With the Draw Show hosted after the LCS Summer Finals, we finally know the fates of our Play-in and Group Stage participants.
Worlds 2022 groups and play-ins seeding
As always there are 24 teams playing for the trophy in the Worlds 2022 that will be held in North America. 12 of these teams will start their journeys in the Play-in stage with the hopes of qualifying for the main event. With the LCL not attending Worlds 2022 due to the current events in the region, their spot was given to LEC. So the EU will have two Play-in representatives.
Play-in Teams
- China (LPL) – 4th Seed
- Korea (LCK) – 4th Seed
- Europe (LEC) – 3rd and 4th Seed
- North America (LCS) – 3rd Seed
- Southeast Asia (PCS) – 2nd Seed
- Vietnam (VCS) – 2nd Seed
- Brazil (CBLOL) – 1st Seed
- Japan (LJL) – 1st Seed
- Latin America (LLA) – 1st Seed
- Oceania (LCO) -1st Seed
- Turkey (TCL) – 1st Seed
For the Draw Show, these 12 teams will be separated into three pools. These pools will then be sorted into two groups of six, each pool sending two teams to each group. No two teams from the same region can be drawn into the same group, which only affects EU as they are the only region with two Play-in teams.
- Pool 1: RNG (LPL4), DRX (LCK4), Fnatic (LEC3), Beyond Gaming (PCS2)
- Pool 2: MAD Lions (LEC4), Evil Geniuses (LCS3), Saigon Buffalo (VCS2), DetonatioN FM (LJL1)
- Pool 3: Chiefs Esports (LCO1), Istanbul Wildcats (TCL1), Isurus (LLA1), LOUD (CBLOL1)
Group Stage Teams
- China (LPL) – 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Seeds
- Korea (LCK) – 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Seeds
- Europe (LEC) – 1st and 2nd Seeds
- North America (LCS) – 1st and 2nd Seeds
- Southeast Asia (PCS) – 1st Seed
- Vietnam (VCS) – 1st Seed
- Four teams qualified from the Play-ins
For the Group Stage draw, the remaining 12 teams will be divided into three pools, based on prior performances of their regions, and then sorted into four groups. According to Riot, “the winners from the Play-In Stage will be drawn directly into each of the four groups once Play-Ins concludes and will not be part of the Draw Show.”
As always, and like Play-ins, no team will be drawn into a group with another team from their own region. The only exception to this rule is the two EU Play-in teams. Riot recently put out a press release saying if both teams get out of the Play-in stage, the 4th EU seed will not be subject to this rule.
- Pool 1: JD Gaming (LPL1), Gen.G (LCK1), Rogue (LEC1), Cloud9 (LCS1)
- Pool 2: Top Esports (LPL2), T1 (LCK2), G2 Esports (LEC2), CTBC Flying Oyster (PCS1)
- Pool 3: EDward Gaming (LPL3), DWG Kia (LCK3), 100 Thieves (LCS2), GAM Esports (VCS1)
Worlds 2022 play-in and main event groups
Play-ins
Group A
- Fnatic
- Beyond Gaming
- Detonation Focus Me
- Evil Geniuses
- LOUD
- Chiefs Esports Club
Group B
- DRX
- Royal Never Give Up
- Saigon Buffalo
- MAD Lions
- Istanbul Wildcats
- Isurus
Main Event
Group A
- Cloud9
- T1
- EDward Gaming
- TBD
Group B
- JD Gaming
- G2 Esports
- DWG Kia
- TBD
Group C
- Rogue
- Top Esports
- GAM Esports
- TBD
Group D
- Gen.G
- CTBC Flying Oyster
- 100 Thieves
- TBD
Worlds 2022 schedule
- Play-Ins: September 29-October 4 at the Arena Esports Stadium at Artz Pedregal in Mexico City, Mexico;
- Groups: October 7-10 and October 13-16 at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York City;
- Quarterfinals: October 20-23 at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York City;
- Semifinals: October 29-30 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia;
- Finals: November 5 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California.
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