Whether it’s your first time watching an international esports event or you just want a quick overview of what to expect at the 2018 Mid-Season Invitational, here’s your guide to the upcoming tournament:

What is the 2018 Mid-Season Invitational?

The 2018 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) is an international League of Legends tournament. 14 regions will participate by sending their most recent split champion (Spring Split or Split 1) to face off against other regional champions in a fight for the title of ‘MSI Champion.’

This year MSI will be taking place in Europe (Berlin and Paris specifically). Previous Mid-Season Invitational tournaments have taken place in China, North America, and Brazil.

Who is playing at MSI 2018?

The teams, regions and corresponding leagues that will be competing at MSI 2018 are as follows:

• CBLOL’s KaBum! e-Sports – Brazil (BR)
• CLS’s Kaos Latin Gamers – Latin America South (LAS)
• EU LCS’s Fnatic – Europe (EU)
• GPL’s Ascension Gaming – Thailand, Southeast Asia Region (SEA)
• LCK’s Kingzone DragonX – Korea (KR)
• LCL’s Gambit Esports – Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
• LJL’s PENTAGRAM – Japan (JPN)
• LLN’s Rainbow7 – Latin America North (LAN)
• LMS’s Flash Wolves – Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau (LMS)
• LPL’s (TBD) – China (CH) – Regional finals on 4/28
• NA LCS’s Team Liquid – North America (NA)
• OPL’s Dire Wolves – Oceania (OCE)
• TCL’s BAUSuperMassive – Turkey (TUR)
• VCS’s EVOS Esports – Vietnam (VN)

What are they playing for?

The title of MSI Champion and the corresponding trophy, medals, prize pool, and glory that comes with victory on the global stage.

25% of the total sales from the 2018 Conqueror skins will contribute to the MSI 2018 prize pool. Conqueror Varus and the 2018 Conqueror Ward will be available in the store from April 26, 2018 through May 20, 2018.

The total MSI prize pool will be made up of a base of $250,000, coupled with 25% of the total sale of Conqueror Varus and Ward skins, which is guaranteed to be at least $750,000, for a total prize pool of at least $1 million.    

Here’s how it’s broken down by team placement at MSI 2018:

• Champion: 38.5%
• 2nd Place: 19.5%
• 3rd/4th Place: 9.75% each
• 5th/6th Place: 5% each
• 7th/8th Place: 2.5% each
• 9th/10th Place: 1.5% each
• 11th/12th Place: 1.25% each
• 13th/14th Place: 1% each

In addition to prize pool, competing teams will also receive compensation based on sales of their in-game emotes. 30% of each MSI team emote purchased between May 1st, 2018 and May 20th, 2018 will go directly to that team.

As with last year, the results of MSI will impact where regions are seeded for the 2018 World Championship.

What’s the format of MSI 2018?

The tournament has three different phases:

• Play-In Stage
• Group Stage
• Knockout Stage

Play-In Stage

The play-in stage takes place in Berlin at the EU LCS Studio starting on May 3. Ten teams will participate in the Play-In. Eight teams will play in Round 1, while the top two seeded teams, Flash Wolves from LMS and EVOS from VCS, will be automatically advanced to Round 2. The participating teams are as follows:

• CBLOL’s KaBum! e-Sports – Brazil (BR)
• CLS’s Kaos Latin Gamers – Latin America South (LAS)
• GPL’s Ascension Gaming – Thailand, Southeast Asia Region (SEA)
• LCL’s Gambit Esports – Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
• LJL’s PENTAGRAM – Japan (JPN)
• LLN’s Rainbow7 – Latin America North (LAN)
• LMS’s Flash Wolves – Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau (LMS)- Round 1 bye, starts in Round 2
• OPL’s Dire Wolves – Oceania (OCE)
• TCL’s BAUSuperMassive – Turkey (TUR)
• VCS’s EVOS Esports – Vietnam (VN)- Round 1 bye, starts in Round 2

Group Stage

The group stage will also take place in Berlin at the EU LCS Studio starting on May 11. Two teams from the Play-In Stage will advance to take on the most recent champions from Europe, China, Korea, and North America. The format remains the same as last year, with the six teams competing in a Best of 1 double round robin, which means every team will play each other twice.

• EU LCS’s Fnatic – Europe (EU)
• LCK’s Kingzone DragonX – Korea (KR)
• LPL’s (TBD) – China (CH) – Regional finals on 4/28
• NA LCS’s Team Liquid – North America (NA)
• Play-In Winner: Group A
• Play-in Winner: Group B

Knockout Stage

The knockout stage takes place in Paris, France at the Zénith Paris – La Villette starting on May 18. As with last year, the top four teams from the Group Stage will advance to a Best of 5 bracket.

When is MSI happening? How can I watch?

Play-In Stage

• Round 1 Dates: May 3 – May 6
• Round 2 Dates: May 8 – May 9
• Location: EU LCS Studio in Berlin

Group Stage

• Dates: May 10- May 15
• Location: EU LCS Studio in Berlin

Knockout Stage

• Dates: May 18 – May 20
• Location: Zénith Paris – La Villette in Paris, France

The MSI 2018 broadcast begins at the following times and will be streamed on Lolesports:

• Play-in Stage Day 1: May 3, 1 PM CEST (4 AM PT)
• Play-in Stage Day 2: May 4, 1 PM CEST (4 AM PT)
• Play-in Stage Day 3: May 5, 11 AM CEST (2 AM PT)
• Play-in Stage Day 4: May 6, 11 AM CEST (2 AM PT)
• Play-in Stage Day 5: May 8, 1 PM CEST (4 AM PT)
• Play-in Stage Day 6: May 9, 1 PM CEST (4 AM PT)

• Group Stage Day 1: May 11, 11 AM CEST (2 AM PT)
• Group Stage Day 2: May 12, 11 AM CEST (2 AM PT)
• Group Stage Day 3: May 13, 11 AM CEST (2 AM PT)
• Group Stage Day 4: May 14, 11 AM CEST (2 AM PT)
• Group Stage Day 5: May 15, 11 AM CEST (2 AM PT)
• Knockout Stage Day 1: May 18, 12 PM CEST (3 AM PT)
• Knockout Stage Day 2: May 19, 12 PM CEST (3 AM PT)
• Knockout Stage Day 3: May 20, 12 PM CEST (3 AM PT)

What are the rules for MSI 2018?

We’ve been working closely with all the regional leagues in advance of MSI 2018 to give them time to understand and comply with the ruleset. 

What’s happening in-game for MSI 2018?

Learn more about the in-game offerings and how you can support your region on the rift here.

Stay tuned to Lolesports to see who will Make History at MSI 2018. The battle begins with the opening match of the Play-In Stage on Thursday, May 3 at 4 AM PT.