TL;DR
- Professional players and analysts advocate for double-elimination at Worlds following successful regional implementations
- TSM’s 2020 LCS playoff run demonstrates how losers brackets create compelling narratives and fairer outcomes
- Dota 2’s The International provides proven blueprint for integrating third-seed teams into extended brackets
- Current single-elimination format risks eliminating top teams prematurely due to single bad performances
- Riot Games faces scheduling challenges but has precedent for format evolution
The competitive League of Legends community continues pushing for significant tournament structure improvements as World Championships progress.
During the final phases of the 2020 League of Legends World Championship, CLG mid laner Eugene “Pobelter” Park publicly criticized the absence of a second-chance mechanism in the playoff stage.
Implementing a loser’s bracket next season would dramatically enhance the Worlds viewing experience, particularly given how effectively it generated memorable matches and dramatic storylines during LCS and LEC postseason competitions. We could even adopt Dota’s The International approach where group stage third-place finishers enter the lower bracket rather than facing immediate elimination
— Eugene Park (@Pobelter) October 17, 2020
Discussions about modernizing the Worlds format have resurfaced annually with each tournament cycle. The current debate centers on the continued use of single-elimination playoffs, denying defeated squads any opportunity for redemption in their pursuit of the Summoner’s Cup.
“Adding a lower bracket next year would significantly improve the Worlds tournament structure,” Pobelter emphasized. “We could mirror Dota TI’s system where the third-ranked group teams transition into the consolation bracket instead of being completely ousted,”.
LCS and LEC have had success with losers bracket
This conversation gained momentum after both major Western leagues implemented double-elimination formats for their 2020 seasons, achieving remarkably positive results. The revised league structures delivered substantially more playoff matches to spectators while enabling unexpected underdog journeys through the lower brackets.
Team SoloMid’s dramatic 2020 summer playoff campaign perfectly illustrates the double-elimination format’s competitive benefits. After suffering an initial round defeat against Golden Guardians, TSM found themselves relegated to the losers bracket under the new system.
TSM subsequently navigated the entire lower bracket, securing victories in four consecutive best-of-five series to advance to the championship match. They ultimately defeated FlyQuest in the finals, earning North America’s top seeding for the 2020 World Championship.
The organization competed in 17 total matches within the consolation bracket—content that would never have occurred under Worlds’ current single-elimination framework.
Additional League of Legends analysts have expressed concerns about the existing Worlds structure. Nick “LS” Cesare and Christian “IWillDominate” Rivera recently addressed these concerns on the Facecheck podcast, concurring that the global championship requires structural updates. Similar to Pobelter, both commentators referenced Dota’s The International, where competing organizations receive second opportunities during the playoff phase.
The fundamental advantage of double-elimination formats lies in their ability to determine true skill hierarchies. When teams face elimination after one poor performance, the tournament risks crowning champions who avoided strong opponents rather than defeating them. This creates situations where the second-best squad might exit early due to unfortunate bracket placement, undermining competitive integrity.
Riot Games has historically defended the current format citing scheduling constraints and logistical complexities. However, the developer has previously modified Worlds structures, indicating future changes remain possible.
Implementing extended brackets introduces legitimate challenges, including extended tournament duration, player fatigue management, and broadcast scheduling complications. These practical considerations must be balanced against the competitive benefits of more comprehensive tournament outcomes.
The 2020 World Championship resumed on October 24th with semifinal matches.
Action Checklist
- Analyze regional double-elimination success metrics from LCS and LEC
- Study Dota 2’s The International bracket structure for implementation ideas
- Compare single vs double-elimination outcome distributions
- Engage in community discussions about format evolution on official forums
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Pobelter suggests adding a losers bracket at Worlds Exploring the case for double-elimination formats in League of Legends World Championships based on regional success