Worlds 2020: Ranking and Rating All the Mid Laners at Worlds

We break down the best mid laners that you will see at Worlds 2020.

5. Emil “Larssen” Larsson (Rogue) – 86 OVR

For most of the regular split, I was convinced that Larssen was going to be the player who ruled over all the other LEC mid laners. With a 4.52 aKDA and dominant laning stats (+538g/+11 CS/+422 XP differentials at 15), Larssen was poised to claim his seat atop the pack of LEC mids. However, in the playoffs, Larssen’s performance crumbled as his aKDA dropped to 3.23 and his laning stats came down to Earth (averaging a slight CS and XP deficit at 15).

Azir, Larssen’s most-played champion, is by far his best pick. With a 10-6 record and 4.96 KDA on the Emperor of Shurima, Larssen is going to look to prove himself as one of the best in the world on this champion. However, don’t sleep on his Orianna, Corki, or Ryze.

4. Rasmus “Caps” Winther (G2 Esports) – 86 OVR

While Larssen was losing his grasp on the crown in the LEC playoffs, Caps firmly grabbed a hold of the title of “Best Mid Laner in Europe.” Playoff Caps was a monster (even though regular season Caps wasn’t too bad either), dominating laning phase and outputting ridiculous damage. His 580.2 aDPM on the year is among the best in the world.

Caps, of course, has a champion ocean at his disposal, with all of his four most-picked mid laners (Syndra, Zoe, Leblanc, and Kog’Maw) all having KDAs over 4.5 (his 4.89 KDA on Syndra is actually his lowest). And, with his experience playing ADC in the Spring Split, Caps is certainly capable of pulling out mid lane marksmen like Lucian at Worlds.

3. Zeng “Yagao” Qi (JD Gaming) – 86 OVR

If Chovy isn’t the best Leblanc player in the world, that title would have to go to Yagao. Not only is it his most-picked champion (19 games, 16-3 record) but he has a ridiculous 11.89 KDA on the Deceiver. While his other top picks are good, teams need to be afraid if Yagao locks in the Leblanc.

Yagao’s stats don’t jump off the page other than his 4.31 aKDA, but he really doesn’t have an area to his game where he’s weak. His KP, aGPM, and aDPM are all at or above the average for the mid laners at Worlds 2020.

2. Zhuo “knight” Ding (Top Esports) – 94 OVR

There may not be a player whose debut at Worlds has been more anticipated than knight’s. A long-kept secret of the LPL, knight has been absolutely dumpstering unsuspecting mid laners in China for a few years now. 2020 was no exception, as he put up godly numbers including a 5.52 aKDA, 591.0 aDPM, 75.6% kill participation, and a +13 CSD at 15 minutes in the best region in the world.

As for his champion pool, well, it’s an ocean. 9.31 KDA on Syndra, 7.61 KDA on Zoe, 7.67 on Orianna, 5.26 on Sylas, and a 7.64 KDA on Ekko. If there’s one knock you can make against knight it’s that he’s not a fantastic Azir player (2-3 record and a 3.00 KDA) but that’s it. He played 26 unique champions in 2020 and had a KDA of 3.00 or better on all but three.

1. Heo “ShowMaker” Su (Damwon Gaming) – 95 OVR

In my opinion, this is the best player at Worlds 2020. Showmaker may not have been playing in the best region, but he mopped the floor with LCK mid laners, posting an 11.51 aKDA. Yes, that’s right, Showmaker averaged less than one death per game while still putting up over 4 kills and 564.8 aDPM in the LCK.

His laning, of course, was immaculate, averaging +670 gold, +6 CS, and +342 XP differentials at 15 minutes. Admittedly, those numbers did decline in the playoffs, but the sample size was much smaller (since they swept DRX in the only three games they played).

Showmaker is unquestionably the best Zoe player in the world (7.38 KDA in 23 games with a 16-7 record) but the guy also has a 23.4 KDA on Twisted Fate (and only one loss in 8 games) plus a 13.5 on Kassadin (one loss in seven games). While his champion pool isn’t quite as wide as Knight’s Showmaker’s immaculate play in the LCK is what edges him into our spot for the #1 mid laner attending Worlds 2020.