Get ready to defy all odds, the 2023 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational will begin May 2! Here’s all you need to know about the competition - and how to collect some sweet MSI merch.
The Official Rules of the 2023 Mid-Season Invitational can be found [here][1].
**What is the Mid-Season Invitational?**
The Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) is the first international competition of the annual LoL Esports calendar. MSI is an opportunity to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of teams and regions at the midway point of the season. Representatives from each of the nine regions will battle it out for a shot at the MSI title. The event moves between host regions each year; this year, teams will compete in London, United Kingdom.
This year’s creative theme is “DEFY.” A bold resistance against one’s own limitations. A refusal to give into the naysayers. MSI is the arena where champions will defy what the world thinks of their region. The first step toward greatness is to push beyond the limits and show up with a spirit of DEFIANCE.
**When is MSI happening?**
MSI has two stages: the Play-In Stage (May 2-7) and the Bracket Stage (May 9-14, May 16-21).
Play-In Stage (All matches begin at 5 a.m. PST / 1 p.m. GMT unless otherwise noted)
- Tuesday, May 2
- Wednesday, May 3
- Thursday, May 4
- Friday, May 5
- Saturday, May 6 - 4 a.m. PST / 12 p.m. GMT
- Sunday, May 7 - 4 a.m. PST / 12 p.m. GMT
Bracket Stage (All matches begin at 5 a.m. PST / 1 p.m. GMT unless otherwise noted)
- Tuesday, May 9
- Wednesday, May 10
- Thursday, May 11
- Friday, May 12
- Saturday, May 13 - 4 a.m. PST / 12 p.m. GMT
- Sunday, May 14 - 4 a.m. PST / 12 p.m. GMT
- Tuesday, May 16
- Wednesday, May 17
- Thursday, May 18
- Friday, May 19
- Saturday, May 20 - 4 a.m. PST / 12 p.m. GMT
- (Finals) Sunday, May 21 - 4 a.m. PST / 12 p.m. GMT
**Where will MSI take place?**
The tournament will take place in the Copper Box Arena in London, United Kingdom. London is more than 1,900 years old with 9 million people living within its borders, making it the largest metropolis in the UK. Copper Box Arena played host to the 2012 Summer Olympics as well as a multitude of esports tournaments throughout its 10-year history.
**What’s the format?**
[1]: https://cmsassets.rgpub.io/sanity/files/dsfx7636/news_live/96b920d226d09d3c875711aeaac0214975636d56.pdf
PLAY-IN STAGE: The Play-Ins creates a field where the best team from the five smaller regions and the No. 2 seeds from the LPL, LCS, and LEC will fight for three spots in the Bracket Stage. It will kick off with the eight teams being split into two best-of-3, double-elimination brackets. As these brackets play out, the two teams that go 2-0 will advance directly to the Bracket Stage. The two teams that go 0-2 and the two teams that finish 1-2 will be eliminated from MSI. The two teams that finish 2-1 and win the lower bracket in their group will play each other in a best-of-5 series, with the winner advancing to the Bracket Stage and the loser being eliminated.
*NOTE: In 2023, the No 2. seed from the LCK will advance straight into the Bracket Stage, as an LCK team won the 2022 World Championship.*
BRACKET STAGE: The Bracket Stage will see eight teams face off in a double elimination, best-of-five bracket. This will include the three winners of Play-Ins, along with LEC1, LCS1, LPL1, LCK1, and LCK2. Bracket Stage matchups will be drawn following the conclusion of the Play-In Stage.
**Which teams are competing?**
This year, the teams competing from each of the different regions are:
**CHINA – LPL**
JDG Intel Esports Club (JDG)
Bilibili Gaming Pingan Bank (BLG)
**KOREA – LCK**
Gen.G (GEN)
T1 (T1)
**EUROPE – LEC**
MAD Lions (MAD)
G2 Esports (G2)
**NORTH AMERICA – LCS**
Cloud9 (C9)
Golden Guardians (GG)
**ASIA PACIFIC – PCS**
PSG Talon (PSG)
**BRAZIL – CBLOL**
LOUD (LLL)
**JAPAN – LJL**
Detonation FocusMe (DFM)
**LATIN AMERICA – LLA**
Movistar R7 (R7)
**VIETNAM – VCS**
GAM Esports (GAM)
**How do I watch?**
In-person: Tickets for MSI 2023 can be purchased online! Tickets are [available now.][1]
Virtual: You can catch every match on [lolesports.com][2].
**Inkshadow Event Pass and MSI 2023 Esports Premium Bundle**
This year, players will have more ways than ever to support the teams they love! 25% of the proceeds for the Inkshadow Event Pass and Inkshadow Yasuo will go to the prize pool.
We are also launching a new bundle called the MSI 2023 Esports Premium Bundle that includes the event pass, Inkshadow Yasuo, an exclusive Inkshadow Yasuo chroma, and an exclusive emote. 50% of the proceeds from that bundle will be contributed to the prize pool. More details regarding the event pass and the esports bundle will be released April 27!
**MSI Merchandise**
Rooted in the theme of DEFIANCE, 2023 marks the first year that Riot has produced a complete apparel capsule for MSI! The drop features a variety of tops and accessories for players to celebrate this year’s first international LoL Esports competition, taking heavy influence from core design elements of both the MSI brand and the soon-to-be-released Inkshadow skinline. For those who can't attend the event in person, the MSI 2023 Collection will be available online for a limited time beginning April 25.
- NA/EU: [merch.riotgames.com][3]
- KR: [https://www.leagueoflegends.co.kr/?m=riot-store][4]
- CN: [https://leagueoflegends.tmall.com/][5]
[1]: http://axs.com/lolmsi2023
[2]: https://watch.lolesports.com
[3]: https://merch.riotgames.com/en-us/
[4]: https://www.leagueoflegends.co.kr/?m=riot-store
[5]: https://leagueoflegends.tmall.com/
