League of Legends Worlds 2019: 5 reasons this was the best Worlds ever

Madrid, Spain – November 2: — during Worlds 2019 Semifinals at Palacio Vistalegre on November 2, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Michal Konkol/Riot Games) /

With the crowning of a new League of Legends World Champion, here are five reasons Worlds 2019 was the best Worlds ever.

Worlds 2019 has finally concluded as the most-watched League of Legends event (hell, the most-watched esports event) ever. But did people get the bang for their viewing buck?

Many people were complaining that the 3-0 sweep by FunPlus Phoenix over G2 was anti-climactic and for sure most people (myself included) thought this would be a much more closely contested series than it turned out to be. But, as a whole, I think that this Worlds tournament was one of the best if not the best. If you’re unconvinced, here are five reasons why Worlds 2019 was the best of all Worlds.

1. Phoenix, True Damage, and the Finals ceremony

I know that not everyone cares about the non-gameplay aspects of Worlds but it is undeniable that this tournament gave us a ton of content. First, we had Phoenix, the official song of Worlds 2019. This was followed by the introduction of a second League of Legends song with the spiritual successor to K/DA from 2018 in True Damage.

These songs came together right before the Finals kicked off in the pre-show festivities. We not only got a bit of “Phoenix” and “Giants” (True Damage’s debut single) but we also got a bit of “Awaken,” the song released earlier in the League of Legends season. Combined with some incredible holo-projection shows and the music video for Giants, Worlds 2019 gave us all the most pageantry of any esports event ever.

2. The return of SKT

The journey may not have ended the way that Faker and company would have liked but it is unquestionable that the most successful League of Legends organization of all time is back at its rightful place in the professional landscape. The team advanced all the way to the semifinals, falling to G2 and finishing fourth just one year after missing Worlds for the first time in the org’s history. Yes, their aspirations were higher but the team’s future is far brighter than it was one year ago.

3. EU’s time to shine

Like SKT, EU fans are probably feeling no comfort in coming so close yet falling just short, but the region as a whole has a lot to be proud of. Not only did G2 make finals, giving Europe two straight years with a team in the Finals but the other teams performed above expectations. Splyce advanced all the way to the quarterfinals after starting in the play-in stage and Fnatic advanced after being placed in one of the hardest groups in Worlds history.

The bottom line is that the LEC was well-represented at Worlds 2019 and has tons of young talent that can bring them back even stronger next year. Plus, at least you get to laugh at NA for another year.

4. Youth revolt

The semifinal round was populated by the defending World Champions, the most successful organization in League of Legends history with the greatest player in history, Europe’s great hope made up of some of the region’s best veterans, and a team full of upstart rookies at their first World Championship. Yet in the end, it was FunPlus Phoenix who ended up at the top of the pack, claiming their first title.

Their oldest member is top laner Gimgoon, at 23, and he has the most professional experience on the team. Tian, Lwx, and Crisp only have one year of professional experience, at most, each and are all 21 or younger. This is a team that not only has the talent to compete for a championship in the future but the longevity to do so.

Next. Rewinding to the 2015 URFitational. dark

5. A journey completed

Finally, there is FPX mid laner Doinb who, at 21 years old, finally made the World Championship tournament after entering the LPL in 2016 with the Qiao Gu Reapers. For most of us, this was the first exposure to Doinb’s wacky champion pool, eccentric dances, cocky trash talk, and stellar play. For him, though, it was the end of a long journey to the apex of his position.

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