Classic events revisited: The Season 2 World Championship

This article was originally published on GameSpot's sister site onGamers.com, which was dedicated to esports coverage.

The Season 2 World Championship is fondly remembered as one of the very best League of Legends tournaments ever held. It was the first tournament to truly gather all the best teams from all of the major esports regions and pit them against each other, with a million dollars for first place, no less. The outcomes of this tournament still ripple through the community to this day and have forged the legends of specific players and seen others unravel. Take a look back at LoL's first true World Championship.

How they all got there

Before going into the results of the tournament itself, it's worth establishing the context of how the big names all got there. Each region had its own qualification structure, not all being the same, and the teams they beat on their way to a spot established how many of the other regions thought of them going into the first ever true World Championship.

China

The Chinese region was even more unknown than it is today, but all that mattered to Westerners was that it contained World Elite (WE). WE had defeated CLG in the IEM VI Guangzhou final, beaten MiG Frost in the group stage game at the OGN LoL Invitational and finished top eight in OGN Champions Summer, losing out to CLG.EU, so the world knew they were strong and the best Chinese side.

World Elite had already qualified for the World Championship, so it was down to who would be the second Chinese team in LA. invictus Gaming (iG) were long the runners-up of Chinese events and they ran over the Chinese qualifier to earn a spot in the group stage of the World Championship. PDD and Zztai would get their chance to showcase their skills against the West, rather than simply being the sacrificial lambs to WE at every big national tournament.

South Korea

Azubu Frost had already qualified, so the second spot came down to a qualifier. With five teams competing for one spot, the regional qualifier for Korea began with a fifth place tie-breaker and then went into the structure fans will recognise from last season: the top seeded team waiting in the final, the second seed waiting in the second to last match and so on down. This is a structure which has long been used in Korean StarCraft team leagues, to reward the teams who have done the best in the regular season.

I think like to of it as a "Game of Death" structure, as, much like the Bruce Lee movie where he had to fight his way up levels of a dojo, battling more difficult enemies as he ascended the levels, so the worst teams have to battle their way through the qualifier against better opponents at each level. In this case, Azubu Blaze were the "Final boss" of the qualifier, waiting in the final. Each series was a Bo5 and the fourth seeded NaJin Sword, led by star Top laner MaKNooN, battled through Incredible Miracle and Xenics Storm to reach the final.

There, against the Blaze team which had won OGN Summer and MLG Summer Arena, as well as finishing runners-up in the previous OGN season, a full five game war took place. Sword would seal the series in the deciding game, blind pick as ever under the OGN format, booking their spot in LA. The outcome was so shocking for Blaze that they would part ways with Top laner Reapered only days later.

Europe

Moscow Five (M5) had been the dominant force in Europe and did not disappoint at the qualifier, only being tested by fnatic in the semi-final and yet coming through nonetheless. In the final they easily dispatched SK Gaming to take the top spot and the potential WC playoff bye. Second place in Europe was the real shock, as SK Gaming had made good on the promise their new line-up had showed in the ECC Poland semi-final, where they had lost narrowly 1:2, by actually defeating European powerhouse CLG.EU 2:0 in the semi-final.

The last spot was between CLG and fnatic to battle over, with Froggen and company coming out on top to secure the final WC spot.

North America

Team SoloMid (TSM) had been the masters of North America, winning countless offline tournaments, and it was no different at this qualifier. Defeating Curse.NA in the semi-final, they then handled Dignitas, as they always had, in the final and secured that coveted potential playoff bye for the WC. Second place was a surprise in as much as many had considered CLG Prime the second best NA team overall, but that CLG team did have a bad habit of losing the first series against Dignitas they played in a tournament. In double elimination tournaments that was fine, they could and did beat them in the lower bracket, but this tournament was single elimination.

The final spot became the battle of Saintvicious against his former team, as Curse and CLG fought for the last remaining WC spot. CLG prevailed and would be present in the group stage in California.

Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau

Few were paying attention to the qualifier for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Their teams had done nothing internationally and it didn't help that while Taipei Assassins (TPA) won this qualifier, they then lost out to CLG.EU in a showmatch at the same event.

SEA

Singapore Sentinels were the best known team from SEA and they were not held in high regard. Despite winning over Saigon Jokers in the upper bracket, they managed to lose the qualifier to that team in the final. Sentinels had begun 1:0 up, due to winners bracket advantage, and lost both games that could have booked them a WC spot.

The group stage

With five regions represented, Riot's decision to give four of the first placed teams a bye into the quarter-finals meant that one team would have to draw the short straw, as it were, and play in the group stage. A random drawing was done and it turned out that Azubu Frost, arguably the favourites for the entire tournament, would be forced to battle through the group stage. TSM, M5, WE and TPA would all receive byes into the quarter-finals.

Group A

1st Frost 3:0

2nd iG 2:1

3rd CLG 1:2

4th SK Gaming

On paper this group was by far the most stacked, putting together the best team in the world, the second best Chinese team, the second qualifier from Europe and a CLG team who had been practicing in Korea and came in with the usual NA hype surrounding them. Frost rolled through the group without a loss, earning the quarter-final spot they would have earned anyway with a different outcome in the random draw.

iG defeated the NA and European team, ensuring two Chinese teams would place top two at the World Championship. CLG disappointed, their much lauded cheese and strats simply not manifesting into anything at all. Their only game of note, in a positive sense, was a thrilling base race against SK Gaming.

Group B

1st NaJin Sword 3:0

2nd CLG.EU 2:1

3rd Saigon Joker 1:2

4th Dignitas 0:3

NaJin Sword were understandably dominant, winning all their games. CLG.EU had defeated Sword in the semi-final of the last OGN season, but them losing a single game here was no huge shock. CLG.EU defeated the SEA and NA teams to secure the second playoff spot. Saigon Jokers surprised many by defeating Team Dignitas, the second place NA team leaving the event with nothing at all to show for themselves.

The final eight

The mighty Russians sweep, but not without incident

Moscow Five 2:0 invictus Gaming

Game 1 M5 1:0 iG

Game 2 M5 1:0 iG

After battling the hardest group to secure the second spot for the playoffs, iG were rewarded with the team many considered the strongest in the West and a favourite for the title itself. iG's PDD had been a member of the EHOME side that had lost to the then unbeatable M5 in the group stage of the IEM VI World Championship, that March, so he was well aware of how good M5 were.

While the score made read a clean sweep for M5, the series was not as one-sided as that may suggest. The opening game saw iG leading for the majority of the first 25 minutes, with M5 only pulling even on occasions. At 25 minutes it seemd as iG had secured the lead they needed, acing the Russians while only losing two of their own men. A great team-fight from M5 around the baron pit three minutes later would turn the game into the Europeans' favour, as they killed four iG members and lost no one. The game was closed out only four minutes later.

The second game against saw iG taking early leads and looking impressive, up 9:3 in kills after 15 minutes. Less a minute later, they had given up four unanswered kills to the Russian side. Another terrible team-fight at 23 minutes saw them again giving up four kills with nothing in return. From there on out Moscow Five were in control and methodically choked the life out of the Chinese side. iG had been good in the early game and in smaller fights, but this was classic Moscow Five winning all the big team-fights and taking them on their terms.

TPA hold MaKNooN down to shock Korea

Taipei Assassins 2:0 NaJin Sword

Game 1 TPA 1:0 NJS

Game 2 TPA 1:0 NJS

TPA came into the World Championship with no legitimate hype surrounding them at all. People may like to look back now and claim they knew TPA were contenders, or players will cite games they had played against them, but the facts are that TPA were far from considered within the three or four names expected to take the title of World Champions.

TPA star Mid laner Toyz would later state that his own confidence was low during much of the lead-up to the World Championship, citing his team having lost 18 games in a row in the Battle Royal exhibition series, every single scrim against Chinese and Korea teams, as well he him individually being dominated in the lane by the likes of iG's Zztai and Blaze's Ambition.

Crucially, TPA had never been to the West to compete, nor appeared in a season of Korea's OGN Champions, so there was no way to even know how they would match up against the West or Korea's best offline. Most observers simply looked back at Singapore Sentinels' poor showing at IPL Face Off, finishing 5th-6th at that NA tournament back in August. With NaJin being a team coming off a third place in the last OGN season and having won the Korean regional, defeating Blaze in two Bo5 for those results, Sword were heavy favourites.

The series began ominously for Sword, giving up first blood and then being down 3:5 seemingly forever, as no kills were harvested for either side for a long time. Toyz had secured four of those kills on his Orianna, his signature champion, and was vastly outclassing NaJin Mid laner SSONG. When TPA secured a three kill unanswered team-fight win at around 24 minutes, heading off to get the baron too, their Mid lane star was 90 CS up on SSONG. TPA closed out the game without giving up another kill.

The second game had Sword looking set to even the series, repeatedly making plays which put them further ahead throughout the first 19 minutes, up 6:2 at that mark. A key fight at 22 minutes pushed them further ahead to 10:4. That lead lasted only a minute, as TPA traded one death for three kills and moved closer. SSONG was much improved this game, at 5/1/2 on Morgana against Toyz Anivia, though the player from Hong Kong was heavily leading the CS battle.

Two key fights would turn the game to TPA's favour. When Mistake, Support of TPA, blind Blitzcrank grabbed MaKNooN into Sword's jungle, the Taiwanese team could begin a team-fight that would go in their favour. Despite Sword battling back and gaining a little ground, at 33 minutes the fight which would decide the game was a full 5v5 in the middle of the map. TPA dominated it and they were through to the semi-final of the World Championship.

A key factor for Sword had been MaKNooN being unable to dominate his Top lane, where he was so famous for his dive and aggressive play. In the first game he had been completely neutralised and finished on 0/1/1. In the second he against was not able to produce any noticable contribution on kills. Stanley had been no MVP, but he had done his job in holding back the power of NaJin's biggest strength.

Battle of the best of North America and South Korea

Team SoloMid 0:2 Azubu Frost

Game 1 TSM 0:1 AZF

Game 2 TSM 0:2 AZF

This match-up was always going to be unfair for someone, as the two best teams from their respective regions were forced to meet in the quarter-finals of the World Championship. Accusations of cheating aside, this was a series which was deceptive on the surface in many regards. The fact TSM failed to secure even a game may make it seem as if they were dominated entirely by Frost, while TSM would actually often do well in fights between the teams and were able to stay even in kills for the majority of both games.

That in itself may have made the games look closer upon first glance, but where Frost shined was in their understanding of when and where to take towers. The Korean team dominated TSM in objectives taken, often having huge leads in numbers of towers taken. As a result, the Korean team could be equal in kills and yet knocking on the door of TSM's bases in both games, looking to take inhibitors and threatening to finish the game. TSM gave a good account of their skill level, but their tactical awareness proved lacking. Frost moved into the semi-finals without a loss in the tournament so far, having gone 5:0.

A rematch that seemingly never ended

World Elite 1:2 Counter Logic Gaming Europe

Game 1 WE 1:0 CLG.EU

Game 2 WE 1:1 CLG.EU

Game 3 WE 1:2 CLG.EU

This match-up was a rematch of the OGN Summer quarter-final between the two teams, where CLG.EU had won out in two games. Less than two weeks after that series, World Elite had gone to the USA for IPL Face Off and shockingly underperformed, losing out to the LgN and Curse.NA in three game series, at an event they were expected to win or at the very least finish top two at.

Those results had prompted two roster changes, with ClearLove joining as Jungler and Fzzf as Support. The new look World Elite team was much different from the one which had departed. I wrote about the series the two teams played at this tournament in my article about CLG.EU.

The first game had World Elite getting stronger as it progressed, winning out the late game and taking a key baron to open the series with the win. In the second game the Chinese team were again in control, stealing buffs early and looking sharp in fights. Suddenly the stream died and internet problems resulted in the decision to remake the game entirely.

The remake went more to CLG.EU's favour, a key play being a Sona Crescendo from Krepo that caught the WE side and let his team take the fight 4:3 in kills. Catching out World Elite's Jungler, playing on Nocturne, on two separate occasions was enough to let CLG.EU convert the game into a win adn tie up the series. The third game began with CLG.EU going up early, taking turrets. The two teams were hungry throughout to take turrets. After a baron at almost 50 minutes allowed CLG to take the first inhibitor, they pushed bottom towards the inhibitor turrent.

The internet went out, again, and another remake was decided upon, nullifying all that had transpired in that third game. After looking for solutions, Riot announced that the series would not play out that day, canceling the game until the next week. When the teams returned to the studio to play the deciding game it was World Elite who got out to the early lead. Dives had them up two kills before CLG.EU struck back. When World Elite dove bottom at around 14 minutes, the three kills they secured looked to have them in the driving seat to reach the semi-final.

CLG.EU traded well in fights and finally had one go their way at around 29 minutes, turning a battle near blue into an ace with only two deaths, allowing them to take the baron. Another baron went CLG.EU's way, as they were hesitant to push in and directly start a fight. When the two teams did fight it was Froggen and yellowpete doing most of the damage, the right combination for CLG.EU success historically. The final battle came at 42 minutes, as a 4:1 fight allowed the Europeans to close out the game and series, booking a semi-final spot.

The game had seen emotion from the CLG.EU players, showing and cheering as they finally managed to pull through to win, but some fans had cited it as an example of boring play. Added to the frustration of the long delays, with the internet problems, the series had seen some fans bored enough that they began cheering the killing of wards, sarcastically.

Four remain to battle for the crown

So much for the easy side of the bracket

Moscow Five 1:2 Taipei Assassins

Game 1 M5 1:0 TPA

Game 2 M5 1:1 TPA

Game 3 M5 1:2 TPA

Despite TPA's big quarter-final win over Sword, it was considered an upset. Thus, many expected M5 to move on into the final and play for the Summoner's cup. In fact, one could have looked at the bracket, when drawn, and considered M5 to have been given the easier run, with three of the regional champions over in the other side of the bracket.

As the series opened up, M5 delivered a classic performance in the first game. Aggression and an eagerness to fight served the Russian team well as they ramped up the kills and after 20 minutes the cloest TPA ever got was within four kills, a gap which would then widen more and more. Alex Ich and Genja were the carries, in terms of kills, but the entire scoreboard showed an M5 in peak form. TPA star Toyz was disappointing on Karthus and couldn't make a big enough impact.

The second game saw TPA return the favour, with a one-sided stomp from start to finish. Running up kill after kill, in grind out fashion, TPA were going to tie up the series and there was nothing M5 could do about it. Alex Ich had his turn to deliver a lackluster mid lane performance, playing poorly on Zilean. The decider for the spot in the final bore a resemblance to the series between TSM and Frost, as TPA took leads and M5 were able to perform well enough in fights to get numbers on the board, but TPA dominated the objectives. At 20 minutes the kills were only 1:1 but TPA were leading by five towers to one.

TPA managed to get M5 back over in their base most of the time and a key distraction held M5 there while TPA took the baron at 35 minutes. Even with M5 continuing to claw back team-fight kills, TPA took the game and delivered their second upset of the tournament, this time over one of the outright favourites, to move into the Grand Final.

The OGN final rematch

Azubu Frost 2:1 Counter Logic Gaming Europe

Game 1 AZF 0:1 CLG.EU

Game 2 AZF 1:1 CLG.EU

Game 3 AZF 2:1 CLG.EU

This rematch was one with plenty of points of interest for fans around the world, beyond merely being a key match in the semi-final of the World Championship. The two teams had met in the final of OGN Champions Summer a month prior, with CLG.EU going up 2:0 but losing out 3:2 to the Koreans, the series and title being decided in a blind pick fifth game. Now CLG.EU would have an opportunity to prove whether that had been the right result or not, convinced that they had thrown at least one of the games which could have decided the OGN title for them.

The series began with CLG.EU taking the early lead and never letting go, convincingly winning the game with 14:5 in kills and never having truly been in danger. Much like the M5 vs. TPA series, the team who had lost the first game in a stomp now answered in kind. Frost completely rolled over CLG.EU, winning with a monster 13:0 in kills and never giving up control for a second. Much as in the OGN final, the series would come down to a decider for all the marbles.

Another section from my CLG.EU piece:

The decider began well for Wickd and the gang, they killed CloudTemplar as a group at his red at level one. The next 22 minutes was Top laner Shy proving unkillable, playing on Shy and at times 1v2ing the CLG.EU players. He had hit 4-0 on his personal score as his team was up 6:4 and took the dragon. While CLG.EU would keep pace from there on, killing to match Frost kills, the tide finally turned on them for good at 36 minutes.

A straight 4:0 team-fight win was turned into a few more a minute later and the baron. Shy on 5/1/3 was not to be denied. Frost aced CLG.EU at 39 minutes to take the game and the series. A top four finish at the World Championship, and more money than all their previous placings combined, was more than respectable, but CLG.EU were left to again wonder what could have been. The chance for revenge had passed them by and they would attend the World Championship final only in a spectating capacity.

The Grand Final

Taipei Assassins 3:1 Azubu Frost

Game 1 TPA 0:1 AZF

Game 2 TPA 1:1 AZF

Game 3 TPA 2:1 AZF

Game 4 TPA 3:1 AZF

The opening game of the final of the World Championship was an incredible kill-fest, with 54 kills over 42 minutes of play, ending 28:26 to Frost in the kill department. RapidStar's Karthus had been on a 10/4/10 score after 39 minutes of play. TPA's Toyz proved unable to impress on his Anivia, so it came down to Stanley and Bebe, Top and ADC for TPA respectively, to keep them in the game. Frost won the game with a key fight at 41 minutes, acing the Taiwanese team and taking the base.

The second game saw TPA get first blood but after 13 minutes of play no other kills had been recorded and no towers had been taken. An ace, spread all across the map, at around 14 minutes put TPA heavilg ahead. After Frost made it 2:6 at 20 minutes, the next 16 minutes of play saw no kills, but TPA racked up towers. The Taiwanese side closed out the game at 40 minutes, following an ace. The series was level.

The third game took more than nine minutes for the first kill, as TPA took first blood. TPA would continue to add a kill at a time, so after 15 minutes they led 3:1. Frost struck back with some kills, but after almost 19 minutes it was TPA up 7:2 and in a commanding lead. Key fights around 19 to 21 minutes saw TPA racking up kills and Frost would eventually surrender at 22 minutes. Stanley, Toyz and Bebe all led the scoreboard, while Frost's three kills ensured nobody on their team was able to leave the game feeling good about their play. TPA were leading the series and now had Frost at elimination point in the final of the biggest LoL tournament ever held.

The four and final game of the series, as it would happen, saw TPA again take the early lead in kills, going up to 5:1 after 16 minutes. At 20 minutes Frost weren't out of it, as though they were behind 1:7 in kills, they had two towers for the two of TPA. From there onwards it was all about TPA and the Taiwanese side were a team possessed. At 26 minutes the score read 13:4 and Bebe's Ezrael was at 6/1/6. Toyz on Orianna was at 3/1/4 and TPA were not going to be denied the cup. Frost continued to battle, staying even in towers, but TPA wore them down and got the fights they wanted, closing the game out and taking the World Championship.

TPA's run to the title was one of the most spectacular underdog stories in LoL history, with them defeating the two heaviest favourites (M5 and Frost) en route to the cup, both times going down after the first map. TPA had triumphed on the biggest stage in LoL history, with Toyz establishing himself as the MVP in terms of carry play. In truth, one must look at Mistake's tactical approach too, seeing how he gave his team the right macro strategical insights at the right moments to ensure they controlled games beyond just the skills and kills involved.

The Season 2 World Championship still stands as perhaps the best League of Legends tournament ever held.