T1 actually did it. If you were watching the O2 Arena in London this past November, you felt that weird, electric shift in the atmosphere when the silver scrapes started playing. Most people thought Gen.G or BLG had this in the bag. Honestly, the script felt written for a new era, one where the old gods finally stepped aside. But Worlds League of Legends 2024 wasn't about the passing of the torch. It was about Faker proving that the torch belongs to him until he decides otherwise.
It was loud. It was messy. It was peak League.
The tournament kicked off in Berlin, moved to Paris, and culminated in a London final that broke every viewership record in the book. We’re talking over 6.9 million peak concurrent viewers, not even counting the massive Chinese platforms. That’s a lot of people watching five guys hit buttons. But it wasn't just about the numbers; it was about the meta shift that caught everyone off guard.
The Meta That Nobody Saw Coming
Swapping lanes. Remember when that was a niche strategy from 2016? Suddenly, in the early stages of Worlds League of Legends 2024, top lanterns were getting kicked out of their own lane at level one. It changed everything. Teams like G2 Esports tried to get creative with it, but the LPL and LCK teams eventually just refined the chaos into a science.
The champion pool was equally chaotic. We saw Aurora—the newest vastayan witch—become a "permaban" or "must-pick" nightmare. Then there was Yone. Seeing Chovy or Knight pilot Yone is basically like watching a horror movie if you’re the opposing ADC. You just know you’re going to die; you’re just waiting to see how stylish the execution is.
Actually, the Swiss Stage format really showed its teeth this year. Some people hate it because of the "luck of the draw," but you can’t deny the drama. Seeing Hanwha Life Esports go head-to-head with FlyQuest was a highlight no one expected. FlyQuest actually took a game off them! A North American team playing "Nunu mid" in a serious quarterfinals contention scenario is the kind of fever dream that only Worlds can provide.
Why T1’s Run Felt Different This Time
Let's be real: T1 looked shaky during the LCK Summer Split. They barely made it to the tournament as the fourth seed. Most analysts—the smart ones, anyway—had them exiting in the quarterfinals. They were the underdogs. T1. Underdogs. It sounds fake just saying it.
But something happens to Gumayusi and Keria when they get to the international stage. They stop playing the game and start playing their opponents' minds. By the time they hit the semifinals against Gen.G, the team that had beaten them ten times in a row domestically, everyone expected a 3-0 stomp in favor of Chovy.
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Instead, Faker turned back the clock.
His performance on Sylas and Galio wasn't just "good." It was vintage. It reminded everyone that while "APM" and "mechanics" are great, "clutch factor" is a real, measurable stat that only a few players truly possess. When the pressure is highest, most players play not to lose. Faker plays to win.
The LPL Heartbreak and the Rise of BLG
Bilibili Gaming (BLG) was supposed to be the chosen one. Bin, the top laner, is probably the most intimidating player in the world right now. He plays Jax like he’s personally offended by the enemy team’s existence. BLG represented the best chance China had to reclaim the throne in years.
They played a "heavy-hit" style. Very aggressive. Very "we will dive you at level three and there's nothing you can do about it." In the finals, they actually had T1 on the ropes. They were up 2-1. One more game and the trophy goes to China.
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Then Game 4 happened.
Faker’s Sylas happened. He jumped into four people, stole an ultimate, and survived on a sliver of health. That single play broke BLG’s spirit. You could see it in their face cams. The realization that they weren't just playing a team, they were playing a legacy. The 3-2 victory for T1 was a masterclass in mental fortitude.
The Stats That Actually Mattered
Look at the champion diversity. Over 90 different champions were picked or banned throughout the tournament. That’s insane for a "solved" game.
- Highest Presence: Skarner and Aurora. If you let them through, you were basically asking for a loss.
- The Pocket Picks: We saw Poppy support, Teemo (briefly, thank God), and even the return of Nidalee in the jungle.
- The Duration: Games were faster on average than 2023, largely due to the "Gubbins" (the Voidgrubs). These little monsters forced teams to fight early, ending the era of 40-minute farm-fests.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2024 Finals
A lot of casual fans think BLG "choked." They didn't. BLG played some of the best League of Legends we’ve seen in a decade. Knight was hitting incredible ripples on Orianna. Elk was positioning like a god.
The difference was purely in the mid-to-late game macro. T1 has this weird hive-mind ability where they all decide to do the same "wrong" play at the same time, which makes it the "right" play. They trade objectives better than anyone in history. If you take their Baron, they take your base. It's a relentless exchange of resources that eventually starves the opponent out.
Actionable Takeaways for the Next Season
If you're a player looking to climb the ranks based on what we saw at Worlds League of Legends 2024, don't just copy the pro builds. Pro play is a different sport. However, you can learn three specific things that will actually help your ELO.
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First, objective priority. The Voidgrubs are more important than that first Drake. If you can get five or six grubs, your tower-taking pressure becomes a nightmare for the enemy. Every low-ELO game stalls out because people can’t end. Grubs help you end.
Second, lane flexibility. The "standard" lanes are becoming suggestions. If you're getting countered top, ask for a swap. Communication is hard in solo queue, but even a basic "swap mid?" can save a game that looks lost at the draft.
Third, the "Faker" mindset. Watch the replays of the finals. T1 never panicked when they were 5k gold down. They looked for the one person out of position. In your games, stop hitting the surrender button at 15 minutes. Most teams in Diamond and below will throw a lead if you just stay in the game and wait for them to overextend.
The 2024 season proved that the gap between the regions is closing, but the gap between "great players" and "legends" is wider than ever. We're heading into 2025 with a brand new three-split format and a new international tournament. The game is changing, but the lessons from London stay the same: play aggressive, trust your teammates, and never count out the GOAT.
To stay ahead of the curve for the upcoming season, start practicing with the new "Fearless Draft" format in mind. This system, which prevents teams from picking the same champion twice in a series, is likely to trickle down into more competitive modes soon. Expanding your champion pool to at least five comfortable picks per role is no longer optional—it's a requirement for the modern game. Keep an eye on the Patch 15.1 notes as the preseason adjustments begin to settle the dust from the London finals.