Photo via Lolesports
Regarding the 2019 edition of the League of Legends World Championships, there are things that everyone knows. The final takes place in Paris, G2 beat SKT in the semi-final and Splyce made it to the quarter-finals. However, there is also a lot of completely unusual — and relatively useless — information that very few people know. If you are looking to make a difference in your future discussions on Sunday before the coronation of G2 Esports or just for the sake of knowing, here are 11 anecdotes that you may not know about these Worlds 2019 and that won't change your life — at all.
1 — Faker had not lost a competitive match in 729 days on his Ryze internationally
His last defeat was in his final loss to Samsung Galaxy in 2017. Well, it's not that long ago, especially since he didn't participate in the Worlds last year, but admit that when you see 729, at first glance, you think "Wah it's huge".
2 — For the first time, three European teams qualified for the group phase
If we omit the first edition of the Worlds in 2011 since not all regions were yet participating, this is the first time that Europe has qualified its three European teams for the quarter-finals! Unlike a certain region...
3 — For the second time, no American team qualified for the group stage
The last time no American team qualified in the quarter-finals, it was 2015 and the Worlds were being held...also in Europe. It seems that our friends in NA are struggling to perform on our old continent.
4 — G2 vs SKT audiences broke all audience records
With nearly 4 million unique spectators (excluding China), the semi-final between G2 and SKT became the most important sports event with the largest peak of viewers in history, ahead of the Fortnite World Cup which had reached 2.3 million.
5 — It's the year with the most pick or ban champions
With 99 unique pick or ban champions before the final, this 2019 vintage wins the medal of the greatest diversity! In comparison, the 2018 edition did not exceed 90.
Source: LoLEsports Stats
6 — Caps and Faker never selected a single skin during these world championships
Well, in itself, we're getting used to Faker and Baby Faker.
7 — At least one person will have perfectly predicted the Worlds
For the first time in history, someone will have been 100% right about these Pick'ems. According to LoL Esports Stats, three people are still in contention with differing opinions about the final outcome.
8 — Caps is the first European player to participate in two consecutive Worlds finals
The first with Fnatic, the second with G2 Esports. Hopefully, the final result will be different.
9 — G2 Esports would be the first team in history to make the grand slam
If the samurais win the Grand Final, they will have won both LEC splits as well as the MSI and Worlds to complete the first "grand slam" in history.
10 — There was no 3-0 in the playoffs
Excluding the final that has not yet been played, there has been no 'clean sweep'* so far. A historic first if we omit once again the 2011 World Championships.
* a Bo5 that ends with a score of 3 to 0 for a team.
11 — Chinese fans call Perkz "PZI"
After only one season as ADC, Perkz is already nicknamed "PZI" by Chinese fans in reference to the greatest AD carry in history: Uzi. Understandable, given its performance this year.
We're looking to see how these Worlds end up. Will G2 manage to achieve the Grand Slam? We'll find out on Sunday!
From Gamers2 to G2 Esports, Ocelote and his team beat all challenges on their path and winning against triple world champions SKT T1 was surely one of the biggest. Their semi-final match also marked one huge record: it was the most-viewed event in esports history.
