League of Legends: Every Worlds champion crowned

The League of Legends World Championships are – on the time of writing – presently underway in China. The annual match– also referred to as LoL Worlds or League of Legends Worlds – is a big occasion for the League of Legends neighborhood in addition to esports typically. 

Yearly, one group takes dwelling the Summoners Cup trophy together with a big quantity of prize cash (although the precise quantity modifications yearly). We’re going to be each single group that has gained the League of Legends Worlds match, the defining moments, and the way a lot they earned.

The League of Legends World Championship started in June 2011, two years after League of Legends was launched. Organised by Riot Video games, the match has change into massively prestigious through the years. Not solely is it extremely widespread, with its peak viewership reaching 99.6 million viewers in 2018, however it is usually hailed as an elite occasion that’s extremely revered in esports. 

The match has been identified to be an emotional journey for gamers and followers alike. It brings collectively the League of Legends neighborhood in a single epic competitors the place reminiscences are made and desires come true for a choose few, making for a really thrilling and galvanizing skilled gaming match. 

Let’s dive into the successful groups of every League of Legends World Championship for the reason that match started in 2011. The data relating to the prize pool and the winners’ takings has been compiled from EsportsEarnings and Liquipedia League of Legends. 

The very first LoL Worlds victory went to Fnatic, who took dwelling a money prize of $50,000 from the prize pool of $100,000. These have been the early days {of professional} aggressive League of Legends, so there have been solely eight groups taking part. 

Fnatic beat the European group Towards All Authority to take dwelling the win. The MVP of the match was Maciej “Shushei” Ratuszniak, who tragically passed away in April 2025 from most cancers. Fnatic’s victory stays as a option to keep in mind the place LoL Worlds began, but additionally as a memorial to Shushei and the affect on the aggressive LoL scene from the very starting. 

The Taipei Assassins shocked the LoL neighborhood with its win in 2012, surpassing expectations and beating the likes of China and Korea to win for the small LMS area (Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau). The underdog group beat its Korean rivals – Azubu Frost – to win the match. 

This was not solely a groundbreaking win, but additionally one which set the stage for the longer term huge price range LoL Worlds, because it was the primary match to be a full manufacturing held on a reside stage as a serious occasion. There was additionally a serious improve to each the prize pool and the winnings taken by the victors. The prize pool was upped to $2,000,000, with the winners taking $1,000,000. 

Get used to the identify T1, you’re going to listen to it loads on this record. Led by a then-rookie, 17-year-old Faker, SK Telecom T1 was the primary win for what would change into probably the most dominant League of Legends champions on the planet. The group gained $1,000,000 from the marginally elevated prize pool of $2,050,000.

Although not favourites, the group pushed via and have been capable of win through a 3-0 sweep towards China’s Royal Membership. Not solely was this one other nice underdog story, nevertheless it was additionally the primary look for Faker, who would go on to change into the face of League of Legends and one of the crucial famend esports gamers on the planet. 

The Samsung White group’s victory in 2014 is commonly considered one of the crucial dominant runs within the historical past of LoL Worlds. Within the group levels of the competitors, Samsung White went 6-0 in a fully unimaginable run that proved simply how gifted the group was. 

They went on to attain 2-0 within the quarter-finals and clinched victory with a 3-1 victory over China’s Star Horn Royal Membership. The winnings have been just like the earlier years, with Samsung White taking dwelling $1,000,000 from a prize pool of $2,130,000.

The SK Telecom T1 group returned to LoL Worlds with one other super victory in 2015. The group have been beginning to really set up itself as a power to be reckoned with at this level, as its teamwork, synergy, and coordination have been second to none.

Faker additionally proved that he was a grasp within the mid-lane, in a position to make use of varied champions, reminiscent of Viktor and LeBlanc, to change up ways when mandatory. The group claimed victory towards fellow Korean group KOO Tigers with a 3-1 win. The prize pool was precisely the identical because the earlier yr, because the group took dwelling $1,000,000 from a pool of $2,130,000. 

The 2016 match noticed the primary consecutive win for SK Telecom T1. At this level, they have been firmly established as the most effective of the most effective within the League of Legends esports neighborhood. The group composition remained the identical because the earlier yr, with Faker, Bang, Bengi, MaRin and Wolf as soon as once more coming collectively underneath the tutelage of coach Kim Jeong-gyun (also referred to as kkOma). 

The ultimate match between SK Telecom T1 and fellow Korean group Samsung Galaxy was fierce, and it appeared like T1 would go dwelling with out the trophy after a shaky begin. Nonetheless, comebacks from Faker and Bang together with robust co-ordination throughout the board led to that eventual, hard-earned win. The prize pool was a lot larger this time round, as have been the groups successful. From a pool of $5,070,000, the group took dwelling $2,028,000.

The next yr, Samsung Galaxy went face-to-face with SK Telecom T1 as soon as once more, and this time, received the win. Not solely did they defeat the two-time consecutive winners, however they did so in a complete 3-0 sweep. This clean-cut victory proved that Samsung Galaxy was simply as competent, simply standing robust towards T1 and ending its dominance (in the meanwhile). Though the prize pool was rather less in 2017 – $4,596,591– the winnings for Samsung Galaxy have been extra, because the group took dwelling $2,100,000. 

Invictus Gaming managed to beat the very first winners of the LoL World Championships (Fnatic) in 2018 to change into the primary Chinese language group to assert the Summoner’s Cup. This win broke the agency maintain that Korean groups had within the LoL esports aggressive scene, which had lasted from 2013 till this win in 2018. The prize pool and the winners’ takings elevated in 2018, with a prize pool of $6,450,000 and Invictus Gaming taking $2,400,000. 

China continued its successful streak in 2019 with a victory from the Chinese language LoL esports group FunPlus Phoenix. This win proved that China was turning into a distinguished power inside League, particularly with two clear sweep wins throughout the match (3-0 within the quarter-finals and 3-0 once more within the finals). The group took dwelling $834,375 from a $2,225,000 prize pool, although the pool can fluctuate considerably, and the precise earnings for the gamers might have been extra. 

Korean group DAMWON Gaming was massively profitable, clinching the LoL Worlds in 2020. Not solely was this the group’s first win and a return to kind for Korea and the LCK groups, however they have been additionally the quickest group to win the Summoner’s Cup after beginning its journey into skilled League of Legends, as they solely fashioned in late 2019. The group took dwelling $1,000,000 from the $2,225,000 prize pool. 

China got here again robust in 2021 with a win from the LML group EDward Gaming. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and ultimate match have been head-to-head face-offs towards Korean groups, and the outcomes have been shut. 

EDward Gaming defeated Gen.G 3-2 within the quarters, then DAMWON 3-2 within the semis. The ultimate match towards DWG KIA was an in depth name, however EDward Gaming took the victory with a dominating, fearless efficiency. As soon as once more, the winners’ takings appeared a bit decrease in 2021, although there could possibly be varied causes behind these reviews. The prize pool was reported as $2,225,000 once more, and the victors took $500,000. 

Sometimes called a “Cinderella story”, DRX’s win in 2022 was a real underdog story. The group virtually didn’t make it out of the group levels, ending second and reaching a 3-3 file. They have been thought of a weak group within the playoffs, and it was assumed that they’d be eradicated comparatively rapidly. 

Regardless of this, DRX went on to win the LoL Worlds Championship, exhibiting resilience and willpower. The drama amped up in every sport as DRX continued to progress. Ultimately, they went on to defeat the legendary T1 group in an emotional and unbelievable flip of occasions. DRX took dwelling the identical winnings – $500,000– from the $2,225,000 prize pool. 

Now identified merely as T1, the 2023 win for the group was its fourth victory at LoL Worlds. Regardless of going through early losses of their semi-final towards Gen.G, T1 bounced again. 

Faker as soon as once more proved his legendary standing, however the remainder of the group deserved reward too. Oner, Zeus, Gumayusi and Keria got here collectively alongside Faker to seize that victory, and it couldn’t have occurred with out extraordinarily exact and well-coordinated teamwork. Cash-wise, T1 took dwelling round $445,000 from the $2,225,000 prize pool. 

On the time of writing, the newest League of Legends World Championship win was in 2024, and it was one other victory for T1, who earned $450,000 in winnings from the $2,225,000 prize pool. The group confirmed off its normal strategic prowess and glorious macro performs, reaching a 3–1 file within the Swiss Stage and a 3-0 sweep within the quarter-finals. They confronted off towards Gen.G within the semi-finals and Bilibili Gaming within the finals (each of that are groups that would stand an opportunity of successful in 2025). 

With this win, Faker turned the primary League of Legends participant to realize 5 LoL Worlds wins in addition to the primary to earn two MVP awards within the finals. With an enormous crowd watching at dwelling and in individual (the occasion offered out The O2 Area in London, the place it was held), T1’s victory was watched by tens of millions, and the world will maintain watching because the 2025 match continues. 

There was a fluctuation within the groups that come out on prime at LoL Worlds. From the common-or-garden beginnings of Fnatic to the domination of T1 and the unimaginable underdog story of DRX, the various nature of the rivals proves that you would be able to by no means actually know what is going to occur throughout a Worlds occasion. We’ll maintain you up to date on every part you must learn about LoL Worlds 2025, so remember to test again for extra on the match because it occurs.