On this page, view all the LoL Worlds winners from 2011 to the present. Providing you with details on each of the winning teams and their victories. All of these will go a long way in helping you spot future League of Legends World winners. After all, once you see previous Worlds Winners League of Legends betting gets a lot easier!
The League of Legends World Championship is the biggest event in the LoL competitive scene and perhaps in all of esports. Each championship event crowns a team as LoL World Champion, which means they are the game’s best players. Our list has been updated following the conclusion of the 2022 League of Legends World Championship. In 2023, the event will be held in South Korea.
List of Past League of Legends Worlds Winners
| Year | LoL Worlds Winner | Roster | Region | Prize Money Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Fnatic | xPeke, Cyanide Fl, Shushei, LaMiaZit, Mellian | Europe | $50,000 |
| 2012 | Taipei Assassins | Stanley, Lilballz, Toyz, Bebe, MiSTakE | Taiwan/Hong Kong/Macao | $1,000,000 |
| 2013 | SK Telecom T1 | Impact, bengi, Faker, Piglet, PoohManDu | Korea | $1,000,000 |
| 2014 | Samsung White | Looper, Dandy, PawN, imp, Mata | Korea | $1,000,000 |
| 2015 | SK Telecom T1 | MaRin, Bengi, Faker, Easyhoon, Bang, Wolf | Korea | $1,000,000 |
| 2016 | SK Telecom T1 | Duke, Bengi, Blank, Faker, Bang, Wolf | Korea | $2,028,000 |
| 2017 | Samsung Galaxy | CuVee, Ambition, Haru, Crown, Ruler, CoreJJ | Korea | $1,855,114 |
| 2018 | Invictus Gaming | Duke, TheShy, Ning, Rookie, JackeyLove, Baolan | China | $2,418,750 |
| 2019 | FunPlus Phoenix | GimGoon, Tian, Doinb, Lwx, Crisp | China | $834,375 |
| 2020 | DAMWON Gaming | Nuguri, Canyon, ShowMaker, Ghost, Beryl | Korea | $556,250 |
| 2021 | Edward Gaming | Flandre, JieJie, Scout, Viper, Meiko | China | $489,500 |
| 2022 | DRX | Kingen, Juhan, Pyosik, Zeka, Deft, BeryL | Korea | $489,500 |
| 2023 | T1 | Zeus, Oner, Faker, Gumayusi, Keria | Korea | $486,500 |
League of Legends All Worlds Winners 2011 to Present
Each of the League of Legends World Championship Winners has their own story as elaborated on below.
2011: Fnatic
Fnatic is the first League of Legends Worlds winning team, having won the Season 1 event. The event took place from June 18, 2011, and ran until June 20, 2011. The Season 1 Championship was not on the same scale as later seasons were, nor was it marketed as such.
Nevertheless, fans and pundits consider Fnatic an honorary League Worlds Winners. Fnatic defeated Against All Authority in the final with a 2-1 score. Fnatic got to take home a $99,500 LoL Worlds prize money. The MVP of the game was Maciej “Shushei” Ratuszniak .
2012: Taipei Assassins
The Taipei Assassins were the second LoL World winners crowned when they won the Season 2 championship. The event started on October 4, 2012, and ran until October 13, 2012. The Taipei Assassins are the only team from what is now considered a minor or wild card region to win a World Championship.
Their victory is the biggest underdog success story at any Worlds event. They defeated Azubu Frost in the final with a 3-1 score. The team was rewarded with a $2,000,000 prize pool. No MVP was officially signed.
2013, 2015, 2016: SK Telecom T1
If you’re wondering who has won the most LoL World Championships, the answer is one: T1! Of all of the LoL Worlds qualified teams, SK Telecom T1 is simply the best. SK Telecom T1 (SKT) was crowned LoL Worlds winners the most times out of any team in the scene. They won the Season 3, 2015, and 2016 World winners. They defeated Royal Club, KOO Tigers, and Samsung Galaxy to become League Worlds winners for those three years.
For all three titles, SKT fielded the same mid-laner and jungler: Sang-hyeok “Faker” Lee, heralded as the greatest of all time, and Seong-woong “Bengi” Bae, Faker’s longtime sidekick. The 2013 bottom-lane duo was bot-laner Gwang-jin “Piglet” Chae and support Jeong-hyeon “PoohManDu” Lee. For 2015-2016, the more familiar Jun-sik “Bang” Bae and Jae-wan “Wolf” Lee competed in the bottom lane.
Each championship line-up featured a different top laner. For 2013, it was Eon-young “Impact” Jung. For 2015, it was Gyeong-hwan “MaRin” Jang. For 2016, it was Ho-seong “Duke” Lee.
SK Telecom T1 took home a $2,050,000, $2,130,000, and $5,070,000 prize pool respectively, making them the top-earning team at Worlds. In the 2015 and 2016 matches, the MVPs were MaRin and Faker; there was no MVP at Season 3. So if you are predicting Worlds winners League of Legends teams like this will take some beating!
2014: Samsung White
Samsung White were the winners of the 2014 World Championship. The event ran from September 18, 2014, to October 19, 2014. Samsung White and sister team Samsung Blue were the World Championship’s heavy favorites. 2014 was the height of Korean dominance in the LoL professional scene.
For most pundits, Samsung Blue was the stronger team and the more likely team to win. It was thus a massive surprise when SSW upset SSB in the semi-finals. This came mainly from the two teams’ constant practice against each other, allowing SSW to craft specific strategies tailored to overcoming – what most considered the superior Samsung team.
Samsung White defeated Star Horn Royal Club in the final with a 3-1 score, becoming League Worlds winners. The team took home a $2,130,000 prize pool. The MVP of the event was Mata.
2017: Samsung Galaxy
Samsung Galaxy (SSG) are the winners of the 2017 World Championship. The event ran from September 23, 2017, to November 4, 2017.
SSG was not expected to succeed as much as they did. Considered the weakest of the three LCK representative teams going into Worlds, SSG benefited greatly from the balance changes around the Ardent Censer support item.
This pushed the metagame towards slow, bottom-lane-focused compositions that relied on scaling and late-game teamfighting: a perfect fit for SSG’s playstyle.
SSG defeated SK Telecom T1 with a 3-0 score in the final to join the list of League Worlds Winners. The team took home a $4,596,591 prize pool. The MVP of the event was Ruler.
2018: Invictus Gaming
Invictus Gaming (IG) were the winners of the 2018 World Championships. The event ran from October 1, 2018, to November 3, 2018. IG was a wild card team in the most real sense. The team was famously aggressive with top mechanical talent in all three lanes. The team’s relentless need to fight was a double-edged sword and often cost the team as often as they succeeded.
The metagame at Worlds 2018 favored strong solo laners; IG had the best mid-laner and top-laner in Eui-jin “Rookie” Song and Seung-lok “TheShy” Kang. Coupled with the talented bot-laner Wen-bo “JackeyLove” Yu and an unusually strong performance from jungler Zhen-ning “Ning” Gao, IG took the playoffs by storm.
After an intense best-of-five series against tournament favorite KT Rolster in the quarter-finals, IG summarily stomped all opposition to the trophy. IG defeated Fnatic with a 3-0 score in the final. Thus, substitute top-laner Duke became the fifth player to win two World Championships (after former SKT teammates Faker, Bengi, Bang, and Wolf), although Duke did not play for IG in most of their games.
Invictus Gaming took home a $6,450,000 prize pool. The MVP of the game was Ning.
2019: FunPlus Phoenix
FunPlus Phoenix (FPX) were the winners of the 2019 World winners. The event ran from October 2, 2019, to November 10, 2019. FPX is similar to Samsung Galaxy in that they won with a particular style that happened to fit the metagame. The metagame for Worlds 2019 favored strong team-fighting and objective control to secure victories.
FPX star mid-laner Tae-sang “Doinb” Kim is famous for his unconventional approach to the game. Comparatively lacklustre in mechanical skill, Doinb instead relied on his in-depth game knowledge to gain lane pressure with unconventional picks and strategies.
These tactics, nicknamed Doinb’s “dark technology,” allowed him to roam around the map and bolster his more mechanically talented teammates to get ahead. In the case of 2019 Worlds, Doinb operated alongside jungler Tian-liang “Tian” Gao.
FPX defeated G2 Esports with a 3-0 score in the final. The team took home a $2,200,000 prize pool. The MVP of the game was Tian.
2020: DAMWON Gaming
After two consecutive Chinese Worlds winners, everyone expected an era of LPL dominance for the following years. This, however, did not happen. DWG, the rising stars from the LCK, showed that Korea is still hungry for victory. Following a dominant season in the domestic regions, DWG easily swept through their group, outperforming the other big favorite JDG Gaming.
Not only that, but throughout the whole tournament, they felt unstoppable: first defeating DRX lead by Jeong “Chovy ” Ji-hoon, then eliminating EU’s representative G2 Esports. In the final, they dominated the LPL representative Suning and took their first World Championship of the organization.
2021: Edward Gaming
When it comes to Worlds winners League of Legends can throw up some big surprises. With most people expecting DAMWON Gaming to win a consecutive World Championship, Edward Gaming made a surprising upset in the finals, and they showed that even unlikely teams can become League of Legends all Worlds winners.
They turned the series around, winning Game 4 and 5 to become Worlds winners. Edward Gaming broke their long-lasting curse at the tournament because before 2022, EDG never made it past the quarterfinals. They participated in many editions of Worlds but never looked like a strong contender compared to League of Legends Worlds previous winners.
After winning the LPL Summer Split, EDG slightly hid their strength in groups, finishing in second place behind T1. However, EDG really stepped it up in the elimination bracket. First, they took down their domestic opponent RNG, then they beat the Korean third seed Gen.G, and overcame the Worlds winners. The organization has been dreaming of this success for many years, as they’ve always encountered various hurdles. So while there are some predictable Worlds winners, League of Legends can certainly provide an upset!
Now that they’ve become the second team ever in League history to have won two different international tournaments (Mid-Season Invitational and Worlds), EDG will be the team to watch out for. Their players are in their peak form, and there might not be changes to the roster. We expect them to perform well back in the LPL, as they will want to defend their title next year. For the 3rd time in 4 years, the World Championship has been won by an LPL team. Is this the new era of Chinese dominance? Not really, since Korea had three teams in the semifinals. However, China brought the title back to the country… and that’s all it matters to them.
You should now better understand the history of previous editions of the LoL Worlds and how the winning teams managed to claim their victories. If, on the other hand, you are also looking for more information about the latest standings for the LoL Worlds edition, then we’ve got you covered with our LoL Worlds Power Rankings.
2022: DRX
Coming into Worlds 2022, no one expected DRX to make it to the group stage, let alone to become winners. Yet, they proved to everyone that miracles do exist and that sometimes you just have to believe in yourself and get some luck on your side.
DRX had what will likely be the most incredible run in League of Legends history. Before the end of the LCK Summer Split, the team was on the brink of missing out on Worlds completely. They finished sixth in playoffs and had to go through the LCK Regional Gauntlet, where they beat Liiv SANDBOX to snatch the fourth seed at Worlds.
Even then, DRX was just seen as an average team that would fight to get into the group stage of the main event. At the start of the tournament, though, DRX immediately made a surprising showing, taking down the LPL team RNG and going undefeated in the play-ins, instantly locking their seed into Group C.
Despite sharing the group with strong teams like Top Esports, as well as LEC first seed Rogue and VCS first seed GAM Esports, DRX ended first in groups with a 4-2 score and were set for at least a top 8 finish at Worlds. When drawn against the 2021 World Champions EDward Gaming, most fans thought it would be the end for them… but they survived.
DRX shocked everyone when they sent home EDG, completing one of the very few reverse sweeps in Worlds history. They did it in a convincing way and headed into the semifinals as the ultimate underdogs, as the hype was building up for them.
Once again, they were met with another big hurdle: the Korean first seed Gen.G Esports. But DRX was ready. Against one of the big favorites of the tournament, DRX took down Gen.G 3-1 in dominant fashion and headed to the finals against the other LCK and legendary team T1 led by Faker.
On the one hand, T1 and Faker were looking to get their fourth Worlds title. On the other, DRX were about to make the most insane run in esports history. DRX’s ADC Deft never had Faker’s success in his career, despite starting at the same age: this was his first-ever Worlds Finals and probably the “last dance”.
In what was probably one of the closest Worlds Finals ever, the goddess of victory chose DRX. With back-and-forth games, multiple baron and dragon steals and some desperate decision-making, the 2022 Worlds Championship Finals had everything. And it culminated with the completion of the most epic underdog story.
Deft lifted his first World Championship trophy alongside three young talents in their first international tournament. At the same time, BeryL has become one of the few players to have won Worlds on two different teams, as he’s in talks to become the greatest support in League history.
2023: T1
As the Worlds Championship approached in 2023, T1 was not considered a favorite. Despite being a prominent team, they did not secure the top seed in the LCK, and their fan base held reservations about their chances. However, T1 possessed a relentless drive to succeed, a fervent commitment to rectify their errors, and an unwavering ambition to be recognized as the world’s best team.
During the Swiss stage, T1 once again faced their formidable rival, Gen.G, the LCK’s top seed. In a twist of fate, T1 was defeated, yet the tournament’s format meant this would be their only encounter with Gen.G for the time being. This defeat only seemed to fuel T1’s determination, as they effortlessly overcame subsequent opponents such as Cloud 9 and Bilibili Gaming. Riding this wave of momentum, T1 advanced confidently to the Knockout stage.
In an unexpected turn of events during the Knockout stage, Bilibili Gaming ousted Gen.G, clearing a path for T1. T1 faced LNG Esports, considered one of the weaker teams from the LPL, in a match where they were not overwhelmingly favored to win. Nevertheless, T1’s resounding 3-0 victory sent a clear message of their intent to reach the finals.
The semifinals presented T1 with a formidable challenge against JDG, matchup analysts predicted to be highly competitive, second only to a clash with Gen.G. The games were a spectacle, with no clear leader emerging until the latter stages. T1’s 3-1 victory, while seemingly straightforward on paper, was hard-fought and instrumental in boosting their confidence for the final challenge.
The finals showcased a classic LCK vs LPL showdown: T1 versus Weibo Gaming. T1, in a display of sheer dominance, crushed Weibo Gaming in all three matches winning their fourth Championship and affirming their status as one of 2023’s premier League of Legends teams.
Further bolstering their prospects, very soon after the event T1 announced the retention of their current roster, signaling an exciting year ahead in 2024. For esports enthusiasts, the T1 dynasty is far from over—it’s just getting started.
All LoL Worlds MVPs to Date
The League of Legends World Championship has seen some of the most spectacular performances in esports history. A crucial aspect of this annual event is the recognition of the Most Valuable Player (MVP). This accolade is awarded to the player who demonstrates exceptional skill, strategy, and leadership throughout the tournament.
Below is a list of all the LoL Worlds MVPs to date.
| 2011 MVP | Shushei | Known for his aggressive and innovative playstyle, Fnatic's Shushei's performance in the inaugural season set a high standard for future MVPs. |
| 2012 MVP | N/A | N/A |
| 2013 MVP | N/A | N/A |
| 2014 MVP | Mata | As the strategic mastermind behind Samsung White's victory, Mata's vision control and shot-calling were pivotal in their success. |
| 2015 MVP | MaRin | Dominating the top lane, MaRin's exceptional gameplay and leadership skills were instrumental in SK Telecom T1's triumph. |
| 2016 MVP | Faker | Often regarded as the best player in the history of LoL, SK Telecom T1's Faker's unparalleled skill and tactical genius earned him the MVP title. |
| 2017 MVP | Ruler | With his remarkable consistency and clutch plays, Ruler was a key factor in Samsung Galaxy's path to victory. |
| 2018 MVP | Ning | Ning's aggressive jungling and game-changing plays were crucial for Invictus Gaming's dominance throughout the tournament. |
| 2019 MVP | Tian | Tian's adaptability and impressive performances in the jungle were central to >b>FunPlus Phoenix's overwhelming success. |
| 2020 MVP | Canyon | Known for his versatile champion pool and strategic acumen, Canyon played a vital role in DAMWON Gaming's championship run. |
| 2021 MVP | Scout | Scout's exceptional mid-lane play and ability to control the pace of the game were key in EDward Gaming's victory. |
| 2022 MVP | Kingen | Kingen's outstanding performance, particularly in high-pressure situations, was critical for DRX's unexpected championship win against favorites T1. |
| 2023 MVP | Zeus | Zeus, with his dominant laning phase and teamfight prowess, was instrumental in T1's success. |
These player’s contributions extend beyond individual skill, encapsulating the essence of teamwork, strategic thinking, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. As LoL continues to evolve and grow, the legacy of these LoL Worlds MVPs will remain a source of inspiration and a benchmark for future generations of players.
Learning from the Past League of Legends Worlds Winners
Not only is it interesting to take a look back over the previous winners, but such information can help you make your predictions on the Worlds League of Legends winners in the future.
See also: Best bookmakers for LoL Worlds
After all, we must remember that SK Telecom T1 became the winner four times, and such information should always be factored into your Worlds LoL betting. So here are some simple tips you can use to try and predict the next Worlds winners:
- Backing the favourites to be the League of Legends all Worlds winners: Sometimes there’s an out, and our favourite who dominates the Worlds power rankings, and these teams should not be ignored. So keep an eye on those teams who are looking unstoppable in their bid to be League of Legends Worlds winners.
- Spotting the dark horse among the Worlds winners each year: In every LoL Worlds iteration, there seems to be one team who shocks the esports world with the quality of their performance. You only have to look at when Edward Gaming became one of the League of Legends Worlds winners for a great example of this. So factor in those dark horses when analysing all LoL Worlds winners.
- Can an underdog be among the League of Legends Worlds winners: Remember when Fnatic became one of the Worlds League of Legends winners? Such an event shows that the impossible can happen, and it’s well worth considering the next time you try to predict the next Worlds League of Legends winners. After all, once you know your Worlds winners’ history, you’ll know what might be possible this time around. Plus, you’ll get much more back from the LoL Worlds betting odds if you back a rank outsider!
- Analyse the region of League of Legends all Worlds winners: Most Worlds League of Legends winners have been from China or Korea. Such information about League of Legends Worlds past winners should be factored in when predicting future League of Legends Worlds winners. However, this isn’t to say that no League of Legends all Worlds winners won’t ever come from somewhere like LCS!
Now that we have revealed these tricks to you, all you have to do is try to guess the winners of the next LoL World Championship, perhaps by listening to one of the LoL Worlds songs.
