Buzz
(Homeland) - With the development of League of Legends (LoL) and other esports disciplines, the double elimination format proves to be more suitable than ever.
In recent years, Riot Games consistently applied the direct elimination format in its major tournaments like the World Championships (Worlds). While it had certain strengths in elevating the intensity and excitement of matches, over time, it revealed significant drawbacks due to the evolution of esports in general and League of Legends (LoL) in particular.
As a result, Riot has begun implementing the double elimination format in recent years, but notably overlooked it in international events. With the upcoming 2022 Worlds approaching, the gaming community is vociferously advocating for Riot to adopt the double elimination format for this tournament. So, why does Riot need to apply the double elimination format for the upcoming 2022 Worlds and subsequent tournaments? Let's delve into it.
Current LoL tournaments suffer from excessive 'dead' time
Reflecting on the direct elimination stage of the 2021 Worlds last year, the time gap between Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals was approximately 5-7 days. During this period, no matches took place, leaving viewers without live content. This resulted from too few matches in the direct elimination stage, featuring only 7 Bo5 series.
For spectators tuning into a major tournament, witnessing pinnacle moments of competition is paramount. The excessive 'dead' time between direct elimination rounds somewhat dampens the tournament's excitement unnecessarily. While one match may attract a large viewership, the rest are entirely overlooked. Implementing the double elimination format ensures continuous matches, maintaining the audience's enthusiasm.
Too few spotlight matches in international tournaments
In the last 5 years, two players considered the biggest stars in the Mid Lane, Faker and Rookie, have never faced each other in a Bo5 match during their international careers. This limitation arises from the double elimination format, where the chances of such high-stakes matchups between top players are disproportionately low.
With additional matches in the loser's bracket, the probability of exciting matchups like the one mentioned above increases significantly. Coupled with the emergence of formidable League of Legends teams, the double elimination format promises many enticing and dramatic clashes. This automatically enhances the tournament's appeal, sparing Riot from the need for excessive communication efforts as it stands.
Keeping up with the trends of modern Esports
Looking beyond the scope of League of Legends, the double elimination format has been adopted in various Esports disciplines, from DOTA 2 and CS:GO to Riot's own VALORANT, heightening the excitement of international competitions with intense showdowns.
There is no reason for Riot to persist with the somewhat outdated and antiquated direct elimination format. It's essential to recognize that at this current moment, there is an abundance of entertainment options and esports titles for gamers to follow. League of Legends needs to align with the prevailing trends, especially in competitive formats, to ensure its continued relevance in the gaming community.
