Fans praise 2024 League of Legends MSI for fast forward and exciting season

The 2024 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) has concluded, leaving the fans with unforgettable memories. Many are hailing this MSI as the best, largely due to a significant format change.

This year, the tournament introduced a highly requested double-elimination playoff system. This format, along with a faster turnaround between each series and the reduction of 'civil war' matchups between regions, greatly improved the viewing experience. 

On the League subreddit, fans highlighted the differences between this MSI and last year’s World Championships. The World Championships had seven best-of-five series over three weeks, while MSI delivered 14 full series in just 12 days. Fans appreciated the double-elimination format and the minimal downtime, noting that the lengthy wait between matches during the World Championship diminished the excitement.

What are the challenges of the new format?

There was initial scepticism regarding the lack of a significant advantage for teams entering the grand final from the upper bracket. While some still support the idea of a bracket reset, most fans were satisfied that the faster format naturally disadvantaged lower-bracket teams due to their busy schedule. 

For instance, Bilibili Gaming’s lower-bracket run was more challenging due to a packed timetable. One fan mentioned that if the playoffs were extended over four weeks, lower-bracket teams would have more rest, arguing that a shorter double-elimination format benefits upper-bracket teams.

Additionally, the group draw minimized inter-regional matchups, allowing for a broader spotlight on various regions. Fans appreciated the improved balance compared to previous tournaments. The quality of this MSI was praised, with each region having notable moments. 

Highlights included G2’s surprising victory over Top Esports and Team Liquid’s impressive win against EU rivals and their competitive series against T1. The primary obstacle to adopting this format for the World Championships is the logistical challenge of venue changes between playoff stages. 

Riot Games typically hosts single-elimination finals in multiple venues, culminating in a grand finale in a large arena. This setup requires extended breaks between games, which makes a busier schedule difficult. Despite this, fans are urging Riot to consider a tighter schedule. While significant changes to the Worlds format are unlikely this season, the success and record viewership of this year’s MSI suggests that changes to the League’s biggest event may be on the horizon.