The
League of Legends World Championship, or
Worlds, has seen 9 different organizations claim victory across its 14 editions. The LCK leads with an impressive 9 titles, while the LPL has won 3 times. Europe and the PCS have each secured 1 title. When it comes to individual achievements, Lee "
Faker" Sang-hyeok stands as
the most successful player, with a record 9 appearances at Worlds. Alongside his team,
T1, he has claimed the trophy 5 times and reached 7 finals, making them the most crowned organization in the tournament's history. Fnatic, with 12 appearances by 2024, holds the record for most
Worlds participations. Let’s dive into the competition’s history.
2011: Fnatic
In
2011, Fnatic engraved their name in history by winning the first-ever
League of Legends World Championship at DreamHack in Jönköping, Sweden. Their journey was anything but smooth. Star player Enrique "xPeke" Cedeño Martínez missed the group stage due to a delayed flight, forcing the team to field Bram "wewillfailer" de Winter, an audience member at the event, as a last-minute substitute. Scraping through the group stage with just one win, Fnatic transformed in the playoffs with xPeke's return, tearing through Counter Logic Gaming, Epik Gamer, and Against All Authority (aAa) without dropping a single best-of-three. Their grand final against aAa ended in a hard-fought 2-1 victory, crowning them the first
League of Legends World Champions. At a time when there was no defined meta and laning phase dictated games, Fnatic’s stability and mechanical prowess set them apart, with Maciej "Shushei" Ratuszniak’s unconventional AP carries like Alistar and Gragas earning him MVP honors.
Fnatic in 2011, to what is now regarded as the first official Worlds tournament, held at DreamHack in Sweden. Credit: Daniel Marklund/DreamHack
2012: Taipei Assassins
In
2012, the League of Legends World Championship evolved into a global spectacle, moving from DreamHack to a standalone event in Los Angeles with a record-breaking $2 million prize pool. While many expected Korean and European teams to dominate, Taiwan’s Taipei Assassins (TPA) shocked the world with an underdog run that redefined competitive
League of Legends. Entering as Taiwan’s first seed, TPA showcased flawless teamwork and strategy, systematically dismantling tournament favorites. In the semifinals, they stunned Moscow Five, Europe’s strongest team, known for its innovative jungle and midlane plays. Then, in the grand final, TPA faced the heavily favored Azubu Frost from Korea. After dropping the first game, they adapted swiftly, winning three consecutive games to claim a historic 3-1 victory. Midlaner Lau "Toyz" Wai-Kin’s impeccable Orianna play became the stuff of legend, leading his team to Taiwan’s first and only international triumph. TPA’s victory proved that strategic coordination could topple even the most mechanically skilled teams, forever changing the global perception of competitive
LoL.
Taipei Assassins holding the S2 Worlds trophy back in 2012. Credit: Riot Games.
2013: SK Telecom T1
In 2013, SKT T1 claimed its first League of Legends World Championship title, marking the beginning of its dominance in the competitive scene. The tournament at the Staples Center in Los Angeles saw SKT rise through the group stage and playoffs with strategic prowess and exceptional individual performances, particularly from rookie midlaner Faker. After a hard-fought semifinal against NaJin BlackSword, where SKT adapted by prioritizing Lee Sin in the jungle, they advanced to face China's Royal Club in the grand final. With a commanding 3-0 victory, SKT showcased superior coordination and mechanical skill, with Eon-young "
Impact" Jeong earning MVP honors for his standout level on Jax throughout all games. This triumph secured
South Korea's first Worlds trophy and laid the foundation for SKT's legacy as the most successful team in
League of Legends history.
SKT T1 winning their first ever Worlds title in 2013. Credit: Riot Games.
2014: Samsung White
In 2014,
Samsung White cemented its place in history by winning Worlds, marking South Korea’s continued dominance on the international stage. With Riot Games bringing the tournament to Asia for the first time, the competition spanned multiple countries before culminating in a grand final at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in front of 66,704 spectators. Samsung White entered the tournament as South Korea’s third seed but quickly established itself as the team to beat, dropping only two games throughout the event. After sweeping Samsung Blue in the semifinals, they faced China's Star Horn Royal Club in the final and secured a commanding 3-1 victory. Their aggressive early-game strategies, superior vision control, and near-flawless execution left no doubt about their supremacy.
Chun "Caster Jun" Yong-jun interviewing crowned SSW on stage after their win in the grand final. Credit: Riot Games.
2015: SK Telecom T1
In 2015,
Riot Games brought the League of Legends World Championship back to Europe, where the game’s competitive scene first took off. Europe’s teams had a strong showing, with
Fnatic and Origen making deep runs, while North America suffered a historic collapse, with all its teams being eliminated in the group stage. Meanwhile, South Korea once again proved its dominance, as both SK Telecom T1 and KOO Tigers advanced to the final. SKT, led by Faker and Jang "MaRin" Gyeong-hwan, perpetuated their legacy by winning 3-1, becoming the first team to claim two World Championships. Their near-flawless run, dropping only one game throughout the entire tournament, reinforced their status as the most dominating organization in the World.
SKT celebrating with the trophy, becoming the first organization to win the Summoner's Cup twice, a feat matched by Faker and Bengi as well on that day. Credit: Riot Games.
2016: SK Telecom T1
In 2016,
Riot Games once again crowned SK Telecom T1 as the kings of League of Legends, making them the first team to win three Worlds titles and the only team to claim back-to-back championships. The tournament delivered unpredictable moments, with wildcard teams making waves and traditional powerhouses struggling. While H2K and Cloud9 barely made it through groups, Korea asserted dominance, placing all three of its teams in the semifinals. The SKT vs. ROX Tigers semifinal remains one of the greatest series in Worlds history, featuring bold strategies like Miss Fortune support and clutch plays from legendary players.
In the grand final, SKT faced Samsung Galaxy in an epic five-game battle. Despite taking an early 2-0 lead, SKT was pushed to the limit as SSG clawed their way back, forcing a decisive Game 5. In the end, SKT’s experience and Faker’s brilliance sealed the victory. The dynasty trembled but still stands, making SKT the most legendary organization in LoL.
SKT became the first organization to win back-to-back Worlds titles, securing Faker’s third championship. Credit: Riot Games.
2017: Samsung Galaxy
Samsung Galaxy's victory at Worlds 2017 was one of the greatest upsets in League of Legends history, as they decisively ended SK Telecom T1’s dynasty with a stunning 3-0 sweep in the grand final. After dismantling tournament favorites Longzhu Gaming and overcoming China’s last hope, Team WE, SSG entered the final as underdogs but executed a flawless game plan. Lee "Crown" Min-ho’s Malzahar neutralized Faker, Kang "Ambition" Chan-yong’s jungle control dictated the pace, and Park "
Ruler" Jae-hyuk’s game-winning flash-ult on Varus in Game 3 sealed SKT’s fate. With this dominant performance, Samsung Galaxy became the second organization to win two Worlds titles, and Ruler earned Finals MVP honors. The moment Faker broke down in tears became an iconic image of the tournament, symbolizing the end of SKT’s reign and cementing SSG’s place in history.
The end of T1's dominance as they are wiped out in one of the quickest finals in history. Credit: Riot Games.
2018: Invictus Gaming
Invictus Gaming’s victory at Worlds 2018 was a defining moment in League of Legends history, marking the first time a Chinese team claimed the Summoner’s Cup. In a shockingly dominant 3-0 sweep over Fnatic,
IG showcased the raw power and aggression that defined the LPL, dismantling their opponents in just 85 minutes—the fastest Worlds final ever. Kang "
TheShy" Seung-lok and Gao "Ning" Zhen-Ning led the charge, with TheShy’s relentless toplane pressure and Ning’s jungle dominance setting the pace for each game. Yu "
JackeyLove" Wen-Bo’s flawless performance on Kai’Sa sealed the deal in Game 3, immortalizing IG’s place in history. With this victory, China finally broke Korea’s five-year reign, proving that the LPL was a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
The LPL's first ever title at Worlds, after exterminating Fnatic 3-0. Credit: Riot Games.
2019: FunPlus Phoenix
FunPlusPhoenix crushed Europe's hope for another year, after deleting G2 Esports 3-0. Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
The 2019 edition was a historic tournament that saw Europe’s
G2 Esports dominate the season and raise hopes of a long-awaited Western triumph, only to fall short in the grand final. G2, having reshaped its roster by moving Luka "Perkz" Perković to AD carry to make room for Rasmus "
Caps" Winther in the midlane, became an unstoppable force, winning both LEC splits and the Mid-Season Invitational. Entering Worlds as favorites, they navigated a tough bracket, defeating Damwon and SKT to reach the final on home soil in Paris. However, it was
FunPlus Phoenix (FPX) that truly shone, despite an unconvincing start in the group stage. Led by the visionary Kim "
Doinb" Tae-sang and an extraordinary Gao "
Tian" Tian-Liang, FPX dismantled reigning champions Invictus Gaming in the semifinals before delivering a crushing 3-0 victory over G2 in the final. Tian’s dominant performance on Lee Sin and Doinb’s innovative playstyle sealed FPX’s place in history, marking China’s second consecutive Worlds victory and proving the LPL’s rise.
2020: Damwon Gaming
This Damwon roster is still considered one of the most dominant in the history of the game. Credit: David Lee/Riot Games
Worlds 2020 saw DAMWON Gaming (DWG) restore South Korea’s dominance by claiming the title. DWG took home the title after a dominant 3-1 victory over Suning, reclaiming the throne for the LCK after years of LPL dominance. But the road to the final was anything but predictable. G2, Europe’s last hope, tried to fight fire with fire in the semifinals, but DAMWON crushed them with superior macro and discipline. Meanwhile, Suning pulled off one of the biggest shockers of the tournament, taking down the heavily favored
TOP Esports—China’s best team—proving they were far more than just a third seed. The final itself started as a slugfest, with both teams trading heavy blows in the early games. Suning even took a game off DAMWON in style, with some of the tournament’s flashiest plays. But when it mattered most, DWG tightened its grip, showcasing its signature map control and suffocating teamfights. Led by a relentless Jang "
Nuguri" Ha-gwon and an unstoppable Kim "
Canyon" Geon-bu, they outclassed Suning, shutting down their miracle run and bringing the Summoner’s Cup back to Korea, ending two years of heartbreak.
2021: EDward Gaming
For the second time in international tournaments this year, the LPL defeats the LCK in the finals, crowning EDG as champions over the powerhouse Damwon, who were making their second consecutive Worlds final. Credit: Clive Rose/Riot Games
In one of the most thrilling finals in
League of Legends history,
EDward Gaming shocked the world by defeating the reigning champions and tournament favorites DAMWON KIA (3-2) to claim the 2021 World Championship title. The victory marked a monumental achievement for EDG, who had long been seen as cursed in the tournament, never having advanced past the quarterfinals before. Despite DAMWON’s dominance throughout the event and a star-studded roster featuring Kim "Khan" Dong-ha, Canyon, and Heo "
ShowMaker" Su, EDG defied expectations with disciplined gameplay, standout performances—particularly from jungler Zhao "
Jiejie" Li-Jie—and a historic Game 5 that kept viewers on the edge of their seats. The win not only brought China its third Worlds title but also served as redemption for veterans like Tian "
Meiko" Ye, and heartbreak for Khan, who ended his career without a title before beginning his military service.
2022: DRX
T1 reached the final again, to be denied from a title by DRX in the most thrilling and epic final of history. Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
In one of the most unforgettable finals in
League of Legends history,
DRX completed a miracle run by defeating T1 (3-2) to win their first-ever Worlds title in 2022. Their journey was nothing short of legendary—from nearly missing qualification after a nail-biting LCK Regional Finals, to entering Worlds through the Play-In stage, and surviving a string of do-or-die best-of-five series, often winning 3-2. DRX overcame the reigning champions EDG in the quarterfinals, top-seeded Gen.G in the semifinals, and finally, the most decorated team in the game, T1, in a breathtaking final at the Chase Center in San Francisco. With every series, they leveled up, carried by the phenomenal synergy of Kim "
Zeka" Geon-woo and Hwang "
Kingen" Seong-hoon.
The grand final reached its emotional peak in a dramatic fifth game filled with tension and last-chance plays. Despite T1’s incredible resilience—including a third Baron steal—DRX emerged victorious after a final clutch fight around the Elder Dragon. It was a moment of catharsis for veteran ADC Kim "
Deft" Hyuk-kyu, who, after nearly a decade at the top level, finally lifted the Summoner’s Cup. While Faker missed his chance at a record-setting fourth title, DRX’s underdog story, from the brink of elimination in Korea to conquering the world stage, will go down as one of the greatest and most improbable triumphs in Worlds history.
2023: T1
A decade after his first Worlds title and a year after the desillusion, Faker defied the odds and won his fourth title. Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
After the heartbreak of 2022, T1 entered Worlds 2023 with one mission: reclaim their throne. The new Swiss Stage format saw them steadily progress, securing a quarterfinal spot after four rounds. There, they dismantled
LNG Esports with ease before taking on the tournament’s biggest favorite—
JD Gaming, the LPL powerhouse chasing the Golden Road. In what became an instant classic, Faker’s legendary Azir play turned the tide of the series, and Ryu "
Keria" Min-seok’s game-winning Bard performance sealed T1’s ticket to the finals, denying JDG’s perfect season. T1 accessed their second Worlds final in a row. In the Gocheok Sky Dome, T1 completed its journey dominantly, sweeping
Weibo Gaming in a one-sided grand final. Faker was finally back on the top of the game, lifting his fourth Worlds trophy ten years after his first, and brought T1 back to being the house of the best talents in the world.
2024: T1
For the first time, a 5-man roster won two Worlds title. Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
ZOFGK makes history by shattering multiple records. Remaining undefeated against the LPL in Worlds playoffs, they become the first organization to claim five Worlds titles, achieving back-to-back victories twice (2015-2016 and 2023-2024). They also stand alone as the only team to reach three consecutive Worlds finals, a feat they first accomplished in 2015-2017.
Faker further cements his legacy as the greatest player in
League of Legends history, having been a part of all five championships while also becoming the oldest player to win a Worlds title at 28. Named MVP of
the final against Bilibili Gaming, he also reached the remarkable milestone of 500 career kills at Worlds. During the tournament, he also became the first player to achieve over 100 match victories at Worlds.
Header Photo Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
