to South Korea with T1 reclaiming the championship by defeating Weibo Gaming 3-0 in the finals at the Gocheok Sky Dome. Faker became the first player to win four titles, solidifying T1's dominance.

Image credit: LoL Esports/YouTube
Image credit: LoL Esports/YouTube

2024

The upcoming World Championship, featuring 22 teams, will be hosted in Berlin, Paris, and London from September 25 to November 2. Teams will qualify based on their regional league placements and results from the Mid-Season Invitational, with the finals set for London's O2 Arena on November 2.

Need a recap? Here is a list of League of Legends world championship winners 

Year

Winner

Runner-Up

Venue and Location

MVP

Viewership Highlights

2011

Fnatic

Against All Authority

DreamHack Summer, Sweden

Maciej "Shushei" Ratuszniak

1.6 million viewers, peak of 210,069 in final

2012

Taipei Assassins

Azubu Frost

USC Galen Center, Los Angeles

Chen "MiSTakE" Hui-Chung

8 million viewers, peak of 1.1 million in final

2013

SK Telecom T1

Royal Club

Staples Center, Los Angeles

Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok

32 million viewers, peak of 8.5 million in final

2014

Samsung Galaxy White

Star Horn Royal Club

Seoul World Cup Stadium, South Korea

Cho "Mata" Se-hyeong

27 million viewers, peak of 11 million in final

2015

SK Telecom T1

KOO Tigers

Various cities across Europe

Jang "MaRin" Gyeong-hwan

36 million viewers, peak of 14 million in final

2016

SK Telecom T1

Samsung Galaxy

Various cities across USA

Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok

43 million viewers, peak of 14.7 million in final

2017

Samsung Galaxy

SK Telecom T1

Various cities across China

Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk

60 million viewers, peak of 16.7 million in final

2018

Invictus Gaming

Fnatic

Various cities across South Korea

Gao "Ning" Zhenning

99.6 million viewers, peak of 44 million in final

2019

FunPlus Phoenix

G2 Esports

Various cities across Europe

Gao "Tian" Tianliang

Over 100 million viewers, peak of 44 million

2020

DAMWON Gaming

Suning

Shanghai, China

Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu

46.07 million viewers, peak viewership

2021

EDward Gaming

DWG KIA

Reykjavík, Iceland

Lee "Scout" Ye-chan

Average audience of 30.6 million, peak of 73.86 million concurrent viewers

2022

DRX

T1

Various cities across North America

Hwang "Kingen" Seong-hoon

Final in San Francisco, Faker's record fourth title

2023

T1

Weibo Gaming

Seoul and Busan, South Korea

Choi "Zeus" Woo-je

3-0 victory, Faker's fourth championship

2024

TBD

TBD

Berlin, Paris, London

TBD

Finals in London at The O2 Arena

2025

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

Details yet to be announced

What do LoL World Champions get?

The League of Legends World Champions receive several rewards and accolades for their achievement in winning the tournament:

  • Summoner's Cup: The centerpiece trophy, often referred to as the Summoner's Cup, is awarded to the winning team. It is a prestigious trophy designed and commissioned by Riot Games, symbolizing their victory and status as world champions.
Image credit: LoL Esports/YouTube
Image credit: LoL Esports/YouTube
  • Championship prize money: The champions receive a significant portion of the tournament's prize pool. The exact amount varies each year but is usually substantial, reflecting the tournament's prestige and the scale of esports as a whole.
  • MVP recognition: A Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is presented to a standout player from the winning team. This player is recognized for their exceptional performance throughout the tournament, often contributing significantly to their team's success in critical moments.
  • World Championship skins: Riot Games typically releases commemorative skins in honor of the World Championship winners. These skins are designed for specific champions played by the winning team members during their victorious matches. These skins are exclusive and serve as a lasting reminder of their achievement.

Winning the League of Legends World Championship grants international recognition and prestige within the esports community. It solidifies the team's legacy and often elevates the players' careers and the coaching staff. That’s why winning the League of Legends World Championship is financially rewarding and a career-defining accomplishment that cements a team's place in esports history.

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