The League of Legends (LoL) World Championship, more commonly known as Worlds, is the pinnacle of competitive League of Legends. Its first iteration took place in 2011, and since then, it has evolved into one of the most prestigious annual esports tournaments.
In League of Legends Worlds, the top teams from every region compete for the honor of becoming the year’s World Champion. Over the years, Worlds has given fans unforgettable rivalries, legendary plays, and dynasties that shaped the history of esports. Let’s take a look at how far Worlds has impacted the whole esports scene.
Complete List of Winners (Year-by-Year)
The LoL competitive scene has evolved through the years, with teams and organizations sending their roster to compete. Here is a quick year-by-year summary of every Worlds Champion, their finals opponent, region, and series score.
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Region | Final Score |
| 2011 | Fnatic | aAa (Against All Authority) | LEC (Europe) | 2-1 |
| 2012 | Taipei Assassins | Azubu Frost | LMS (Taiwan/HK/Macau) | 3-1 |
| 2013 | SK Telecom T1 | Royal Club | LCK (Korea) | 3-0 |
| 2014 | Samsung White | Star Horn Royal Club | LCK (Korea) | 3-1 |
| 2015 | SK Telecom T1 | KOO Tigers | LCK (Korea) | 3-1 |
| 2016 | SK Telecom T1 | Samsung Galaxy | LCK (Korea) | 3-2 |
| 2017 | Samsung Galaxy | SK Telecom T1 | LCK (Korea) | 3-0 |
| 2018 | Invictus Gaming | Fnatic | LPL (China) | 3-0 |
| 2019 | FunPlus Phoenix | G2 Esports | LPL (China) | 3-0 |
| 2020 | DAMWON Gaming | Suning | LCK (Korea) | 3-1 |
| 2021 | EDward Gaming | DWG KIA | LPL (China) | 3-2 |
| 2022 | DRX | T1 | LCK (Korea) | 3-2 |
| 2023 | T1 | Weibo Gaming | LCK (Korea) | 3-0 |
| 2024 | T1 | Gen.G | LCK (Korea) | 3-1 |
| 2025 | T1 | Top Esports | LCK (Korea) | 3-2 |
Regional Dominance
Korea reigns supreme in all regions in Worlds. When it comes to League of Legends teams, no one can come close to how this region continues to dominate the tournament and the game. While other regions have produced champions too, their number hasn’t matched the ones from Korea.
LCK (South Korea) – 10 titles (67%)
The LCK reigns supreme with unmatched consistency and excellence. Their dynasty began in 2013, with their players showing exceptional plays and strategies, which led them to set the standard for macro play, discipline, and innovation. T1 alone marked six titles under their banner, cementing South Korea’s display of dominance as the home of competitive LoL. It is also where the considered GOAT came from, namely Faker.
LPL (China) – 4 titles
Second to South Korea when it comes to the number of Worlds titles is the LPL, which is the league from China. They emerged as a global powerhouse in 2018, bringing a faster, more aggressive playstyle that challenged Korea’s control-oriented meta. Teams such as Invictus Gaming, FunPlus Phoenix, and EDward Gaming put China on the map of the greatest professional LoL regions.
LEC (Europe) – 1 title (2011)
Currently, one team from the European region has emerged as the champion in LoL. Fnatic not just became a world champion, but they were the first and inaugural Worlds champion. This legacy has shaped the region’s competitive drive, making it a finals contender in some years. Still, they are in the hunt for their second Worlds title
LMS (Taiwan/HK/Macau) – 1 title (2012)
Just like LEC, the LMS region produced one world champion team – in the form of Azubu Frost. This was the team that followed Fnatic’s reign and became the second Worlds champion, as well as the first champion who fought in a best-of-five match series in the finals.
Iconic Teams and Players
Through the years, Worlds has been a stage where some of the greatest esports players were born, as well as creating moments that will forever be etched in the history of League of Legends tournaments.
T1 Dynasty
No name is more synonymous with greatness than T1. With six Worlds titles (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023–2025), the organization gave meaning to what it meant to establish excellence and pure dominance in LoL.
The face of the franchise, Faker, is the only five-time Worlds winner so far, as well as the player with the most Finals MVPs in history. All of these led to cementing him as the GOAT of professional League of Legends esports. Their three-peat is also the first in history, establishing the organization as a staple in Worlds.
Standouts
Aside from Faker, other players also made their own marks and legacies in the landscape of the LoL esports scene. This includes:
- Bengi – 3x champion and the legendary jungle player who played a big part behind T1’s early success
- Mata – 2014 Finals MVP and carried Samsung White to their championship win.
- TheShy – 2018 star who shaped the top lane aggression
- Deft – the catalyst of 2022’s miracle comeback win of DRX
- Zeus – 2023 Finals MVP, who is now leading T1’s new generation to dominance
Memorable Moments and Fun Facts
Worlds has created many exciting and memorable moments over the years. From surprise underdog wins to big finals streaks and fun records, these highlights show why the tournament is so special.
Underdogs
Fans truly love a Cinderella story, and Worlds created some of that. 2022 Worlds champion DRX went all the way from the Play-In Stage, then later on entered the Group Stage as the 4th seed. But it didn’t stop the team from winning after climbing through, eventually beating T1 in the finals to become the champion.
As for the 2012 Worlds champion Taipei Assassins, they came all the way as a Wildcard team entering the competition. But with their exceptional drafting, the team managed to make it all the way to the finals, defeating Azubu Frost and being hailed as the champion.
Finals Streaks
In the finals of Worlds, a 3-0 sweep has happened a total of five times currently. The last team so far to do so was T1 in 2023 after facing Weibo Gaming. As for the finals matches that were stretched to 3-2, it has currently happened four times, with T1 being the recent team to do it.
Uniform Curse
Since 2014, League of Legends Worlds winners have alternated between black and white uniforms. This pattern continued in 2025, with T1 winning while wearing their black-themed jersey.
Records
Worlds’ peak viewership was in 2024 after listing six million concurrent viewers in the finals. As for Faker, he has become the oldest player to win a championship in Worlds at the age of 28.
Legacy and Future
Over 15 years, Worlds has grown from a small competitive gathering into a global esports spectacle. The Summoner’s Cup, which is the coveted trophy given to the champions, cemented its legacy as one of the most prized artifacts in the history of esports.
Overall, the LoL tournament’s influence extends beyond the league. Today, it is a symbol of excellence and innovation. The League of Legends World Championship continues to define what it means to achieve greatness.
