Who are the favourites to raise this year's Summoner’s Cup?
The League of Legends World Championship is fast approaching, and with the teams locked in, it's time to take a closer look at the top teams and favourite ones to watch in 2024.
Gen.G Esports
If there's a clear frontrunner this year, it's Gen.G. Currently the strongest team in the LoL Champions Korea (LCK), they dominated the Spring Split and claimed their first international title at the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI). Gen.G even made history, becoming the first team to have an undefeated first-round robin, finishing 18-0 – a record-breaking feat that surpassed SKT T1’s 2015 Summer streak.
While many thought Gen.G were poised for a "golden road" run, they were upset by Hanwha Life Esports in a 3-2 thriller during the Summer playoffs.
Still, Gen.G remain formidable. With Jeong “Chovy” Jihoon in mid, one of the best this season, and Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu as a standout jungler, their synergy is top-notch. Kim "Peyz" Su-hwan, who filled in after Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk's departure, has made the role his own, while Son "Lehends" Si-woo brings versatility and deadly hooks from the support role.
Gen.G’s discipline and strong macro play allow them to thrive in tight games, and yet, they know how to corner enemy teams in many situations. This makes them a team no one wants to face.
Bilibili Gaming
Bilibili Gaming (BLG) have been the top force in the LoL Pro League (LPL) this year. In fact, if anyone were to rank the LPL, it's BLG – and then everyone else. Winning Spring and Summer without much contest and finishing second at MSI, they’ve been in stellar form. In Summer, BLG dropped just one game in the Rumble Stage and Playoffs before sweeping Weibo Gaming 3-0 in the Summer grand finals.
The addition of Zhuo “knight” Ding to the roster has been pivotal, ranking among the top mid laners in the LPL, boasting one of the highest KDAs and the most kills in a single game this season. With their mix of proactivity and discipline, BLG are strong candidates to lift the Summoner’s Cup.
Top Esports
Though Weibo Gaming's inconsistency and LNG’s troubles with star player Lee “Scout” Ye-chan’s travel ban have left gaps in the LPL, Top Esports are the next in line. They earned the second LPL seed for Worlds 2024 by collecting the most championship points throughout the year.
Top Esports finished second in Spring and performed well at MSI before being eliminated by G2 Esports in a 3-0 upset in the lower bracket semifinals. In Summer, they dominated their group, going 6-0, but narrowly lost 3-2 to Weibo Gaming in the lower bracket finals.
This roster boasts World Champions like Gao “Tian” Tianliang, Tian “Meiko” Ye, and Yu “JackeyLove” Wenbo, each bringing invaluable experience. Aside from that, their top laner, Bai "369" Jia-Hao, formerly with JD Gaming, is widely considered one of the world’s best, even rivalling the likes of Choi “Zeus” Woo-jie of T1.
Inconsistency has been their biggest challenge, often overstaying in team fights. If Top Esports can refine their communication and tighten their gameplay, they have the potential to challenge the LCK’s finest.
G2 Esports
The sole European representative in this list, G2 are no strangers to being on the brink of greatness. Their closest moment came in 2019 when they almost completed the Golden Road. Since then, though dominant in Europe, G2 have struggled to translate their success internationally.
Led by veteran Rasmus "Caps" Borregaard Winther , G2 showed glimpses of brilliance at MSI, notably pulling off a surprise upset against Top Esports in the lower bracket semifinals. However, they tend to falter midway through global tournaments.
One key issue G2 faced at Worlds last year was focusing heavily on scrims but not being prepared for surprise counterpicks. This year, they need to be adaptable and ensure they can respond when unexpected strategies are thrown their way. They also need to stay on guard, even when they're at the top of their game, or else, they might miss that next chance to prove themselves.
T1
As the defending 2023 World Champions, T1 are always a crowd favourite. After all, they are also the organisation with the most international titles under their belt. However, T1 have had a turbulent year in 2024, a stark contrast to their dominance in 2023.
Led by the LoL G.O.A.T. Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, who had recently been inducted into the Hall of Legends, T1 found themselves struggling to adapt to the evolving meta and the immense pressure of defending their title.
The ZOFGK roster barely squeaked into the last Worlds spot, narrowly defeating KT Rolster in a gruelling 3-2 series at the LCK Regional Finals, qualifying as the fourth seed from Korea. This fall from grace has been shocking for fans accustomed to T1’s dominance.
T1’s preference for playing to their comfort rather than fully embracing the meta has often backfired, as seen in their multiple defeats, including a tough series 5-game against DPlus KIA at the Regional Finals where they lost 3-2.
Additionally, overestimating their strength has led them to re-engage in fights to their detriment, losing winnable games. The lane-swapping meta has been particularly punishing for Zeus, one of T1’s most reliable stars, as it prevents him from dominating the top lane like he once did.
To reach the Grand Finals again, T1 must recalibrate, taking a more cautious approach while also adapting more effectively to the meta.
Worlds 2024 is packed with top-tier teams, and while favourites like Gen.G and BLG will undoubtedly make headlines, surprises are always lurking. Performance on the day will ultimately decide the champions. Which team will lift the Summoner’s Cup this year?
For everything you need to know about Worlds 2024, check here.
