MSI 2023 Play-In Phase match-ups revealed

With the recent victory of MAD Lions in the LEC Spring Split 2023, all the teams that will attend the next MSI to be played in the first three weeks of May have been defined. In addition, Riot Games has published the match schedule for the Play-In phase, where eight teams will fight for the three available spots for the playoffs.

There is no doubt that it has been four months of intense competitions in different regions of the world, and the best teams and those with the best performance will face each other in the first international event of the 2023 season, the MSI. In addition, we will also look at the teams shaping up to fight for the championship trophy at the next Worlds 2023.

MAD Lions is the final qualifier for the MSI

After an incredible reverse sweep, MAD Lions defeated the LEC Spring Split 2023 revelation, Team BDS, with a score of 3-2 and thus proclaimed champions of the tournament. Thanks to this, the team qualified directly for the MSI 2023 Bracket Stage. However, the other LEC representative, G2 Esports, will start from the Play-In Stage.

Draws for the Bracket Stage will be made as the days go by at the event to be played in London, UK, from May 2-21, 2023.

MSI 2023 Play-In Phase match-ups revealed

EMEA League of Legends legend Martin “Rekkles” Larsson was on hand to draw the eight teams that start their MSI journey from the Play-In Phase. Rekkles had to take the stage with the weight on his back of being unable to help Fnatic qualify for the event. However, the team’s feelings for the upcoming Split are good, and we are expected to see Fnatic among the best again.

Now, let’s remember that the eight teams that start the MSI from the Play-In Phase are the following:

• BiliBili Gaming (LPL – China)
• Golden Guardians (LCS – NA)
• Rainbow7 (LLA – SA)
• GAM Esports (VCS – Vietnam)
• G2 Esports (LEC – EMEA)
• PSG Talon (PCS)
• LOUD (CBLOL)
• DetonationN FocusMe (LJL – Japan)

Below, we will show the schedule of the matches that will be played in the Play-In Phase of the MSI 2023:

Group A

• R7 vs. Bili Bili Gaming – Bili Bili Gaming – Bili Bili Gaming – Bili Bili Gaming – GAM Esports
• GAM Esports vs. Golden Guardians

Group B

• LOUD vs. G2 Esports
• PSG Talon vs. DetonatioN FocusMe

The date and time of the matches have not yet been confirmed. However, all matches will likely be played on the tournament’s first day, i.e., on May 2.

The teams that will be “local” in the first international event of the 2023 League of Legends season are MAD Lions and G2 Esports. First, remember that G2 qualified for the MSI after winning the Winter Split 2023. However, because they were eliminated very early in the Spring Split playoffs, the team could not score the necessary points to start in the main event.

Play-In Format

As mentioned, the Play-In Phase will be played from May 2 to 7, 2023. The format will be the usual one, a Double Elimination Bracket, where all matches are best-of-three (BO3) except for the grand final match, which is best-of-five (BO5). Finally, the three best teams of this phase will be present at the main event of MSI 2023.

Header: Riot Games | LoLesports