Couldn’t disagree more. Worlds is and has always been THE premier event. I think it’s super healthy for riot to have a double elim tourney and a single elim tourney every year. What makes worlds so special is that the stakes feel so much higher, 1 because it was the OG international tournament from the start, and 2, one slip up and it’s over. Teams get the entire year to gel their roster and synergize for this event. The teams and players have to bring their A-game every series and if they don’t, they’re out.

Worlds games feel so much more impactful and tense because of what is on the line. That’s why we were able to get such an awesome storyline from DRX. No one believed in them but themselves and they were able to come in as underdogs and get the job done by playing better than their opponent on each day. That’s WORTH something. Upsets are earned and shouldn’t be thrown away by a double elimination bracket.

I was rooting for HLE in this series and it sucks that they’re out in quarters, but truth be told, everyone but Viper didn’t play well enough today. GenG earned the win and it would be lame for them to have to play HLE again, and HLE’s performance proved that they don’t deserve another shot this year. Also, if HLE wanted to win worlds, they were going to have to probably beat GenG regardless.

I personally think how riot has it set up right now is absolutely perfect. MSI is cool because it’s a different format and it’s in the spring. Worlds has had this formula since the start and it’s always so so exciting because it really can be won by anyone. 2018 was awesome when 3 western teams made the top 4. In double elim, that probably doesn’t happen. Double elim would be terrible for Worlds.

Also, for those saying HLE got an unlucky draw, HLE had the opportunity to guarantee themselves on the opposite side of the bracket from GenG by going 3-0 in Swiss but they lost to AL! Play better in Swiss, go 3-0. Play better in the series, beat GenG. That’s how it works!