| 2022 | |
 | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Sport | League of Legends |
| Location | Mexico United States |
| Dates | September 29–November 5 |
| Administrator | Riot Games |
Tournament format(s) | 12 team single round-robin play-in stage 16 team double round-robin group stage 8 team single-elimination bracket |
| Venue(s) | 4 (in 4 host cities)
|
| Teams | 24 |
| Final positions | |
| Champion | DRX |
| Runner-up | T1 |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Attendance | 18,000 (Finals)[1] |
| MVP | Hwang "Kingen" Seong-hoon (DRX) |
The 2022 League of Legends World Championship was an esports tournament for the multiplayer online battle arena video game League of Legends. It was the twelfth iteration of the League of Legends World Championship, an annual international tournament organized by the game's developer, Riot Games. The tournament was held from September 29 to November 5 in Mexico and the United States.[2] Twenty-four teams from 11 regions qualified for the tournament based on their placement in regional circuits such as those in China, Europe, North America, South Korea, Taiwan/Hong Kong/Macau/Southeast Asia and Vietnam, with twelve of those teams having to reach the main event via a play-in stage.[3]
On August 29, Riot Games announced and revealed the new Summoner's Cup that would be awarded to the winner of the finals.[4] "Star Walkin'" was announced as the tournament's theme song, performed by Lil Nas X.[5]
DRX won the tournament after defeating T1 3–2 in a close final series.[6] This was the first international title won by DRX, as well as the first by a play-in team. DRX's advance to the finals was widely described by commentators as a Cinderella run. DRX was considered an underdog team, having barely qualified for the tournament as South Korea's final seed, and having been pitted against a number of tournament favorites, including defending world champions Edward Gaming.[7][8][9]
This is the last edition of Worlds to feature a round-robin play-in stage and group stage before switching to a GSL-style double-elimination bracket for the play-in stage and a Swiss stage main stage for the next edition of the tournament.
- ^ Li, Roland (November 7, 2022). "Lightning, fire and lasers: League of Legends championship brings massive, international crowd to S.F." San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ "League of Legends Worlds 2022 Dates and Seeding". lolesports.com. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ "Riot announces dates and seeding for 2022 League of Legends World Championship". Dot Esports. July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ^ "LoL Esports – LoL Esports, Tiffany & Co. Unveil New Summoner's Cup". lolesports.com. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
- ^ Esguerra, Tyler (September 15, 2022). "Lil Nas X teaming up with Riot for 2022 League Worlds theme, prestige K'Sante skin, and more". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ Liao, Shannon (November 5, 2022). "DRX beats T1 to win 2022 League of Legends World Championship". Washington Post. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ "DRX Complete Their Miracle Run As They Defeat T1 in Worlds 2022 Finals". ESTNN. November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ Esguerra, Tyler (November 5, 2022). "'If people think that we are the underdog, we are fine': Deft and DRX are comfortable being the Worlds 2022 Cinderella story". Dot Esports. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ Datuin, Sage (November 3, 2022). "DRX head into Worlds 2022 final as Cinderella story of the tournament". Nerd Street. Retrieved November 6, 2022.