The 2018 League of Legends World Championship kicks off on October 1st in Seoul, South Korea. Here’s everything you need about League’s biggest, most prestigious competitive event.

What is the World Championship?

The League of Legends World Championship (also known as Worlds) is a yearly international tournament that brings together the top teams from each league in a battle to hoist the Summoner’s Cup and earn the title of World Champion. The event moves between host regions each year; this year, teams will battle it out on a tour of four cities across South Korea.

When is Worlds happening?

Worlds begins with the Play-In Stage on October 1st and concludes with Finals on November 3rd. Individual stage dates are listed below.

The seeding

Teams at Worlds are split into three different sections: Pool 1, Pool 2, and Pool 3. The first Pool is reserved for the champions from the four highest-seeded regions in the world, based on results from the 2018 Mid-Season Invitational (LCK/LPL/EU/LMS).

The second pool is a mixed bag of eight teams: the first seed from the 5th (NA) and 6th (VCS) highest-rated regions, the second seed from each of the 5 highest-rated regions, and the third seed from Korea's LCK.

Pool 3, however, is only formed once we know the four teams that successfully navigate the Play-In stage of the World Championship at the start of October. There are twelve participants in the Play-Ins, encompassing many of the minor regions surrounding the globe, though only a third of those teams will make it through to the Main Event.

Without further ado, here are your qualified teams!

Pool 1

KT Rolster (Korea 1st seed) — Champions of 2018 LCK Summer Split
Royal Never Give Up (China 1st seed) — Champions of LPL Summer 2018
Fnatic (Europe 1st seed) — Champions of 2018 EU LCS Summer Split
Flash Wolves (Taiwan 1st seed) — Champions of 2018 LMS Summer Split

The four Pool 1 seeds will all avoid each other in the first stage of the Main Event, as each is placed in a separate four-team group.

Pool 2

Team Liquid (NA 1st seed) — Champions of 2018 NA LCS Summer Split
PVB/CubeA (Vietnam 1st seed) — Champions of 2018 VCS Summer Split
Afreeca Freecs (Korea 2nd seed) — Highest Circuit Points in 2018 LCK Summer Split
Invictus Gaming (China 2nd seed) — Highest Circuit Points in LPL Summer 2018
100 Thieves (NA 2nd seed) — Highest Circuit Points in 2018 NA LCS Summer Split
Team Vitality (Europe 2nd seed) — Highest Circuit Points in 2018 EU LCS Summer Split
MAD Team (Taiwan 2nd seed) — Highest Circuit Points in 2018 LMS Summer Split
Gen.G (Korea 3rd seed) — Regional Qualifier winners in 2018 LCK Summer Split

The eight Pool 2 seeds will also enter during the first stage of the Main Event, as two teams from the pool are placed in each separate four-team group. Teams from the same region cannot be placed in the same group.

Pool 3 (Play-In)

Play-In Pool 1

EDward Gaming (China 3rd seed) — Regional Qualifier winners in LPL Summer 2018
G2 Esports (Europe 3rd seed) — Regional Qualifier winners in 2018 EU LCS Summer Split
TBD (Vietnam 3rd seed) — Regional Qualifier winners in 2018 VCS Summer Split
Cloud9 (NA 3rd seed) — Regional Qualifier winners in 2018 NA LCS Summer Split

Play-In Pool 2

Bahçeşehir SuperMassive (Turkey 1st seed) — Champions of 2018 TCL Summer Season
Gambit Esports (CIS 1st seed) — Champions of 2018 CIS Continental League
KaBuM! e-Sports (Brazil 1st seed) — Champions of 2018 CBLOL Summer Split
Infinity eSports CR (LAN 1st seed) — Champions of 2018 Latin America North League

Play-In Pool 3

Ascension Gaming (SEA 1st seed) — Champions of SEA Tour 2018 Summer
Dire Wolves (OCE 1st seed) — Champions of 2018 OPL Split 2
Kaos Latin Gamers (LAS 1st seed) — Champions of Latin American Cup South 2018
DetonatioN FocusMe (Japan 1st seed) — Champions of LJL Summer 2018

A team from each Play-In pool will enter one of four Play-In groups. The top team from each group after a double round robin will play against a second-ranked team for a spot in the Main Event, with four teams progressing to become Pool 3 seeds.

Each team from Pool 3 will then be placed into a separate group at the Main Event. Teams from the same region cannot be placed in the same group.