Buzz
Many viewers have been debating the outcomes of matches if MSI's old format remains unchanged.
MSI 2023 is an exceptionally unique event in the world of LoL this year. Not only because it's the first international tournament of the year for LoL, but also because Riot has altered the format of this tournament compared to before. This has led to a lot of controversy, from the moment Riot announced the changes until now, with only about 2 weeks left until the tournament concludes.
A brief overview of the changes to MSI 2023 is that the tournament format has branched into winners and losers brackets. Additionally, there's no longer the presence of BO1 matches, instead, it's only BO3 and BO5. At the same time, each Major region will have 2 representatives (with G2 Esports and Golden Guardians having to fight from the Play-In stage). These changes have left many viewers astonished.
After PSG Talon became the final team from the Minor region group and Wildcard had to leave MSI 2023, many viewers have condemned Riot's new format. According to many arguments, the new format almost makes it impossible for teams from Minor and Wildcard regions to have a chance to go deep in international tournaments. This year's prime example is that not a single team from this group made it to the top 8.
In fact, some 'familiar face' teams like GAM Esports or DetonatioN FocusMe were even eliminated early. PSG stands out the most by reaching the final match of the Play-In stage. Some opinions have been blunt, stating that MSI's new format will strip away any surprises from the tournament, as small teams practically have no chance to create upsets, and might even 'wipe out the small regions in the world of LoL'.
