The League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) is the pinnacle of competitive play, where the strongest teams from around the globe battle for the Summoner’s Cup. Every year, fans expect powerhouses like the LCK’s titans or LPL’s giants to dominate—but Worlds has also been home to some of the biggest upsets in esports history.
These moments remind us why Worlds is so exciting: in League of Legends, no game is guaranteed, and underdogs can topple legends. Let’s dive into the most iconic upsets that shocked fans, broke predictions, and redefined regions.
Season 3 Worlds (2013): OMG vs SK Telecom T1 (Group Stage)
SK Telecom was on its rise to becoming the most dominant team in LoL history, led by Faker in his debut year. But during groups, Chinese squad OMG stunned everyone by taking a game off the Korean powerhouse.
- Why it mattered: At the time, Korean teams were seen as untouchable. OMG’s win proved that the LPL could challenge Korea’s dominance.
- Legacy: Though SKT went on to win Worlds, this upset foreshadowed China’s eventual rise.
Season 4 Worlds (2014): KaBuM! e-Sports vs Alliance
Perhaps the most famous upset in Worlds history, Brazilian underdogs KaBuM! shocked the world by defeating European powerhouse Alliance (with Froggen, Shook, and Wickd).
- Why it mattered: Alliance were group favorites expected to dominate. KaBuM!, seen as “free wins,” turned the tables.
- Impact: This loss eliminated Alliance from groups and showed that wildcard teams could no longer be ignored.
Season 6 Worlds (2016): Albus Nox Luna’s Miracle Run
CIS team Albus Nox Luna (ANX) made history as the first wildcard team to reach Worlds quarterfinals. They defeated heavyweights like ROX Tigers in the group stage.
- Key Moment: ANX’s victory over ROX Tigers, the Korean favorites, stunned fans.
- Why it mattered: Proved that wildcard regions had real potential and inspired investment into smaller regions.
Season 8 Worlds (2018): Cloud9 and the LCS Revival
North America has historically struggled internationally, but Cloud9’s run in 2018 was an upset-filled journey. After starting groups 0–3, C9 bounced back, upset stronger opponents, and became the first NA team in 7 years to reach semifinals.
- Upset Highlight: Beating Afreeca Freecs (LCK) 3–0 in quarterfinals.
- Impact: Revived NA fans’ hope that their region could compete with Korea and China.
Season 9 Worlds (2019): FunPlus Phoenix vs Invictus Gaming
In a shocking twist, defending champions Invictus Gaming were expected to reclaim glory, but fellow LPL team FunPlus Phoenix (FPX) dismantled them en route to winning the championship.
- Why it mattered: Many considered IG untouchable after their 2018 dominance.
- Impact: FPX’s victory showed the LPL had depth—multiple Chinese teams capable of winning Worlds.
Season 10 Worlds (2020): Suning vs Top Esports
Top Esports (TES) entered Worlds 2020 as LPL’s #1 seed and heavy favorites. But Suning, a younger roster with rookies, stunned TES in semifinals.
- Key Players: SofM’s jungle pathing and Bin’s historic Fiora pentakill.
- Why it mattered: A “rookie” squad taking down a titan proved anything could happen at Worlds.
Season 11 Worlds (2021): MAD Lions vs Gen.G (Group Stage Drama)
European team MAD Lions shocked fans with their late-game comebacks and resilience. While not the ultimate champion, they created upset after upset in groups, proving the LEC’s new generation could stand tall.
Other Iconic Upsets
- Samsung White vs TSM (2014): NA’s upset win against Korean giants in groups.
- PSG Talon (2021): Consistently upsetting stronger-seeded teams despite being underdogs.
- DRX (2022): Entering Worlds as Korea’s 4th seed, DRX shocked everyone by defeating T1 in the finals—one of the greatest underdog victories ever.
Why Upsets Define Worlds
Upsets are what make Worlds unpredictable and exciting:
- They break narratives: Remind us that skill gaps aren’t permanent.
- They inspire regions: KaBuM! gave hope to Brazil, ANX to CIS, DRX to underdogs everywhere.
- They create legends: Many players’ careers were defined by these miracle wins.
Conclusion
From KaBuM!’s miracle against Alliance to DRX’s fairytale run in 2022, Worlds history is filled with unforgettable upsets that remind us why League of Legends is the ultimate esport. No matter the odds, no game is certain—because in Worlds, legends can fall and underdogs can rise.
