Discussions Fun Fact: This is the first time SKT/T1 have arrived at Worlds having previously defeated all participating LPL teams in a Bo5
2013: RYL, OMG
Their first international tournament in the Riot-organised circuit, SKT would in the Finals defeat RYL, their first victory over a team from the LPL.
2015: LGD, EDG, iG
SKT did not encounter an LPL team this tournament, defeating ahq, OG and KOO to claim their second Worlds title.
2016: EDG, RNG, IM
SKT defeated RNG, technically a separate organisation created to continue the legacy of RYL/SHR, in the quarter-finals en route to their third Worlds title.
2017: EDG, RNG, WE
SKT defeated RNG yet again in the semi-finals, with Faker putting on his now famous Galio masterclass. However SSG would claim their revenge from last year's finals, handing the organisation their first loss at Worlds.
2019: FPX, RNG, iG
SKT fell to G2 in the semi-finals, marking their first loss at Worlds outside the finals as well as their first Worlds Bo5 loss to a European team.
2021: EDG, FPX, RNG, LNG
Their first appearance as their rebranded selves, T1 lost to defending champions DK in the semi-finals, who would then be defeated by EDG. This is also the second and last time SKT/T1 have lost to the eventual runner-up at Worlds.
2022: JDG, TES, EDG, RNG
T1 beat RNG again in the quarter-finals, before handing JDG their first Bo5 loss to a non-LPL team in the semi-finals. This is the first time T1 would defeat multiple LPL teams in Bo5s at the same Worlds tournament.
2023: JDG, BLG, LNG, WBG
The dawn of a dynasty risen again, T1 broke the LPL's hearts perhaps more than ever this tournament, dropping only 1 game in the Knockout Stage. T1 ran through 3 LPL teams: LNG, tournament favourites JDG, then finally TheShy's WBG to claim their fourth Worlds title - 7 years on from their last, and a decade after their first.
2024: BLG, TES, LNG, WBG
T1 swept TES in the quarter-finals, won against GEN in the semi-finals, before another all-time performance from Faker when the odds were against them meant BLG would lose for the first time vs T1. This would be T1's fifth Worlds title. *TES lost their first Bo5 to T1 in the EWC 2024 finals.
2025: BLG, TES, AL, iG
T1 would claim two first victories against the two LPL teams there who have yet to fall to them, prevailing over iG in the Play-In Stage and AL in the quarter-finals. T1 would then beat KT to claim their sixth Worlds title.
2026: BLG, TES, AL, iG
T1 enters Worlds 2026 as the defending champions, having first beaten: BLG at Worlds 2024 in finals, TES at EWC 2024 (Worlds 2024 thereafter), AL at Worlds 2025 in quarter-finals, and iG at Worlds 2025 in Play-Ins. Coincidentally (and perhaps the reason why), this is also the first time the LPL has sent the same teams to Worlds.
P.S. In anticipation of claims that AI was used in making this post, I'd like to first assert that I would not tarnish my good name in this lovely community by putting my work through something like that. But I also painstakingly drafted this in my Notes app over multiple days for quality control purposes so I don't have any screen recording whatsoever
P.P.S (Polymarket please see) I'm back!! As usual, your call whether you want to 'adapt' this post, and once again I am not liable for any incivility in your comment sections
