What Is 2022 Mid-Season Invitational

Overview

The 2022 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) was a premier international esports tournament for League of Legends, organized by Riot Games. It featured top champions from regional leagues across the world competing for global supremacy and a share of the prize pool.

Held annually since 2016, MSI serves as a bridge between the Spring and Summer splits, allowing the best teams to test their mettle mid-season. The 2022 edition was particularly notable for its return to in-person events after pandemic-related disruptions.

• Royal Never Give Up (RNG) represented China's LPL as Spring champions and won the tournament, securing their second MSI title after 2018.
• The event took place in Busan, South Korea, from May 10 to May 29, 2022, marking the first major LoL international in the city.
• Eleven teams participated, including representatives from North America (LCS), Europe (LEC), Korea (LCK), and emerging regions like Vietnam and Turkey.
• The final match between RNG and T1 went to a decisive Game 5, ending in a 3–2 victory for RNG after a tense series.
• The total prize pool was $250,000, with the champions receiving $90,000 and the runners-up earning $50,000.

How It Works

The 2022 MSI followed a structured competitive format designed to balance fairness and excitement, featuring multiple stages and a global lineup of elite teams.

• Group Stage: Six groups of two teams each played in a double round-robin format, with the top teams advancing to the Rumble Stage.
• Rumble Stage: The top four teams from the initial groups competed in a single round-robin, with matches best-of-one to determine semifinal seeding.
• Knockout Stage: The top two teams from the Rumble Stage advanced to a best-of-five semifinal and final, ensuring high-stakes, elimination-style play.
• Regional Representation: Each major region sent its Spring Split champion, including LPL (China), LCK (Korea), LCS (North America), and PCS (Asia-Pacific).
• Remote Participation: Due to travel restrictions, RNG competed remotely from China while all other teams played in Busan, creating minor latency debates.
• Champion Skin: The winning team's most iconic champion received an in-game MSI-themed skin, a tradition since 2016.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2022 MSI compared to previous editions and other major tournaments:

This comparison highlights how MSI 2022 continued the trend of competitive balance between LPL and LCK, with RNG and T1 representing their regions in the final. The event also underscored the growing importance of mid-season global events in shaping the competitive meta and team legacies.

Why It Matters

The 2022 Mid-Season Invitational was more than just a tournament—it was a cultural and competitive milestone for the global League of Legends community.

• Global Representation: Teams from 11 different regions participated, showcasing the game’s expanding international footprint.
• Meta Influence: The strategies and champion picks used at MSI 2022 quickly spread to regional leagues, affecting the global competitive meta.
• Player Recognition: Standout performers like RNG’s Min 'Ruler' Jae-hyun gained international acclaim, boosting their draft value and fame.
• Esports Growth: Hosting the event in Busan helped grow LoL’s fanbase in South Korea and demonstrated Riot’s commitment to regional development.
• Remote Play Precedent: RNG’s remote participation sparked discussions about fairness, latency, and the future of hybrid esports formats.
• Championship Legacy: Winning MSI solidified RNG’s status as one of the most successful teams in mid-season history, with two titles in five years.

Ultimately, the 2022 MSI reinforced the tournament’s role as a critical barometer of mid-season strength and a predictor of Worlds performance, while also highlighting the evolving challenges and opportunities in global esports.