Photo credit: Lolesport
Each year, as the Worlds of League of Legends approach, we still wonder if the craze will be there, if the fans will answer the call. And every year, the day after the event, we realize that the competition has once again been crowned with success, and that all the records of the past year have already been broken.
On average, the Worlds 2020 attracted more than 23 million spectators per minute, peaking simultaneously, almost 46 million spectators. It's a long way from the hundred or so people who, 9 years ago, attended the Worlds of Season 1. Even comparing this result to the year before, it's still an achievement - since Riot records spectator growth of over 61%!
So yes, the coronavirus arguably played a role in all of this. Confined, the fans surely jumped at the Worlds opportunity for entertainment. Since the public was absent for most of the event, it's difficult to make a real comparison with past years. It should be noted that the final between DAMWON Gaming and Suning gathered more than 6,000 fans in person, while 3,205,750 people had registered to attend the show live...
The figures are astronomical, but the stake of Worlds 2020 goes well beyond this question. In fact, the 10th edition marks a real turning point for Riot Games as well as for the competitive scene. On the one hand, the year marked the rise of the studio, which came to deserve the s in its name by releasing a plethora of new games. On the other hand, the fact that the event was maintained despite the coronavirus pandemic says a lot about the resilience of esport on League.
Unlike the Fortnite World Cup, or even The International, Worlds 2020 has proved that LoL's esports scene is now strong enough to endure the pangs of reality. Like football, basketball, rugby, or any other sport, Riot Games has shown that League of Legends deserves its acclaim...
League of Legends patch 10.26 will bring forward two sets of opposing skins: Marauders and Warden. Five Champions will receive a new skin: Quinn, Kalista, Gragas, Kled and Xin Zhao!
