TL;DR
- MSI 2023 marks London’s first international LoL tournament at Copper Box Arena
- Tickets available exclusively through AXS starting February 23, 2023
- New format doubles major region representation and introduces double elimination
- Event runs from May 2-21 with Play-Ins, Bracket Stage, and Grand Finals
- UK fans finally get major international competition after years of limited exposure

The League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational makes its inaugural appearance in the United Kingdom, bringing premier international competition to London for the first time. This landmark event represents a significant milestone for British esports enthusiasts who have historically received limited attention in the global LoL competitive landscape.
London offers attendees the perfect blend of cultural immersion and competitive excitement. Beyond the matches themselves, visitors can experience iconic British attractions, navigate the famous Underground system, and sample diverse culinary offerings including the city’s renowned curry scene. The venue announcement earlier this year generated substantial enthusiasm among UK-based League of Legends fans who have long awaited a major international tournament in their region.
This year’s competition carries the powerful thematic title “Defy,” which resonates deeply with the unexpected triumph of 2022 world champion Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu and his DRX squad. Riot Games consistently selects inspiring motifs for their international events, and this year’s choice appears strategically aligned with celebrating underdog victories and breakthrough performances.
The Copper Box Arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park serves as the primary venue, continuing London’s legacy of hosting world-class sporting events following the 2012 Olympics.
The competitive schedule spans three distinct phases: The Play-In Stage runs from May 2-7, followed by the Bracket Stage divided into two segments (May 9-14 and May 16-20). The tournament culminates with the highly anticipated Grand Finals on May 21, 2023.
Ticket sales commence on February 23, 2023, providing fans with their first opportunity to secure access to this historic event. Early planning is crucial as premium seating typically sells out within hours of availability.
All Mid-Season Invitational 2023 passes will be distributed exclusively through the AXS digital ticketing platform. To purchase admission, navigate directly to the official MSI 2023 event page on AXS.com or through their mobile application.
The purchasing workflow involves several critical steps: First, select the “Get Tickets” option corresponding to your preferred attendance dates. Next, utilize the interactive arena map to identify available seats based on your viewing preferences and budget considerations. Finally, proceed to checkout to complete your transaction using accepted payment methods.
New users must establish an AXS account before finalizing their purchase. Account creation requires basic personal information and typically takes 3-5 minutes to complete. We recommend creating your account in advance of the sales date to streamline the checkout process during high-demand periods.
Pro Tip: Create your AXS account at least 24 hours before tickets go live. Have your payment information ready and consider using multiple devices to increase your chances during the initial sales rush when server traffic peaks.
MSI 2023 introduces a fundamentally restructured competitive format that significantly expands team participation and enhances tournament integrity. This represents the most substantial format overhaul since the event’s inception.
The revised qualification system now grants each of the four major regions—LEC (Europe), LCS (North America), LPL (China), and LCK (Korea)—two team invitations instead of the traditional single entry. This change nearly doubles representation from the world’s most competitive leagues.
Five emerging regions receive single team qualifications: LLA (Latin America), CBLOL (Brazil), PCS (Southeast Asia), VCS (Vietnam), and LJL (Japan). These regions continue to demonstrate growing competitive prowess on the international stage.
The tournament structure provides first-seed teams from major regions with direct advancement to the Bracket Stage. Second-seed teams and all minor region representatives must compete through the Play-In Stage to secure one of four remaining positions in the main competition.
The innovative double-elimination bracket introduces a loser’s bracket pathway, allowing teams that drop early matches to fight back through the lower bracket. This creates dramatic narrative possibilities and reduces the impact of single bad performances determining a team’s entire tournament fate.
Strategic Insight: The new format favors teams with deep strategic versatility and strong mental resilience, as the extended bracket requires consistent performance across multiple series against varied opponents.
Action Checklist
- Create AXS account before February 23 ticket sales
- Mark calendar for February 23, 2023 ticket release
- Research Copper Box Arena seating chart for optimal viewing
- Plan London transportation and accommodation for May dates
- Study new tournament format to better understand match progression
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