Ranking every team participating at Worlds 2024
20 teams participating at worlds are decided and I decided to make a ranking of all the teams. I will rank the teams based on how I expect them to perform at Worlds 2024, not how they finished in their regions (e.g., I still think TL will perform better than FLY).
Please let me know in the comments whether you agree with the list and what you would change. Last year I was told that I was delusional for putting JDG 3rd and T1nd, so let's see what I cook this time and dive right into it!
Tier 1 – Championship Contenders
1. Bilibili Gaming (LPL - China): Just an amazing team with no weaknesses. After adding Knight and Wei this roster looked dominant and smashed all the teams in LPL playoffs. I simply have to put them number 1, because they look so eager to win. But they are now even more experienced and I believe this is the year some of the players finally win something internationally as well.
Player to watch: Bin
2. Gen.G Esports (LCK - Korea): Watching them I felt like they have the best macro plus probably the current best player - Chovy. They were dominant the entire season, however, in finals, they came up short against HLE. In my opinion, one of the reasons was also that they were overrating corki, but if you watched game 5 chovy couldn't play corki into vi, ziggs, one. I believe they will be dominant at worlds again and anything less than a semis will be a big surprise.
Player to watch: Chovy
3. Top Esports (LPL - China): They were disappointed in the LPL playoffs, however for anyone watching them the entire season will see this team is great. The addition of 369 brought them some stability at top lane and Creme has been improving the entire year. I am warning you: this is not the same Creme that got destroyed by Caps at MSI.
Player to watch: 369
4. Hanwha Life Esports (LCK - Korea): The main component of this team is Zeka. If Zeka performs like Worlds Zeka 2022 then they will be unstoppable. However, I still put them 4th since I think they are much more meta-dependent. Yone will IMO still be meta, but I don't know about other champions Zeka is so proficient on them. But still, they have great team that no one wants to face.
Player to watch: Zeka
5. T1 (LCK - Korea): They looked shaky in playoffs and even in regional finals, but I believe they can mentally reset and make some noise in Worlds. The team didn't look cohesive and players seemed to keep getting caught. However hands are still there and even though repeating the last year's run will be hard, it's not impossible with the names they have.
Player to watch: Zeus
6. Weibo Gaming (LPL - China): Last on the list of contenders, but still this team is amazing. They had rocky start of season, but during LPL playoffs they were amazing, only losing to BLG in the finals. After that 3:0 they needed some time to reset, but against JDG for the last spot they showed this team has what it takes. They oblitered them game 5.
Player to watch: Light
Tier 2 – Challengers
7. G2 Esports (LEC - Europe): G2 is Europe’s strongest representative, having won the LEC Season Finals 2024 and dominating regional competition. Worlds in Europe will give them additional motivation and I think they will perform great. And I think Caps will show at this Worlds that he is TOP 5 in the world.
Player to watch: Caps
8. Team Liquid (LCS - North America): This team looked so good during the regular season, however they managed to lose finals to FLY. If they manage to repeat how they player in LCS (aggro), this will be a good sign, however I hope they don't get scared of big names and play passive against them.
Player to watch: YAPA (APA)
9. Dplus KIA (LCK - Korea): Putting them very low on the list, because this will be first real test for 2 rookies: Moham and Lucid. DK macro is also pretty sus at some times and SM often falls behind in cs. The bright point of this team was Aiming. He looked amazing and the games that they won it was normally his show.
Player to watch: Aiming
10. Fnatic (LEC - Europe): Fnatic has hands, but they sometimes turn the brain off. This team is so hard to rank, since I think this team can beat anyone, but also lose to almost anyone. The machine behind this team is Razork and I am looking forward to seeing them play against top competition.
Player to watch: Razork
11. LNG Esports (LPL - China): I haven't forgotten about them, but since all the problems about Scout I can't put them higher. I don't know who will be their midlaner for event, but they still have some amazing players.
Player to watch: Gala
Tier 3: Underdogs eager to get some upsets
12. PSG Talon (PCS - Southeast Asia): This team dominated PCS. I must admit I haven't watched a lot of PSG, but every time I opened the stream they were smashing the teams. This team might make some noise.
Player to watch: Azhi
13. Fly Quest (LCS - North America): Putting them quite low for being LCS champions, however I think they will not do that well at worlds. The biggest weakness will in my opinion be botlane that just isn't quite top class... yet.
Player to watch: Bwipo
14. MAD Lions KOI (LEC - Europe): Fun team with unique playstyle of ranged top laners. Hoping they bring out their A game and maybe surprise some the top dogs.
Player to watch: Elyoya
15. 100 Thieves (LCS - North America): They look pretty headless at times, but they are definitely fun to watch. I sincerely hope they bring their aggressive style to worlds, but if they qualify to SWISS I don't they are getting any Ws.
Player to watch: River
Tier 4: "Happy to be here" Teams
I don't want to be disrespectful but this teams are not really a threat to qualify to QF. All of them will be happy to get to SWISS stage. I will not describe them, but I will still put them in order I feel like they are after watching them play in their leagues.
16. SoftBank Hawks Gaming (PCS - Southeast Asia)
17. Viking Esports (VCS - Vietnam)
18. paiN Gaming (CBLOL - Brazil)
19. GAM Esports (VCS - Vietnam)
20. Movistar R7 (LLA - Latin America): Sry LLA fans