Who Were the Qualified Teams for MSI 2021?
Qualified Teams for the 2021 Mid-Season Invitational:
- Royal Never Give Up (China)
- MAD Lions (Europe)
- DWG KIA (Korea)
- Cloud9 (North America)
- PSG Talon (PCS)
- Unicorns of Love (CIS)
- INFINITY (Latin America)
- DenizBank İstanbul Wildcats (Turkey)
- paiN Gaming (Brazil)
- DetonatioN FocusMe (Japan)
- Pentanet.GG (Oceania)
Despite GAM Esports qualifying, the team was unable to participate due to national travel restrictions related to COVID-19. The remaining teams included:
- Royal Never Give Up
- Pentanet.GG
- Unicorns of Love
- MAD Lions
- PSG Talon
- paiN Gaming
- İstanbul Wildcats
- DAMWON Gaming
- Cloud9
- DetonatioN FocusMe
- Infinity Esports
A total of twelve teams qualified for the event. The LPL, LCK, LEC, and LCS have two teams each represented in the event, with one team from each league qualifying directly to the bracket stage. Qualified teams include:
- South Korea, LCK: DWG KIA
- North America, LCS: Cloud9
- TW/HK/MO/SEA, PCS: PSG Talon
- Vietnam, VCS: GAM Esports
All of the teams qualified for MSI 2021 include:
- Group A:
- Royal Never Give Up (LPL)
- Unicorns of Love (LCL)
- Group B:
- MAD Lions (LEC)
- PSG Talon (PCS)
What Were the Key Dates and Match Schedules for MSI 2021?
The MSI 2021 Mid-Season Invitational is scheduled to run from 6th to 23rd May 2021.
The match schedule is as follows:
- Group Stage: 6th to 11th May
- Rumble Stage: 14th to 18th May
- Knockout Stage: 21st to 23rd May
Matches are scheduled to begin at 16:00 GMT. Additionally, the tournament will kick off on May 6 at 8am CT.
The tournament will end with the semifinals on May 21 to 22 and the finals on May 23 at 8am CT.
It is important to note that this year, the winner’s league will receive an additional regional team spot at Worlds.
How Did the Final Standings and Results of MSI 2021 Shape the Future of League of Legends?
The League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) 2021 saw Royal Never Give Up (RNG) emerging as the champions after defeating DWG KIA 3-2 in the finals. This victory secured them a share of the US$250,000 prize pool and provided an additional slot for their region at the 2021 World Championship (Worlds). Such achievements at MSI impact the competitive landscape, influencing team strategies and regional dynamics moving forward.
Royal Never Give Up’s victory further solidified the dominance of the LPL (League of Legends Pro League) in the international scene. It showcased the strength and depth of talent in the Chinese league. The success of RNG has implications not only for their standings but also for the perception and investment in the LPL as a leading region in League of Legends.
Additionally, the final standings of MSI 2021, with DWG KIA and Royal Never Give Up showcasing strong performances, have implications for the future of League of Legends esports. For instance, DWG KIA’s Rumble Stage performance (8-2) and their semifinal victory against MAD Lions highlight the evolving competitive quality among different regions, potentially reshaping team recruitment and training approaches in the League of Legends ecosystem.
Moreover, the tournament marked a significant change in format, replacing the play-in stage with a group stage that allowed all competitive regions to start at the same level. This shift aimed to create a more competitive and fair environment, enhancing the overall quality of the matches. The new structure ensures that top teams from every region are given equal chances to advance, potentially leading to unexpected outcomes and a more diverse range of champions in future international competitions.
With RNG’s championship win, the LPL secured an additional bid to the 2021 League of Legends World Championship. This additional slot signifies the growing influence and prestige of the LPL, encouraging further investment in talent development and infrastructure within the region. The performance of RNG and other LPL teams at MSI is likely to inspire aspiring players and boost the popularity of League of Legends in China, setting the stage for future successes at global events.
Lastly, after a year-long break due to the pandemic, the MSI 2021 featured the winners from 12 individual Riot leagues’ spring splits competing in the 6th annual tournament. When the tournament concluded, the final ‘global power rankings’ for the 2021 season were calculated to determine which region would receive an extra slot.
