League of Legends Worlds 2024: Play-In Stage Overview
The 2024 League of Legends World Championship Play-In stage has commenced! Eight teams are competing in Berlin for a place in the Swiss stage, marking the start of their journey towards the coveted Summoner’s Cup.
Format and Teams
The Play-In stage features eight of the 20 teams qualified for the Worlds 2024. These teams will compete in two double-elimination brackets, with best-of-three matches determining the outcomes. Two teams that achieve a 2-0 record will advance to the Swiss stage, while teams with a 1-1 record will face off against each other in the lower bracket. There are no early rematches, ensuring fresh matchups.
Qualified Teams
- MAD Lions KOI (LEC Summer, third seed)
- 100 Thieves (LCS Summer, third seed)
- PSG Talon (PCS Summer, champion)
- Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS (PCS Summer, runner-up)
- GAM Esports (VCS Summer, champion)
- Vikings Esports (VCS Summer, runner-up)
- paiN Gaming (CBLOL, champion)
- Movistar R7 (LLA Closing, champion)
These teams will battle fiercely for a spot in the next phase of the Championship, where the competition intensifies.
Schedule and Results
The structure of the Play-Ins ensures that every match is critical. The schedule for the opening games of Worlds 2024 is as follows:
Wednesday, Sept. 25
- 7am CT: MAD Lions KOI 2-0 Vikings Esports
- 10am CT: paiN Gaming 1-2 PSG Talon
Thursday, Sept. 26
- 7am CT: SoftBank HAWKS 0-2 GAM
- 10am CT: 100 Thieves 0-2 Movistar R7
Friday, Sept. 27
- 7am CT: MAD Lions KOI 2-1 PSG Talon
- 10am CT: Movistar R7 0-2 GAM
Saturday, Sept. 28
- 7am CT: paiN Gaming 2-0 Vikings Esports
- 10am CT: 100 Thieves 2-0 SoftBank HAWKS
How to Watch the Play-In Stage
The Play-In stage will be streamed live on YouTube and Twitch, as well as the Riot website. Spoiler-free replays will be available at the end of each matchday. Streams will also be provided in various languages; check the Leaguepedia page for a full list closer to the event.
These initial matches set the stage for an exhilarating Play-In phase, with each team striving to secure one of the coveted Swiss spots. As the tournament progresses, the excitement will build, culminating in the Grand Finals on Nov. 2 at the O2 in London.
