Alongside the intense matches of MSI 2024 attracting the attention of League of Legends fans worldwide, once this tournament concludes, the Esports community can look forward to a new event. As previously announced, it will be the Esports World Cup to be held in Saudi Arabia. However, information surrounding the tournament remains quite vague. Specifically, details regarding the format and which teams will confirm their participation and bring what rosters… all of this has yet to be confirmed by the organizers or representatives of the teams.
Recently, more information about the EWC 2024 tournament has surfaced. Specifically, it is the schedule for the tournament which is set to take place from July 3 to August 25. Notably, this period exactly coincides with the Summer Split of various regions. In fact, for some major regions, this phase could be considered the climax of the first half, allowing teams to set a solid foundation for the decisive second half. The Summer Split for League of Legends teams is also a crucial time for securing spots at the World Championship.
Perhaps that is why many teams do not seem too enthusiastic about EWC 2024. This has led League of Legends, despite being the “national MOBA game”, to have a very limited schedule at EWC 2024. Specifically, League of Legends, although one of the most famous Esports titles globally, only has a schedule during week 1, and it ends there. Even a game often seen as a “counter” to League of Legends, DOTA 2, has a schedule stretching from week 1 through week 3. Notably, even in week 1, League of Legends has to share its schedule with other games like DOTA 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and TBA.
Additionally, the fact that the tournament is held abroad, outside the four major regions (LCK, LPL, LEC, LCS), could pose a significant obstacle. Teams will have to travel a long distance and then return. If the teams that have confirmed their participation (like T1 or Bilibili Gaming) find their schedules stacked with direct competitors for spots in the 2024 World Championship, such a congested schedule could affect their performance in their domestic leagues.
With the schedule now announced, teams like T1 or BLG will need to make reasonable calculations for the upcoming EWC 2024. Previously, there were reports that the prize pool for League of Legends at EWC is not particularly high (around 1 million USD). Given the unfavorable scheduling factors, it is entirely possible for renowned League of Legends teams like T1 to “reconsider” their participation.