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The Swiss Stage was concluded last weekend, and as the dust settled, the 8 teams are now set for the Knockout Stage of Worlds 2024. This year’s Swiss Stage saw some upsets on top of high-level League of Legends action, with last year’s champions, T1, managing to qualify for the Knockout Stage and defend their crown.
Which Teams Didn’t Make It on Round 5 of the Swiss Stage?
Round 5 saw 6 teams that had a 1-2 record fight out for the last 3 remaining spots for the Knockout Stage. The 6 teams were DK Plus from the LCK going against Weibo Gaming from the LPL, G2 Esports from the LEC versus BiliBili Gaming from the LPL, and FlyQuest against Team Liquid, with both teams from the LCS.
Each matchup is a best of 3, with the winners moving onto the Knockout Stage, and the losers’ path towards this year’s championship coming to an end.
Weibo Gaming def. DK Plus (2-1)
Weibo Gaming, one of the more tenured teams in the LPL, had to contend with DK Plus, a perennial LCK team that usually have a knack of going for deep runs during Worlds. Both teams have battle-tested veterans who have experience in high pressure situations, with Xiaohu from Weibo Gaming, and Showmaker from DK Plus, manning the point as captains of their respective teams.
Game 1 had DK Plus pick up the victory after a close match that saw them eke out a 20-16 KDA score against Weibo Gaming. DK Plus’ Aiming had a strong showing with Kalista, netting a respectable 8-2-2 KDA, while Moham, their support, had a fine Renata game, finishing with a 0-3-19 KDA.
However, Game 2 saw Weibo Gaming take the momentum back from DK Plus, going for a lopsided 15-4 against DK Plus and tying up the series 1-1. Weibo showed more patience in Game 2, punishing DK Plus for their mistakes down the stretch while keeping the pressure on the lanes. Eventually, this game belonged to Weibo, with Xiahou’s Yone earning him a 6-2-6 KDA, while Crisp gobbled up assists for his team, going for a 0-2-12 KDA.
Game 3 saw DK Plus pulling out all the stops to thwart elimination. However, Weibo was riding the momentum from the previous game and are looking to close out the series. DK Plus’ Showmaker, known for his LeBlanc and other Mage champions in the Mid Lane, opted to go for Yone, one of the most popular picks in this year’s Worlds so far in Mid.
Meanwhile, Xiaohu opted for Aurora, one of the most banned champions so far. Weibo’s lineup opted for a more defensive counter-punching lineup to combat DK Plus’ all-in team.
Ultimately, Weibo Gaming had the better team composition, as they throttled DK Plus, 20-8 in the deciding game. With DK Plus’ exit, this is the first time they won’t get out of the Swiss Stage.
BiliBili Gaming def. G2 Esports (2-1)
The second matchup saw BiliBili Gaming (BLG), last year’s runner up and a favorite from the LPL, duke it out against the LEC’s G2 Esports. G2 Esports is the last European team left on the Swiss Stage who has a chance to head onto the Knockout Stage, while BLG was focused to get out of the Swiss Stage and make a run at the championship once again.
Game 1 saw BLG establish their dominance over G2, going for an impressive 21-7 stomp. Knight, BLG’s Mid Laner, had a strong showing with his LeBlanc, going for a 7-1-8 KDA, along with Bin and his trusty Jax, who went for a 6-0-3 KDA. G2 opted for a standard team composition which proved to be their undoing, as BLG had them scouted.
Game 2 saw G2 rally back against BLG, banning Bin’s Jax to give them the advantage and go for a 17-5 victory. Hans Sama used Ezreal to gain the upper hand and went for a 6-0-3 KDA, while Yike and Mikyx roamed the map and got key takedowns to eventually even the score at 1-1.
Game 3 was do or die for both teams, and especially for G2, who was the last hope for LEC to have a European team qualify for the Knockout Stage. G2 went for a strong anti-all-in team with Mikyx and Hans Sama running a Taric and Kalista bot lane, Xin Zhao in the jungle, Ryze at mid, and Renekton at top.
Meanwhile, BLG opted for a more teamfight oriented lineup consisting of Ezreal and Rell at bot, Rumble at top, Skarner in the jungle, and Sylas at mid. For the early to mid part of the match, G2’s strategy was working – each time BLG went all in on them, Mikyx used Taric’s ultimate to keep them alive enough to extend teamfights.
However, following a clash at mid that saw G2 try to secure Baron, BLG was able to rally and rout the LEC champions. This was the momentum BLG needed to take out G2, which culminated in a final clash at the mid lane that saw Elk’s Ezreal snipe down the remaining members of G2.
After weathering the storm, BLG defeats G2, 2-1, and advances to the Knockout Stage.
FlyQuest def. Team Liquid (2-1)
The last matchup of Round 5 saw two teams from the LCS fighting it out to determine which one will represent NA for the last time as LCS this season, as FlyQuest battled Team Liquid. This matchup was a rematch between the two LCS teams, since they butted heads in this year’s Summer Split, with FlyQuest coming out victorious and winning their first-ever championship.
Game 1 saw FlyQuest set the tone, going for a 18-4 rout of Team Liquid on the back of Quad’s amazing Orianna who went for a 10-0-7 KDA, along with Inspired’s Skarner who was seemingly everywhere around the map and had a 0-0-12 KDA.
Not to be deterred, Team Liquid bounced back to even the matchup, 1-1. Team Liquid ran a pick off team with UmTi using Nocturne to obscure the map against FlyQuest at key moments. This proved to be a sound strategy, as they managed to take down key members of FlyQuest during skirmishes and ganks; Yeon’s Xayah had a 7-3-8 KDA showing for Team Liquid, while CoreJJ’s Rakan went for an impressive 0-0-18 KDA.
However, FlyQuest proved their mettle and championship caliber on Game 3, with Inspired going off again with Skarner for a 2-0-13 KDA. Team Liquid went for a unique team lineup, namely APA going for a Kled at mid lane to go against Quad’s Yone. This gamble from Team Liquid proved to be their downfall, as FlyQuest steamrolled for a decisive 17-3 win, with Quad’s Yone exploding for a 7-0-4 KDA.
Which Teams Will Compete and Match Up in the Knockout Stage?
Following the Swiss Stage, lots were drawn to determine which of the 8 qualified teams will face one another for the Knockout Stage. The matchups for the Knockout Stage are as follows:
LNG Esports (LPL) vs. Weibo Gaming (LPL)
HanwHa Life Gaming (LCK) vs. BiliBili Gaming (LPL)
Top Esports (LPL) vs. T1 (LCK)
Gen.G (LCK) vs. FlyQuest (LCS)
The Worlds 2024 Knockout stage features a single-elimination format, where the eight remaining teams battle in best-of-five matches.
Schedule of Knockout Stage Matches
| STAGE | DATE | LOCATION |
| Knockout stage: Quarterfinals | October 17 to 20, 2024 | Adidas Arena in Paris, France |
| Knockout stage: Semifinals | October 26 to 27, 2024 | Adidas Arena in Paris, France |
| Knockout stage: Finals | November 2, 2024 | The O2 Arena in London, United Kingdom |