TL;DR
- Worlds 2021 relocated to Iceland with 22 teams competing across major and emerging regions
- LPL and LCK secured four slots each while LEC and LCS received three representatives
- VCS participation remains uncertain due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in Vietnam
- Play-in stage features ten teams battling for limited group stage positions
- Tournament runs October 5-November 6 featuring new regional dynamics and format adjustments
Games and Esports Articles LoL
Evgenii Efimov
September 12, 2021, 17:07 SGT
The prestigious League of Legends World Championship 2021 transitions to Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík, spanning October 5 through November 6. Initial hosting plans designated China as the venue, but stringent international travel protocols prevented Riot Games from ensuring universal team accessibility. Consequently, organizers selected the same venue that successfully hosted MSI 2021, leveraging established infrastructure and proven safety protocols.
Regional qualification slots demonstrate shifting competitive landscapes, with Korea’s LCK and China’s LPL each securing four direct entries, while North America’s LCS and Europe’s LEC receive three positions apiece. Critical uncertainty surrounds GAM Esports from Vietnam’s VCS, as the region missed both Worlds 2020 and the recent Mid-Season Invitational due to pandemic-related travel constraints. The cancellation of VCS Summer 2021 further complicates competitive readiness for Vietnamese representatives.
Full list of the Worlds 2021 participants
LPL (China):
- Edward Gaming – Spring Split champions demonstrating exceptional team coordination
- FunPlus Phoenix – 2019 world champions seeking redemption arc
- Royal Never Give Up – MSI 2021 winners bringing international experience
- LNG Esports (Play-in) – Dark horse team with explosive early game strategies
LCK (Korea):
- DAMWON KIA – Defending world champions with dominant laning phase
- Gen.G – Consistent performers with strategic teamfighting prowess
- T1 – Legendary organization with renewed competitive drive
- Hanwha Life (Play-in)
– Cinderella story team that overcame significant odds
LEC (Europe):
- MAD Lions – Back-to-back LEC champions with aggressive playstyle
- Fnatic – Historic European powerhouse with Worlds finals experience
- Rogue – Regular season dominators seeking international breakthrough
LCS (North America):
- 100 Thieves – First-time LCS champions with innovative draft strategies
- Team Liquid – Veteran roster with multiple international appearances
- Cloud9 (Play-in) – North America’s last hope from play-in stage
PCS (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, and Southeast Asia):
- PSG Talon – Regional dominators with strong macro-oriented gameplay
- Beyond Gaming (Play-in) – Aggressive early game team with high-risk strategies
Play-in participants from minor regions
- RED Canids (Brazil) – CBLOL representatives known for unorthodox champion selections
- Unicorns of Love (CIS) – Experienced international competitors with creative draft approaches
- DetonatioN FM (Japan)
– LJL champions bringing unique regional meta adaptations - Infinity Esports (Latin America)
– LATAM representatives with explosive teamfight execution - PEACE (Oceania) – OPL successors demonstrating improved early game coordination
- Galatasaray Esports (Turkey) – TCL champions featuring aggressive laning phase tactics
- GAM Esports (Vietnam, ?) – VCS representatives with participation status pending travel restrictions
The play-in tournament structure presents significant challenges for emerging regions, requiring teams to navigate two stages of elimination matches. Ten teams compete in initial groups, with top performers advancing to knockout rounds against the lowest-placed major region representatives. This format creates intense pressure situations where minor region champions must demonstrate exceptional adaptability against established competitors. Understanding regional meta differences becomes crucial for predicting play-in success, as teams from less competitive regions often struggle adapting to international playstyles.
Analyzing the qualified teams reveals fascinating regional dynamics and potential championship narratives. The LPL’s four representatives showcase China’s continued dominance in producing world-class talent, while LCK’s lineup features traditional Korean strategic excellence combined with individual mechanical prowess. The reduced LEC and LCS slots reflect ongoing competitive disparities between Eastern and Western regions.
Critical matchups to watch include the LCK vs LPL clashes that typically determine championship outcomes. DAMWON KIA’s title defense against Edward Gaming’s domestic supremacy creates compelling storylines. Meanwhile, MAD Lions represent Europe’s best hope for international relevance against Eastern powerhouses.
For emerging regions, the play-in stage offers invaluable international experience against top competition. Teams like PSG Talon have demonstrated capability to challenge major region opponents, while the uncertainty surrounding GAM Esports highlights ongoing global pandemic impacts on esports.
Strategic preparation becomes paramount in Iceland’s neutral venue, where teams cannot rely on home crowd advantages or familiar environments. The condensed tournament schedule demands peak performance consistency, making roster depth and coaching staff preparation critical differentiators. Our Complete Guide provides deeper analysis of competitive strategies.
Action Checklist
- Review team rosters and player matchups before group stage begins
- Study regional meta differences using our Weapons Unlock methodology for competitive analysis
- Analyze play-in stage results to identify potential dark horse teams
- Monitor VCS participation status updates as tournament approaches
- Compare team performance metrics using our Class Guide framework
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » All World Championship 2021 participants are known Complete guide to Worlds 2021 tournament format, qualified teams, regional representation, and event analysis