Meanwhile, MAD Lions KOI and paiN Gaming are eliminated from the competition.
The 2024 League of Legends World Championship Swiss Stage is in full swing, and it’s already delivering intense matchups and surprises in its first week, especially with lots drawn for each matchup in the first three rounds.
As teams push for a place in the knockout stage, some are emerging as clear frontrunners, while others find themselves at risk of elimination.
Here’s a breakdown of how each team is faring in the Swiss Stage.
Leading teams
Gen.G Esports have proven themselves as one of the dominant forces in this year's tournament, boasting a strong 3-0 record. Their journey so far includes victories over Weibo Gaming, Top Esports, and a narrow 2-1 win against Hanwha Life Esports. With their sights set on the knockout stage, Gen.G are a serious contender for the championship.
LNG Esports are another team enjoying a perfect 3-0 run. They’ve shown exceptional form with clean sweeps against Team Liquid and Bilibili Gaming, before dismantling Dplus 2-0. Their 4-0 game record has made them one of the teams to watch in this year's Worlds.
Both teams have qualified for the Knockout Stage.
Contenders in the race
Several teams sit at 2-1 and remain in strong contention for a place in the knockout stage:
- Dplus bounced back from their loss to LNG Esports with wins against Fnatic and FlyQuest. They’ve shown flexibility and adaptability, traits that could serve them well in the upcoming rounds.
- G2 Esports also find themselves at 2-1 after victories against paiN Gaming and Weibo Gaming. Although they faltered against Hanwha Life Esports, G2 remain a strong contender.
- T1, after a rocky start with a loss to Top Esports, managed to pull off wins against paiN Gaming and Bilibili Gaming. Their 2-1 record keeps them in the hunt, and their potential for deep runs is undeniable.
- FlyQuest have been impressive, securing wins over GAM Esports and PSG Talon after losing to Dplus. With a 2-1 record, they’re still in a strong position to advance.
- Hanwha Life Esports have had a solid campaign with victories over PSG Talon and G2 Esports, but their loss to Gen.G Esports shows there’s still work to be done if they want to secure a knockout spot.
- Top Esports are another team at 2-1, with their opening win against T1 marking them as serious contenders. They continued their victory streak. However, they stumbled against Gen.G Esports but rebounded with a victory over LEC second seed Fnatic.
Teams on the edge
Several teams are balancing on a knife’s edge with 1-2 records, meaning their next match could decide whether they continue or face elimination:
- Bilibili Gaming had a strong start, defeating MAD Lions KOI. However, despite being the LPL first seed, they suffered defeat against LNG Esports and T1. They need to get creative, adjust to the meta, bounce back and stay in the tournament.
- Fnatic have struggled, losing to Dplus and Top Esports in the first few rounds, but secured victory over GAM Esports to keep their hopes alive.
- PSG Talon also sit at 1-2 after defeating MAD Lions KOI but suffering defeats to Hanwha Life Esports and FlyQuest. It will be an uphill battle for the PCS Summer champions from here on out, but not an impossible one.
- Weibo Gaming got a crucial win against Team Liquid after losing to Gen.G Esports and facing an upset from G2 Esports.
- GAM Esports managed to secure their first win in a 2-0 upset against MAD Lions KOI in the elimination match, following losses to FlyQuest and Fnatic. GAM needs to continue to show up “Make them believe” to stay in the competition.
- Team Liquid survived another day, after securing a 2-0 sweep against CBLOL’s paiN Gaming, after failing to overcome LPL giants Weibo gaming and LNG Esports.
Eliminated teams:
- MAD Lions KOI are the first team to be eliminated from the Swiss Stage. After three consecutive losses to Bilibili Gaming, PSG Talon, and GAM Esports, their Worlds 2024 journey comes to an end.
- paiN Gaming are the second team to be eliminated, after suffering three consecutive losses to G2 Esports, T1, and eventually Team Liquid.
Both teams bow out of Worlds in 15th-16th place, taking home US $55,625 in consolation.
The pressure is mounting as the second week of the Swiss Stage is only a few days away. Teams need at least three wins to secure a spot in the knockout stage, while three losses will see them eliminated.
Here are upcoming matches for week 2, Round 4 of the Swiss Stage on 10 October:
While Gen.G and LNG are close to qualifying for the playoffs, other teams would need to fight their way to avoid elimination. Unexpectedly, two LPL teams, BLG and Weibo Gaming are also at risk of elimination, after multiple upsets along the way.
On the other hand, this is also an opportunity for the remaining teams from the PCS and the VCS to pull off more upsets and manage to make their way to the Knockout stage.
However, the next few days may as well be like the reset button, and much like the first week—nothing is set in stone until the dust settles.
