The Mid-Season Invitational preview guide

The Mid-Season Invitational is just around the corner and we've put together a preview guide on what you can expect.

After missing out on last year's edition of MSI due to the global pandemic, it's finally back.

It's slated to start tomorrow, May 6 - 23 at the Laugardalshöll indoor sporting arena in Reykjavík, Iceland. It is also the location for the VCT Stage 2 Masters, which begins directly after MSI.

Mid-Season Invitational

As you can see, this year's MSI is slightly different from what you can expect. This is because GAM Esports from Vietnam is unable to attend due to the country's travel restrictions. Each team that is participating in MSI made it by winning their respective region's season. Here are the teams:

Group A

• Royal Never Give Up (LPL Spring 2021 - China)
• Unicorns of Love (LCL Spring 2021 - CIS)
• Pentanet.GG (LCO Split 1 - OCE)

Group B

• MAD Lions (LEC Spring 2021 - EU)
• PSG Talon (PCS Spring 2021 - Asia)
• İstanbul Wildcats (TCL Winter 2021 - Turkey)
• paiN Gaming (CBLOL 2021 Split 1 - Brazil)

Group C

• DWG KIA (LCK Spring 2021 - South Korea)
• Cloud9 (LCS Spring 2021 - NA)
• Infinity Esports (LLA Opening 2021 - SA)
• DetonatioN FocusMe (LJL Spring 2021 - Japan)

Thankfully, there have been no actively reported cases of COVID-19 over the past few weeks. The only major story leading up to MSI 2021 was for PSG Talon, who had to replace their carry player.

MSI Format & Schedule

Group Stages (May 6 - 11 2021)

• Eleven teams
  • Three in Group A and four in Group B & C
  • Group A will play in a Quadruple Round-Robin format
  • Group B & C will play in a Double Round-Robin format
  • Top two teams from each group will advance to the next stage
  • Bottom two teams are eliminated (Last place for Group A)
  • All games are a best-of-one

Rumble Stage (May 14 - 18 2021)

• Six teams remain to play in a Double Round-Robin format
  • ​​​​​​​Top four teams qualify to the Knockout Stage
  • Bottom two teams are eliminated
  • All matches are best-of-one

Knockout Stage (May 21 - 23 2021)

• Four teams play in an elimination bracket
  • All matches are best-of-five
  • No third-place match

As of right now, the prize pool has yet to be announced. However, there is a new update to the prizes. The champion's league will receive an additional regional team spot for the upcoming Worlds 2021.