The 2024 Worlds esports event continues to generate excitement, featuring a Swiss round format with a new rule preventing repeat matchups. While it has received positive feedback, concerns remain about matchup randomness impacting team success, particularly for G2 Esports, who faced a challenging path. Meanwhile, the tournament is breaking viewership records, with the 2024 finals achieving an unprecedented 6.9 million viewers, indicating a growing interest in League of Legends esports despite ongoing format criticisms.
A Controversial Swiss Round Format!
Since their inception, the Worlds have experienced multiple format transformations. The Swiss round format made its debut in 2023, receiving a largely positive response from fans. In 2024, this format returns with a minor adjustment: a new rule ensuring that no two opponents can clash more than once during the Swiss Stage (a notable situation occurred in 2023 between KT Rolster and Dplus KIA in rounds 2 and 5).
While last year’s criticism focused on the randomness of the matchups, which could lead to inconsistent difficulty levels for teams, this year the concerns have escalated. A particular focus of discontent surrounds G2 Esports, who, as the reigning European champions (seed 1), faced a sequence of tough competitors, with the exception of their initial match against PaiN Gaming. Their journey included formidable clashes against HLE (seed 1 LCK), Weibo Gaming (seed 4 LPL), T1 (seed 4 LCK), and BLG (seed 1 LPL).
When comparing G2’s challenging path with that of Flyquest (opposing GAM, Dplus KIA, PSG, HLE, and TL), it’s evident that the unpredictability of the draws significantly impacts team outcomes, placing too much emphasis on luck. This raises concerns in a competition designed to reward consistent performance over the year.
Another issue noted is the absence of effective seeding. Except for round 1, the distinction between a seed 1 and a seed 4 becomes obscure, as only the Swiss Stage scores are considered. Expanding the seeding criteria to additional rounds could enhance the integrity of the competition and mitigate the randomness of the draws.
2024 Edition Shattering Records!
You may have noticed on social media that the 2024 edition of the Worlds has been busy breaking records left and right. Every phase, from the Play-In to the finals, has surpassed previous year benchmarks!
Here are some impressive statistics shared recently by Esports Charts (excluding Chinese platforms):
- The 2023 semi-final match between T1 and JDG garnered 4,308,901 viewers, whereas the 2024 semi-final featuring T1 and Gen.G attracted an astonishing 4,977,721 viewers.
- The 2024 finals between T1 and BLG recorded 6,941,610 viewers, surpassing the 6,402,760 viewers from the 2023 finals (T1 vs WBG) and 5,147,701 from T1 vs DRX.
The staggering 6,941,610 viewers mark an all-time high in esports! These remarkable figures reflect the growing interest and engagement in LoL esports, even as there are ongoing challenges to discuss.
G2 and Flyquest: A Tale of Regrets and Aspirations
On the Western front, the outlook for both G2 and Flyquest is a mix of disappointment and hope. As the competitions continue to evolve, teams are left to navigate the unpredictable landscape of the Swiss format while striving for recognition and success on the global stage.