MSI 2023: JDG shut down BLG with a dominant 3-1 victory
Colin Young-Wolff/Riot GamesThe 2023 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) has concluded. This guide provides you with all the essential information regarding the prestigious League of Legends event, including the full schedule, the prize pool and the final results.
- Despite BLG being able to take down T1 in decisive fashion, they couldn’t stand up to JDG and ultimately lost.
- This was the first all-LPL international Final in League of Legends history, and JDG’s very first international title.
- JDG built a super team at the start of the split, and it’s safe to say their investment paid off.
MSI is one of the biggest international competitions in all of esports, with many gaming enthusiasts, even non-League of Legends aficionados, watching it every year. The event is all about fueling regional rivalries as the best teams in each region will go head-to-head, vying for prize money and the glory that comes with it.
For the 2023 edition, Riot Games decided to expand the format, increasing the number of teams from 11 to 13. Following the completion of the Spring split, League of Legends fans turned their focus to the first international event of the year.
MSI 2023 kicked off on March 2 with the Play-In stage, which went almost according to script as G2 Esports and Bilibili Gaming came through the upper bracket. Golden Guardians joined them in the playoffs after sweeping PSG Talon in the lower bracket final.
We are now down to the final eight teams, who will compete in a double-elimination bracket, with every match played in a best-of-five format.
Below is a comprehensive guide to MSI 2023. Meanwhile, if you want to check out our list of all MSI winners through the years, click here.
MSI 2023: How to watch
MSI 2023 was broadcasted live on Riot Games’ Twitch channel, which we’ve embedded below for your convenience.
Those seeking an alternative viewing experience can tune in to the watch parties hosted by streamers and content creators in different languages. Marc ‘Caedrel’ Lamont, Yiliang ‘Doublelift’ Peng and Ibai Llanos are some of the approved co-streamers for the event, with the full list available here.
Last year’s MSI tournament surpassed the 2 million concurrent viewers mark during the grand final between T1 and RNG, according to Esports Charts. This was the highest peak viewership in the history of the event.
MSI 2023: Schedule, bracket and results
The event will take place from May 2-21 at the Copper Box Arena in London. The multi-sport venue, built for the 2012 Summer Olympics, has staged several esports events in the past, including the Rocket League Championship Series Season 5 – Finals and, more recently, Apex Legends’ ALGS 2023 Split 1 Playoffs.
Tickets for the tournament went on sale on February 23, with prices ranging from £29 to £94.
(Bracket by Gamepedia)
Bracket Stage (May 9 — May 21)
Day 12: May 21
Stage | Match | PDT | EDT | BST |
Grand Final | JDG 3-1 BLG | 4 AM | 7 AM | 12 PM |
Past results:
Day 1: May 9
Stage | Match | PDT | EDT | BST |
Upper Round 1 | Gen.G 3-1 G2 | 5 AM | 8 AM | 1 PM |
Day 2: May 10
Stage | Match | PDT | EDT | BST |
Upper Round 1 | MAD Lions 0-3 T1 | 5 AM | 8 AM | 1 PM |
Day 3: May 11
Stage | Match | PDT | EDT | BST |
Upper Round 1 | Cloud9 0-3 Bilibili Gaming | 5 AM | 8 AM | 1 PM |
Day 4: May 12
Stage | Match | PDT | EDT | BST |
Upper Round 1 | JD Gaming 0-3 Golden Guardians | 5 AM | 8 AM | 1 PM |
Day 5: May 13
Stage | Match | PDT | EDT | BST |
Upper Round 2 | Gen.G 2-3 T1 | 4 AM | 7 AM | 12 PM |
Lower Round 1 | G2 Esports 3-0 MAD Lions | 9 AM | 12 PM | 5 PM |
Day 6: May 14
Stage | Match | PDT | EDT | BST |
Upper Round 2 | BLG 0-3 JDG | 4 AM | 7 AM | 12 PM |
Lower Round 1 | Cloud9 3-1 Golden Guardians | 9 AM | 12 PM | 5 PM |
Day 7: May 16
Stage | Match | PDT | EDT | BST |
Lower Round 2 | G2 1-3 BLG | 5 AM | 8 AM | 1 PM |
Day 8: May 17
Stage | Match | PDT | EDT | BST |
Lower Round 2 | Gen.G 3-0 Cloud9 | 5 AM | 8 AM | 1 PM |
Day 9: May 18
Stage | Match | PDT | EDT | BST |
Upper Final | T1 2-3 JDG | 5 AM | 8 AM | 1 PM |
Day 10: May 19
Stage | Match | PDT | EDT | BST |
Lower Round 3 | BLG 3-0 Gen.G | 5 AM | 8 AM | 1 PM |
Day 11: May 20
Stage | Match | PDT | EDT | BST |
Lower Final | T1 1-3 BLG | 4 AM | 7 AM | 12 PM |
Play-In (May 2 — May 7)
Day 1: May 2
Stage | Match | PDT | EDT | BST |
Round 1 | Detonation FocusMe 0-2 PSG Talon | 5 AM | 8 AM | 1 PM |
LOUD 0-2 G2 Esports | 8 AM | 11 AM | 4 PM |
Day 2: May 3
Stage | Match | PST | EDT | BST |
Round 1 | Rainbow7 0-2 Bilibili Gaming | 5 AM | 8 AM | 1 PM |
GAM Esports 0-2 Golden Guardians | 8 AM | 11 AM | 4 PM |
Day 3: May 4
Stage | Match | PST | EDT | BST |
Upper Bracket Round 2 | Golden Guardians 1-2 Bilibili Gaming | 5 AM | 8 AM | 1 PM |
PSG Talon 0-2 G2 Esports | 8 AM | 11 AM | 4 PM |
Day 4: May 5
Stage | Match | PST | EDT | BST |
Lower Bracket Round 1 | GAM 1-2 Rainbow7 | 5 AM | 8 AM | 1 PM |
Detonation FocusMe 0-2 LOUD | 8 AM | 11 AM | 4 PM |
Day 5: May 6
Stage | Match | PST | EDT | BST |
Lower Bracket Round 2 | Golden Guardians 2-0 Rainbow7 | 4 AM | 7 AM | 12 PM |
PSG Talon 2-0 LOUD | 7 AM | 10 AM | 3 PM |
Day 6: May 7
Stage | Match | PST | EDT | BST |
Lower Final | Golden Guardians 3-0 PSG Talon | 4 AM | 7 AM | 12 PM |
MSI 2023: Format
MSI 2023 will consist of two stages, the Play-In Stage and the Bracket Stage, each featuring a double-elimination format.
In the Play-In Stage, every match is a best-of-three series with the exception of the Lower Final, which will be played in a best-of-five format.
The top three teams of the Play-In Stage will advance to the Bracket Stage, joining five invited sides. All matches in this stage will be best-of-five series.
MSI 2023: All qualified teams
MSI 2023 will feature 13 teams from around the globe, two more than usual. LCK, LCS, LEC and LPL will each be represented by two teams, with the top seeds from LJL, LLA, VCS, PCS, and CBLOL making up the rest of the contingent.
As the winning region of Worlds 2022, LCK will send both teams to the Bracket Stage.
Playoff Stage Teams:
Team | Region | Players |
MAD Lions | LEC | Chasy, Elyoya, Nisqy, Carzzy, Hylissang |
Cloud9 | LCS | Fudge, Blaber, EMENES, Berserker, Zven |
JD Gaming | LPL | 369, Kanavi, Knight, Ruler, Missing |
T1 | LCK | Zeus, Oner, Faker, Gumayusi, Keria |
Gen.G | LCK | Doran, Peanut, Chovy, Peyz, Delight |
Play-In Stage Teams:
Team | Region | Players |
G2 Esports | LEC | BrokenBlade, Yike, Caps, Hans Sama, Mikyx |
Golden Guardians | LCS | Licorice, River, Gori, Stixxay, huhi |
Bilibili Gaming | LPL | Bin, Xun, Yagao, Elk, ON |
LOUD | CBLOL | Robo, Croc, tinowns, Route, Ceos |
DetonatioN FocusMe | LJL | tol2, Steal, Aria, Yutapon, Harp |
Rainbow7 | LLA | Bong, Oddie, Mireu, Ceo, Lyonz |
GAM Esports | VCS | Kiaya, Levi, Kati, Sty1e, Zin |
PSG Talon | PCS | Azhi, JunJia, Uniboy, Wako, Woody |
MSI 2023: Prize and final standings
MSI 2023 will have a minimum of $250,000 up for grabs, with the final figure depending on the community. Riot Games has developed a series of in-game and cosmetic items that will increase the amount of money that teams will be able to earn.
A quarter of the proceeds from the Inkshadow Event Pass and Inkshadow Yasuo in-game skin will be used to increase the MSI prize pool. Moreover, half of the proceeds from the sale of the MSI 2023 Esports Premium Bundle will also go towards boosting the prize pool.
Below you can find the prize pool distribution and the final standings.
Placement | Team | Prize Money (USD) |
1 | JD Gaming | $50,000 |
2 | Bilibili Gaming | $37,500 |
3 | T1 | $30,000 |
4 | Gen.G | $25,000 |
5-6 | Cloud9 | $20,000 |
G2 Esports | ||
7-8 | MAD Lions | $15,000 |
Golden Guardians | ||
9 | PSG Talon | $12,500 |
10-11 | Rainbow7 | $7,500 |
LOUD | ||
12-13 | GAM Esports | $5,000 |
DetonatioN FocusMe |