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Large TV screen displays T1 team with trophy
T1 are a legendary League of Legends professional esports team who has won the Worlds tournament five times / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends Worlds

TL;DR

  • The LoL Worlds tournament is an annual event where the best of the best professional League of Legends players battle it out to win the Summoner’s Cup.
  • As of 2025, there have been 15 League of Legends World Championships. 
  • The most successful team at the moment is the LMK team T1, who have won the tournament five times. 
  • Other winning teams over the years include DRX, Samsung Galaxy, Fnatic and Taipei Assassins.

The League of Legends World Championships are – at the time of writing – currently underway in China. The annual tournament– also known as LoL Worlds or League of Legends Worlds – is a huge event for the League of Legends community as well as esports in general. 

Every year, one team takes home the Summoners Cup trophy along with a significant amount of prize money (though the exact amount changes every year). We’re going to be looking at every single team that has won the League of Legends Worlds tournament, the defining moments, and how much they earned.

LoL Worlds

The League of Legends World Championship began in June 2011, two years after League of Legends was released. Organised by Riot Games, the tournament has become hugely prestigious over the years. Not only is it incredibly popular, with its peak viewership reaching 99.6 million viewers in 2018, but it is also hailed as an elite event that is highly respected in esports. 

The tournament has been known to be an emotional ride for players and fans alike. It brings together the League of Legends community in one epic competition where memories are made and dreams come true for a select few, making for a truly thrilling and inspiring professional gaming tournament. 

Every LoL Worlds Champion 

Let’s dive into the winning teams of each League of Legends World Championship since the tournament began in 2011. The information regarding the prize pool and the winners’ takings has been compiled from EsportsEarnings and Liquipedia League of Legends

2011 Champions – Fnatic 

The Fnatic holding a $50,000 check
The Fnatic line up during the Lol Worlds 2011 victory was Maciej “Shushei” Ratuszniak, Enrique “xPeke” Cedeño Martínez, Lauri “CyanideFI” Happonen, Carlos “LamiaZealot” Rodríguez Santiago, and Peter “Mellisan” Meisrimel / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends Worlds

The very first LoL Worlds victory went to Fnatic, who took home a cash prize of $50,000 from the prize pool of $100,000. These were the early days of professional competitive League of Legends, so there were only eight teams participating. 

Fnatic beat the European team Against All Authority to take home the win. The MVP of the match was Maciej “Shushei” Ratuszniak, who tragically passed away in April 2025 from cancer. Fnatic’s victory remains as a way to remember where LoL Worlds started, but also as a memorial to Shushei and the impact on the competitive LoL scene from the very beginning. 

2012 Champions – Taipei Assassins

The Taipei Assassins with trophy
The Taipei Assassins line up during the Lol Worlds 2012 victory was Wang “Stanley” June-Tsan, Sung “Lilballz” Kuan-Po, Kurtis Lau “Toyz” Wai-Kin, Cheng “BeBe” Bo-Wei and Chen “MiSTakE” Hui-Chung / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends Worlds

The Taipei Assassins shocked the LoL community with its win in 2012, surpassing expectations and beating the likes of China and Korea to win for the small LMS region (Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau). The underdog team beat its Korean rivals – Azubu Frost – to win the tournament. 

This was not only a groundbreaking win, but also one that set the stage for the future big budget LoL Worlds, as it was the first tournament to be a full production held on a live stage as a major event. There was also a major increase to both the prize pool and the winnings taken by the victors. The prize pool was upped to $2,000,000, with the winners taking $1,000,000. 

2013 Champions – SK Telecom T1

The SK Telecom T1 on a stage with trophy
The SK Telecom T1 line up during the Lol Worlds 2013 victory was Jung “Impact” Eon-yeong, Bae “Bengi” Seong- woong, Chae “Piglet” Gwang-jin, Lee “PoohManDu” Jeong-hyeon and Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok.  / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends Worlds

Get used to the name T1, you’re going to hear it a lot on this list. Led by a then-rookie, 17-year-old Faker, SK Telecom T1 was the first win for what would become the most dominant League of Legends champions in the world. The team won $1,000,000 from the slightly increased prize pool of $2,050,000.

Though not favourites, the team pushed through and were able to win via a 3-0 sweep against China’s Royal Club. Not only was this another great underdog story, but it was also the first appearance for Faker, who would go on to become the face of League of Legends and one of the most renowned esports players in the world. 

2014 Champions – Samsung White

The Samsung White with trophy
The Samsung White line up during the Lol Worlds 2014 victory was Han “Looper” Hee-sang, Choi “Dandy” In-kyu, Han “Pawn” Ji-hoon, Gu “Imp” Seung-bin and Cho “Mata” Se-hyeong / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends Worlds

The Samsung White team’s victory in 2014 is often thought to be one of the most dominant runs in the history of LoL Worlds. In the group stages of the competition, Samsung White went 6-0 in an absolutely incredible run that proved just how talented the team was. 

They went on to score 2-0 in the quarter-finals and clinched victory with a 3-1 victory over China’s Star Horn Royal Club. The winnings were similar to the previous years, with Samsung White taking home $1,000,000 from a prize pool of $2,130,000.

2015 Champions – SK Telecom T1

The SK Telecom T1 with trophy
The SK Telecom T1 line up during the Lol Worlds 2015 victory was Jang “MaRin” Gyeong-Hwan, Bae “Bengi” Seong- woong, Bae “Bang” Jun-sik, Lee “Wolf” Jae-wan, and Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok. / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends Worlds

The SK Telecom T1 team returned to LoL Worlds with another tremendous victory in 2015. The team were starting to truly establish itself as a force to be reckoned with at this point, as its teamwork, synergy, and coordination were second to none.

Faker also proved that he was a master in the mid-lane, able to use various champions, such as Viktor and LeBlanc, to switch up tactics when necessary. The team claimed victory against fellow Korean team KOO Tigers with a 3-1 win. The prize pool was exactly the same as the previous year, as the team took home $1,000,000 from a pool of $2,130,000. 

2016 Champions – SK Telecom T1

The SK Telecom T1 with trophy
The SK Telecom T1 line up during the Lol Worlds 2016 victory was Jang “MaRin” Gyeong-Hwan, Bae “Bengi” Seong- woong, Bae “Bang” Jun-sik, Lee “Wolf” Jae-wan, and Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok. / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends Worlds

The 2016 tournament saw the first consecutive win for SK Telecom T1. At this point, they were firmly established as the best of the best in the League of Legends esports community. The team composition remained the same as the previous year, with Faker, Bang, Bengi, MaRin and Wolf once again coming together under the tutelage of coach Kim Jeong-gyun (also known as kkOma). 

The final match between SK Telecom T1 and fellow Korean team Samsung Galaxy was fierce, and it seemed like T1 would go home without the trophy after a shaky start. However, comebacks from Faker and Bang along with strong co-ordination across the board led to that eventual, hard-earned win. The prize pool was much bigger this time around, as were the teams winning. From a pool of $5,070,000, the team took home $2,028,000.

2017 Champions – Samsung Galaxy

The Samsung Galaxy with trophy
The Samsung Galaxy line up during the Lol Worlds 2017 victory was Lee “CuVee” Seong-jin, Lee “Crown” Min-ho,  Jo “CoreJJ” Yong-in, Kang “Ambition” Chan-yong, and Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends Worlds

The following year, Samsung Galaxy went face-to-face with SK Telecom T1 once again, and this time, got the win. Not only did they defeat the two-time consecutive winners, but they did so in a total 3-0 sweep. This clean-cut victory proved that Samsung Galaxy was just as competent, easily standing strong against T1 and ending its dominance (for the time being). Although the prize pool was a little less in 2017 – $4,596,591– the winnings for Samsung Galaxy were more, as the team took home $2,100,000. 

2018 Champions – Invictus Gaming

The Invictus Gaming with trophy
The Invictus Gaming line up during the Lol Worlds 2018 victory was Yu “JackeyLove” Wen-Bo, Gao “Ning” Zhen-Ning, Wang “Baolan” Liu-Yi, Song “Rookie” Eui-jin, and Kang “TheShy” Seung-Iok / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends Worlds

Invictus Gaming managed to beat the very first winners of the LoL World Championships (Fnatic) in 2018 to become the first Chinese team to claim the Summoner’s Cup. This win broke the firm hold that Korean teams had in the LoL esports competitive scene, which had lasted from 2013 until this win in 2018. The prize pool and the winners’ takings increased in 2018, with a prize pool of $6,450,000 and Invictus Gaming taking $2,400,000. 

2019 Champions – FunPlus Phoenix

The FunPlus Phoenix with trophy
The FunPlus Phoenix line up during the Lol Worlds 2019 victory was Lin “Lwx” Wei-Xiang, Kim “GimGoon” Han-saem, Liu “Crisp” Qing-Song, Kim “Doinb” Tae-sang, and Gao “Tian” Tian-Liang / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends Worlds

China continued its winning streak in 2019 with a victory from the Chinese LoL esports team FunPlus Phoenix. This win proved that China was becoming a prominent force within League, especially with two clean sweep wins during the tournament (3-0 in the quarter-finals and 3-0 again in the finals). The team took home $834,375 from a $2,225,000 prize pool, though the pool can fluctuate significantly, and the actual earnings for the players may have been more. 

2020 Champions – DAMWON Gaming

The DAMWON Gaming with trophy
The DAMWON Gaming line up during the Lol Worlds 2020 victory was Jang “Ghost” Yong-jun, Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu, Heo “ShowMaker” Su, Cho “BeryL” Geon-hee, and Jang “Nuguri” Ha-gwon / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends Worlds

Korean team DAMWON Gaming was hugely successful, clinching the LoL Worlds in 2020. Not only was this the team’s first win and a return to form for Korea and the LCK teams, but they were also the fastest team to win the Summoner’s Cup after starting its journey into professional League of Legends, as they only formed in late 2019. The team took home $1,000,000 from the $2,225,000 prize pool. 

2021 Champions – EDward Gaming

The EDward Gaming with trophy
The EDward Gaming line up during the Lol Worlds 2021 victory was Tian “Meiko” Ye, Pan “Jiejie” Ji-Jie, Li “Flandre” Xuan-Jun, Park “Viper” Do-hyeon, and Lee “Scout” Ye-chan / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends Worlds

China came back strong in 2021 with a win from the LML team EDward Gaming. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final match were head-to-head face-offs against Korean teams, and the results were close. 

EDward Gaming defeated Gen.G 3-2 in the quarters, then DAMWON 3-2 in the semis. The final match against DWG KIA was a close call, but EDward Gaming took the victory with a dominating, fearless performance. Once again, the winners’ takings seemed a bit lower in 2021, though there could be various reasons behind these reports. The prize pool was reported as $2,225,000 again, and the victors took $500,000. 

2022 Champions – DRX

The DRX with trophy
The DRX line up during the Lol Worlds 2022 victory was Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu, Lee “Pyosik” Sang-yong, Kim “Zeka” Geon-woo, Moon “Kingen” Hyeong-jin, and Cho  “BeryL” Geon-hee / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends Worlds

Often referred to as a “Cinderella story”, DRX’s win in 2022 was a true underdog tale. The team almost didn’t make it out of the group stages, finishing second and achieving a 3-3 record. They were considered a weak team in the playoffs, and it was assumed that they would be eliminated relatively quickly. 

Despite this, DRX went on to win the LoL Worlds Championship, showing resilience and determination. The drama amped up in each game as DRX continued to progress. Eventually, they went on to defeat the legendary T1 team in an emotional and unbelievable turn of events. DRX took home the same winnings – $500,000– from the $2,225,000 prize pool. 

2023 Champions – T1

The T1 with trophy
The T1 line up during the Lol Worlds 2023 victory was Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong, Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, Ryu “Keria” Min-seok, Moon “Oner” Hyeon-joon and Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends Worlds

Now known simply as T1, the 2023 win for the team was its fourth victory at LoL Worlds. Despite facing early losses in their semi-final against Gen.G, T1 bounced back. 

Faker once again proved his legendary status, but the rest of the team deserved praise too. Oner, Zeus, Gumayusi and Keria came together alongside Faker to grab that victory, and it couldn’t have happened without extremely precise and well-coordinated teamwork. Money-wise, T1 took home around $445,000 from the $2,225,000 prize pool. 

2024 Champions – T1

The T1 with trophy
The T1 line up during the Lol Worlds 2024 victory was Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong, Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, Ryu “Keria” Min-seok, Moon “Oner” Hyeon-joon and Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends Worlds

At the time of writing, the most recent League of Legends World Championship win was in 2024, and it was another victory for T1, who earned $450,000 in winnings from the $2,225,000 prize pool. The team showed off its usual strategic prowess and excellent macro plays, achieving a 3–1 record in the Swiss Stage and a 3-0 sweep in the quarter-finals. They faced off against Gen.G in the semi-finals and Bilibili Gaming in the finals (both of which are teams that could stand a chance of winning in 2025). 

With this win, Faker became the first League of Legends player to achieve five LoL Worlds wins as well as the first to earn two MVP awards in the finals. With a huge crowd watching at home and in person (the event sold out The O2 Arena in London, where it was held), T1’s victory was watched by millions, and the world will keep watching as the 2025 tournament continues. 

Conclusion

There has been a fluctuation in the teams that come out on top at LoL Worlds. From the humble beginnings of Fnatic to the domination of T1 and the incredible underdog story of DRX, the diverse nature of the competitors proves that you can never really know what will happen during a Worlds event. We’ll keep you updated on everything you need to know about LoL Worlds 2025, so be sure to check back for more on the tournament as it happens. 

FAQs

When was the first LoL Worlds?

The first LoL Worlds took place in June 2011. The event was held in Jönköping, Sweden, at the Elmia Exhibition and Convention Centre as part of the Dreamhack Summer 2011 game event. 

Who won the LoL Worlds in 2024?

T1 won the 2024 LoL Worlds event. They beat Bilibili Gaming in a 3-2 win. The event took place on November 2, 2024, at The O2 Arena in London.

Who is the most successful team in LoL Worlds history?

At the time of writing, T1, formerly called SK Telecom T1, is the most successful team in LoL Worlds history. The team has won the Summoner’s Cup five times and placed second once. They have made seven appearances in the Finals, and Faker – a prominent member of the team– is thought to be one of the greatest League of Legends players of all time. 

Is Faker the best LoL player?

This is certainly a topic that some would debate, but the general consensus is that Lee Sang-hyeong a.k.a. Faker is the greatest League of Legends player in the world. He has won MVP two times during the Finals at LoL Worlds and is part of the T1 team, which has five Worlds wins. He also has multiple domestic championship wins in Korea and has a long-lasting career that began over a decade ago in 2013. 

As well as that, he was also the first inductee into the “Hall of Legends” LoL hall of fame and is currently one of only two pro players in the hall (the other being Chinese player Jian “Uzi” Zihao). Faker is a star and a legend in the LoL community, but his influence has spread far beyond that.

The post League of Legends: Every Worlds champion crowned appeared first on Esports Insider.

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