With a straightforward bracket, there's no room for mistakes at the EWC.
The Esports World Cup kicks off early in July, featuring eight of the strongest League of Legends teams competing for the title and the lion's share of US $1,000,000.
The lineup resembles the 2024 Mid-Season Invitational playoffs, with the addition of FlyQuest and the absence of PSG Talon. However, will the performance be the same? With only a few days before the competition and a straightforward bracket, there’s no room for any team to make mistakes.
Which teams are best poised to win it all? Here are some of the teams we think you should look out for at the Esports World Cup.
Gen.G
This year seems to belong to Gen.G, having already clinched the LCK Spring Championship and their first MSI title this year. After all, their roster is full of heavy-hitters: Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon’s exceptional mid-lane performance, combined with his synergy with 2020 World Champion Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu in the jungle, forms a formidable core.
In the bot lane, Kim "Peyz" Su-hwan and Son “Lehends” Si-woo have been dominant, while the underrated Kim "Kiin" Gi-in is a rock in the top lane.
Gen.G have been on a rampage since the MSI playoffs, bulldozing through four consecutive match-ups to claim the title. On top of this, they continue to maintain their form and lead the pack at the LCK Summer Split with a stellar 17-1 record.
Now, at the EWC, their biggest challenge is maintaining their mental fortitude and replicating their performance to conquer the same teams they bested at MSI. If they can do that, another championship is well within their grasp.
Bilibili Gaming (BLG)
The LPL is fiercely competitive, and Bilibili Gaming are tied with Top Esports and JD Gaming for an undefeated Summer Split so far. Internationally, however, BLG have shown more consistency than Top Esports, frequently qualifying for Worlds and the MSI and mostly reaching the semifinals or quarterfinals.
At the EWC, their chances look promising if they can once again outplay T1, as they did at MSI last May. But then again, T1 are pretty good at revenge matchups and making comebacks, so BLG better watch their backs and be on their toes.
If they do succeed, and eventually face Gen.G, they will need to face their demons and finally take the upper hand against Gen.G.
T1
T1 are considered the strongest team in LoL Esports history, especially after their 2023 Worlds win.
With Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok at the helm and a team that’s been together since 2021, T1 consistently prove their doubters wrong, especially after winning their fourth title at Worlds 2023.
However, they currently face challenges, including DDoS attacks and difficulties adapting to the current meta. These issues have hindered their ability to practice effectively in solo queue.
Despite their struggles and an early exit at MSI, T1 have shown resilience, turning things around after regrouping.
Although they’ve faced similar challenges at the start of the LCK Summer Split, they’ve maintained a second-place standing. It will be interesting to see how they fare against their rivals, Bilibili Gaming and Gen.G, at the EWC
G2 Esports
G2 Esports are another wildcard in this tournament. Domestically, they have been the steadiest and strongest European team for many years.
However, their international performance is inconsistent—they can be dominant one moment and falter the next.
At MSI, G2 proved their capability by defeating Top Esports in a 3-0 upset but were soon dismantled by T1 in another sweep. At the EWC, their chances are high in the first round against Flyquest—with the North American team’s final roster up in the air so far.
However, they will likely face the biggest challenge, Gen.G, in the subsequent round. G2 would need to strategise and perform at their best to overcome these formidable opponents and have a shot at the title.
Top Esports (TES)
Top Esports are one of the strongest teams in the LPL this summer, maintaining an undefeated run alongside Bilibili Gaming.
Their roster boasts heavy hitters like Bai “369” Jiahao, and former world champions Gao “Tian” Tianliang, Yu “JackeyLove” Wenbo, and Tian “Meiko” Ye.
However, their international track record is as inconsistent as G2's. Particularly, they exited this year’s MSI playoffs early, falling to G2 in a decisive 3-0 sweep in the lower bracket quarterfinals.
With both Gen.G and G2 standing in their way, it will be intriguing to see how TES fares against the teams that defeated them at MSI this time around.
Which team do you think will win and which teams are you rooting for? To know more about the Esports World Cup LoL Bracket, check out this survival guide.
