League of Legends Finals Preview
China face off with Korea in Reykjavik, Iceland in what could be the most watched Esport event of all time.
The world’s most popular Esport, League of Legends, will reach the climax of its 11th season on Saturday the 6th of November. Korean champions Damwon KIA will play a best of 5 series of matches against China’s representatives Edward Gaming.
The tournament, known mainly as ‘Worlds’, has been ongoing since September and has seen teams from Brazil to Australia to Turkey face off for a prize pool worth over £1.6 million.
Regional seasons began in January with an aim to find the best teams to represent each league.
The European Championship (LEP) is one of the big four major world leagues, and sent three teams to the tournament; two of which have been sent home by one of the finalists, and current champions, Damwon KIA.
Damwon have put in consistent performances from the get-go. With a roster unchanged since their championship win last year, they are the bookies favourites going into this year’s finals. The style of play Damwon engage in is the perfect version of how the Korean league (LCK) has been played this year; a strong early game pulling them into a lead which can then be snowballed out of control until the match is won.
Their mid-laner Heo Su ‘ShowMaker’ has been integral to their success so far, proving dominant in the early game and seeing off the man considered the best player of all time in the semi-finals: Lee Sang-hyeok ‘Faker’.
Edward Gaming have made it to their first World’s finals on the 6th time of asking. Never failing to qualifying from China’s Tencent League of Legends Pro league (LPL), the team have a lot of experience on the huge stage but will go into the final as an underdog.
While Damwon epitomise the clinical style of play Korean teams are known for, Edward Gaming have reached the tournament’s peak by standing out from other Chinese teams. The Meta in the LPL has seen teams rise to the top by making decisions based on skill over chance.
Edward Gaming have a riskier technique; which despite getting them this far, could be the reason they faulter to Damwon’s more polished style.
Riot Games, the company that makes League of Legends, have teased a musical line-up to kick the finals off. Imagine Dragons and J.I.D will perform their new single ‘Enemy,’ which was released last week to promote the new Netflix show Arcane, a spinoff of League of Legends. Pvris, Denzel Curry, and Bea Miller will also feature.
The event will begin at 12PM GMT on Saturday and peaked at 46 million concurrent viewers last year.