The Worst Runs in League of Legends Worlds

The Worst Team Performances in the LoL World Championship Tournament

When it comes to League of Legends, the World Championship, or Worlds, is the stage where legends are born—or fall flat. Every year, the best teams from around the globe battle for the title of world champion, boosting regional pride and taking the competition to a whole new level. However, not every team shines at Worlds. While some surprise everyone, others, unfortunately, make headlines for underperforming. Let’s dive into some of the worst upsets in Worlds history and explore how even the most hyped teams sometimes fail to bring their A-game when it matters most.

Honorable Mentions: Every LCS Team (Worlds 2022)

When it comes to the 2022 Worlds, the entire LCS region had a performance that we want to forget. The North American teams—Evil Geniuses, 100 Thieves, and Cloud9—collectively managed a 3-15 record in the Group Stage. This was the worst result ever for the region. Cloud9, in particular, entered the competition as the top-seeded North American team but struggled to perform and faced a quick end. Despite a third-seed placement, Evil Geniuses couldn't carry any momentum from the Play-Ins, and 100 Thieves, who maintained their roster from the previous season, only managed one victory. It was a disappointing showing, which went on to boost the LCS's reputation as lacking strength on the international stage.

100 Thieves (Worlds 2024)

One of the biggest letdowns took place just a couple of days ago with 100 Thieves. From a pure gameplay perspective, this version of 100 Thieves is widely regarded as one of the weakest Western teams to ever compete at Worlds. Due to their poor form, expectations for them weren’t too high. However, losing to Rainbow7 a month after taking down Cloud9 was not a good look. Many expected their mechanical skills alone to boost their chances of advancing further in the tournament, but that wasn’t enough.

100 Thieves missed the chance to face Pain Gaming for a spot in the Swiss Stage and instead were eliminated by PSG Talon, a much stronger opponent. On a side note, 100 Thieves top laner, Sniper, claimed he would retire competitive League of Legends if the team failed to go through in the Play-Ins.

Team Liquid (Worlds 2023)

Moving on to Team Liquid’s 2023 run at Worlds, their performance in the Swiss Stage didn’t exactly go as planned. Liquid wasn’t expected to make a deep run, but they were still favored to win against GAM Esports. Failing to secure that crucial win, Liquid’s run ended earlier than everyone had hoped. However, their strong match against T1, who went on to become the World Champions, slightly cushioned the blow. Overall, Team Liquid’s 2023 campaign wasn’t abysmal, but it certainly didn't provide the boost many LCS fans were hoping for.

MAD Lions (Worlds 2022/2023)

The MAD Lions’ 2022 Worlds performance is another example of how things can quickly go south on the big stage. Despite coming off a quarterfinal finish in Worlds 2021, MAD Lions were knocked out of Play-Ins at Worlds 2022 and managed just one win in the Swiss Stage at Worlds 2023. What makes their 2022 campaign particularly disappointing is that they were swept 3-0 by Evil Geniuses, a team that was playing with subs. Many thought the Lions’ roster, which featured reigning LEC MVP Yasin "Nisqy" Dincer, would at least put up a fight. Unfortunately, their mechanics couldn’t boost them far enough to avoid being eliminated before the real competition even started.

G2 Esports (Worlds 2016)

G2 Esports’ debut at Worlds in 2016 was one of the biggest shocks in LoL history. Despite being Europe’s top seed and a fan favorite for the entire western LoL community, they struggled throughout the Group Stage, managing just one win out of six matches, and becoming the first team to be eliminated. With a strong botlane duo of Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen and Alfonso “Mithy” Aguirre Rodriguez, G2 was expected to compete for the top spot in a relatively weak group, with the only real threat being ROX Esports. However, their performance fell flat, losing five straight games before securing their only win after already being eliminated. G2’s 2016 Worlds performance still stands as one of the most disappointing for a team with such high expectations.

MAD Lions (Worlds 2020)

MAD Lions returned to Worlds in 2020, but their campaign was far from impressive. After scraping by in the Play-In Group Stage, winning just one game against Brazil’s INTZ Esports, they were eventually eliminated by Turkey’s Papara SuperMassive in the Play-In Semifinals. What made this run particularly painful was the expectation that MAD Lions, being a major region team, would have no trouble making it through the Play-In Stage. Instead, they finished tied for 19th-20th, the lowest rank ever for a Western team at Worlds. It was a bitter moment for LoL fans, as many believed the team had the potential to boost their standing and put up a fight against LPL and LCK contenders, but ultimately, MAD Lions only attended Worlds to hold the door for these new teams from less renowed regions.

TSM (Worlds 2020)

TSM entered the 2020 Worlds with hopes of restoring North America’s reputation on the international stage, but instead, they left fans frustrated. Led by star players Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng and Soren “Bjergsen” Bjerg, TSM was viewed as a team capable of making it past the group stages. Yet, they didn’t win a single match, going 0-6 in the Group Stage—becoming the only Western first seed to get this "achievement." Their losses, particularly against China’s LGD Gaming, were hard to swallow, as LGD nearly got knocked out during the Play-Ins.

TSM’s “Nine-Man Sleep” play is now remembered as a symbolic low point for the team, and their failure to boost North America's standing eventually led to the team disbanding, with only the legendary “TSM!” chants remaining.

These disappointing runs at the League of Legends World Championship are the key moments that show how unpredictable the tournament can be. While fan expectations often boost hype for teams and viewers, it’s the unexpected upsets that often make the show worth watching. From dream teams underperforming to underdogs making history, every Worlds has had its fair share of surprises. Worlds 2024 is just getting started, so stay tuned for the best and worst moments in LoL Esports history!

 

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