Last updated: May 22, 2023 (final match results and standings).

The highly-anticipated 2023 Mid-Season Invitational, MSI for short, began on, May 2. The MSI is the first international event of the year and one of the biggest League of Legends on their esports calendar. The best LoL pro teams showcase their technical prowess at the Copper Box Arena, London, in front of thousands of fans in-person and via live streams.

Thirteen teams will battle it out for the MSI 2023 title and the lion's share of the whopping $250,000 prize pool. Which team will take home the crown? Only one way to find out! Here's everything you need to know about MSI 2023.

MSI 2023: Format

The Mid-Season Invitational 2023 is split into two stages: the play-in stage and the bracket stage. Both stages will feature a double-elimination bracket to keep things exciting. MSI 2023 will begin on May 2 and end with a bang on May 21 with the Grand Final.

  • Play-In: May 2-7

The remaining eight teams will be split into two groups of four teams, with every match being a best of three with a double elimination format. The group winners and the winner of a LCQ match (last chance qualification) will proceed to the bracket stage and join the five invited teams.

  • Bracket Stage: May 9-14 and May 16-20

Eight teams participate in this round, with three Play-In teams and five teams having prequalified from various tournaments in major regions. All matches in the bracket stage are best-of-five.

  • Grand Final: May 21

MSI 2023: All Competing Teams

The first seeds from the major leagues: LEC, LCK, LCS, and LPL, receive an automatic bye through to the bracket stage and will each be represented by two teams in a format shake-up. LCK are also currently the reigning world champions, receiving an additional slot for their region in the bracket stage. There are some really strong contenders for this year's MSI crown - who will take the win?

Here is a rundown of all the teams competing for this year's MSI title, including how they qualified and their full-player roster.

Which Team Will You Bet On?

Play-In Stage Teams

Bilibili Gaming

Bilibili Gaming is qualified for the MSI as the LPL Spring runners-up.

  • Chen Ze-Bin - "Bin"
  • Zhao Jia-Hao - "Elk"
  • Luo Wen-Jun - "ON"
  • Peng Li-Xun - "Xun"
  • Zeng Qi - "Yagao"

DetonatioN FocusMe

DetonatioN FocusMe earned their play-in-stage slot as the current LJL Spring 2023 champions.

  • Lee Ga-eul - "Aria"
  • Lee Ji-yoong - "Harp"
  • Mun Geon-yeong - "Steal"
  • Haruki Shibata - "tol2"
  • Yuta Sugiura - "Yutapon"

G2 Esports

G2 Esports became the first team to qualify for this year's MSI play-in stage after winning the LEC Winter 2023 Split, representing the EMEA region.

  • Sergen Çelik - "BrokenBlade"
  • Rasmus Borregaard Winther - "Caps"
  • Steven Lev - "Hans Sama"
  • Mihael Mehle - "Mikyx"
  • Martin Sundelin - "Yike"

GAM Esports

Gam Esports earned their slot in this year's MSI international tournament by winning the VCS 2023.

  • Đặng Thanh Phê - "Kati"
  • Trần Duy Sang - "Kiaya"
  • Đỗ Duy Khánh - "Levi"
  • Mai Hoàng Sơn - "Sty1e"
  • Nguyễn Tuấn Thọ - "Zin"

Golden Guardians

Golden Guardians are a League of Legends esports team interestingly operated and owned by the NBA team, Golden State Warriors. They earned their MSI slot by being the LCS 2023 Spring runners-up.

  • Kim Tae-woo - "Gori"
  • Choi Jae-hyun - "huhi"
  • Eric Ritchie - "Licorice"
  • Kim Dong-woo - "River"
  • Trevor Hayes - "Stixxay"

LOUD

LOUD are a Brazillian esports team, qualified through the CBLOL Split 1.

  • Park Jong-hoon - "Croc"
  • Denilson Oliveira Gonçalves - "Ceos"
  • Leonardo Souza - "Robo"
  • Moon Geom-su - "Route"
  • Thaigo Sartori - "tinowns"

Movistar R7

Previously known as Rainbow 7, Movistar R7 are finally back on stage for the first time since 2020. They emerged as the Latin America champions in the Opening Season, qualifying for the MSI.

  • Cho Bo-woong - "Bong"
  • Lorenzo Tévez - "Ceo"
  • Pedro Luis Peralta - "Lyonz"
  • Jeong Jo-bin - "Mireu"
  • Sebastián Alonso Niño Zavaleta - "Oddie"

PSG Talon

PSG Talon is the current PCS Spring 2023 champion, rightfully earning their slot in the MSI play-in bracket.

  • Huang Shang-Jhih - "Azhi"
  • Yu Chun-Chia - "JunJia"
  • Chen Chang-Chu - "ubao"
  • Tsou Wei-Yang - "Wako"
  • Lin Yu-En - "Woody"

Pre-Qualified Teams

Cloud9

Cloud9 is the current reigning LCS Spring champion, receiving a straight bye into the bracket stage of the MSI.

  • Robert Huang - "Blaber"
  • Kim Min-cheol - "Berserker"
  • Jang Min-soo - "EMENES"
  • Ibrahim Allami - "Fudge"
  • Jesper Svenningsen - "Zven"

Gen.G

Gen.G won this year's LCK Spring split, and this will be their first-ever MSI appearance. As LCK were the winning region of last year's LoL Worlds, they get to take two regions into the MSI this year.

  • Jeong Ji-hoon - "Chovy"
  • Yoo Hwan-joong - "Delight"
  • Choi Hyeon-joon - "Doran"
  • Han Wang-ho - "Peanut"
  • Kim Su-hwan - "Peyz"

JD Gaming

JD Gaming earned their spot through the LPL league as the current champions.

  • Bai Jia-Hao - "369"
  • Seo Jin-hyeok - "Kanavi"
  • Zhuo Ding - "knight"
  • Lou Yun-Feng - "Missing"
  • Park Jae-hyuk - "Ruler"

MAD Lions

MAD Lions won this year's LEC Spring 2023 split after a dominant performance throughout - you can find our detailed coverage here.

  • Matyáš Orság - "Carzzy"
  • Kim Dong-hyeon - "Chasy"
  • Javier Prades Batalla - "Elyoya"
  • Zdravets Iliev Galabov - "Hylissang"
  • Yasin Dinçer - "Nisqy"

T1

T1 is a powerhouse team in the League of Legends esports sphere and is a team to keep an eye on as the second team from the LCK region in this year's MSI.

  • Lee Sang-hyeok - "Faker"
  • Lee Min-hyeong - "Gumayusi"
  • Ryu Min-seok - "Keria"
  • Mun Hyeon-jun - "Oner"
  • Choi Woo-je - "Zeus"

MSI 2023: Where To Watch

MSI 2023 will be held at the Copper Box Arena in London, built especially for the 2012 Olympic Games. Tickets for the event can be found here, with prices as low as £22!

For any fans that can't make it to the international tournament, don't worry! All MSI games will be broadcast live on the Riot Games Twitch channel, which is embedded below for your convenience.

MSI 2023: Bracket Stage Schedule

May 9

  • 1PM - Gen.G Vs. G2 Esports - 3-1

May 10

  • 1PM - MAD Lions Vs. T1 - 0-3

May 11

  • 1PM - Bilibili Gaming Vs. Cloud9 - 3-0

May 12

  • 1PM - JD Gaming Vs. Golden Guardians - 0-3

May 13

  • 12PM - Gen.G Vs. T1 - 2-3
  • 5PM - G2 Esports Vs. MAD Lions - 3-0

May 14

  • 12PM - Bilibili Gaming Vs. JD Gaming - 0-3
  • 5PM - Cloud9 Vs. Golden Guardians - 3-1

May 16

  • 1PM - G2 Esports Vs. Bilibili Gaming - 1-3

May 17

  • 1PM - Gen.G Vs. Cloud9 - 3-0

May 18

  • 1PM - T1 Vs. JD Gaming - 2-3

May 19

  • 1PM - Billibili Gaming Vs. Gen.G - 3-0

May 20

  • 12PM - T1 Vs. Billibilli Gaming - 1-3

May 21

  • 12PM - JD Gaming Vs. Billibilli Gaming - 3-1

MSI 2023: Play-In Schedule

Below is the official schedule for the Play-Ins. All times listed will be in BST, and match winners are in bold.

May 2

  • 1PM - DetonatioN FocusMe Vs. PSG. Talon - 0-2
  • 4PM - Loud Vs. G2 Esports - 0-2

May 3

  • 1PM - Rainbow 7 Vs. Bilibili Gaming - 0-2
  • 4PM - GAM Esports Vs. Golden Guardians - 0-2

May 4

  • 1PM - Golden Guardians Vs. Bilibili Gaming - 1-2
  • 4PM - G2 Esports Vs. PSG Talon - 2-0

May 5

  • 1PM - GAM Esports Vs. Movistar7 - 1-2
  • 4PM - LOUD Vs. DetonatioN FocusMe - 2-0

May 6

  • 1PM - Golden Guardians Vs. Movistar 7 - 2-0
  • 4PM - PSG Talon Vs. LOUD - 2-0

May 7

  • 12PM - Golden Guardians Vs. PSG Talon - 3-0

MSI 2023

MSI 2023: Current Standings

Below you can find the current standings, aswell as the prize pool distribution.

1) JD Gaming - $50,000

2) Bilibili Gaming - $37,500

3) T1 - $30,000

4) Gen.G - $25,000

5-6) Cloud9, G2 Esports - $20,000 each

7-8) Golden Guardians, MAD Lions - $15,000 each

9) PSG Talon - $12,500

10-11) Movistar 7, LOUD - $7,500 each

12-13) GAM Esports, DetonatioN FocusMe - $5,000 each

Final Thoughts

That's everything fans need to know about the 2023 Mid-Season Invitational. We will update this article with information as it becomes available, including the current standings and match results, so watch this space!

If you want more esports news, we've got information on LoL Your Shop, an ARAM guide, and the best female characters in the game!