Mid-Season Invitational Is Reportedly Returning To China in 2024

Reports from a Korean news outlet, Naver, suggest that the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational 2024 will take place in China for the first time in eight years. Even though it does seem highly believable, Riot Games has yet to officially announce the news.

China hosted its last MSI in 2016 in Shanghai when SK Telecom T1 (now T1) secured their first MSI trophy, which set the Korean team up to complete the Golden Road, but they eventually came out short after losing the LCK 2016 Summer Split. Since MSI 2016, the international LoL esports tournament was hosted in Brazil, Europe, Vietnam and Taiwan, Reykjavik, Korea, and England, so it makes sense that it will return to China.

Another big reason for the MSI to return to China is the success Chinese LoL esports teams have had over the years. Since T1 won the 2016 MSI, Chinese teams have won four MSI trophies (2018, 2021, 2022, 2023) and three LoL World Championship titles (2018, 2019, 2021).

Chinese LoL esports teams are also in a good spot to bring home another silverware from LoL World Championship 2023, which is currently still going in South Korea. JD Gaming, who won MSI 2023, are the current favourites to win LoL Worlds 2023 and are already seeded into the knockout stage, with LNG Esports, Bilibili Gaming, and Weibo Gaming all still in the race to reach the playoffs.

Over the last few years, China and South Korea have established themselves as the regions to beat in the LoL esports scene, having won every international LoL tournament since 2014, except for the 2019 Mid-Season Invitational, which was won by Europe's G2 Esports.

While Korea still leads in all-time MSI and LoL Worlds titles, China has proven to be the more successful region since 2018, having won three LoL Worlds and four MSI titles.

Riot Games has yet to confirm when the MSI 2024 will take place, but based on the previous years, it's fair to assume that the tournament will start in early May 2024.