Here is everything you need to know on the LoL 2023 Worlds Qualifying Series that will determine the last spot for the World Championship.

Image Credits | LoL Esports/Riot Games

LoL Worlds Qualifying Series – a showdown between NA and EU

With the 2023 LoL World Championship starting in mid-October, most of the teams participating have been locked in and will all head to South Korea for the biggest international tournament of the year.

This year’s edition will not only feature a completely new format, replacing the old group stage format, but there will be also a Worlds Qualifying Series, a match between the 4th seeds from North America (LCS) and Europe (LEC). The winner will have the opportunity to get the last spot at the World Championship and join the other minor regions in the play-in stage. They will be the only Western team that must go through the play-in stage, as the other three seeds will advance straight to the new Swiss stage.

Which teams are playing in the Worlds Qualifying series?

The Worlds Qualifying Series will be played between Golden Guardians (LCS) and Team BDS (LEC). Both teams finished 4th in the Summer playoffs and will now have a last chance to participate in Worlds 2023.

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Format and Schedule

The two fourth seeds are going to be facing each other in a single Bo5 series, similar to what the two regions did with Rift Rivals in the past decade. It’s a great way to re-ignite the Western rivalry and give the winner a deserved shot at the World Championship.

Last year, a 4th seed was given to the LEC due to the cancellation of the LCL. The European region was deemed the best at international tournaments among the regions without 4 seeds (excluding China and Korea). To make things more fair this year, the Worlds Qualifying Series was implemented.

While the series was initially supposed to be played in North America, it was later decided to move the match to October 9, the day before the start of the play-in stage. This means that both teams will be flying to South Korea, and both might (luckily) get the chance to scrim and play against other international squads.

Read more: All LoL teams qualified for Worlds 2023