With just the Grand Finals to go, Worlds 2024 is nearing its conclusion. The 14th installment of the League of Legends World Championship has been a roller coaster full of memorable moments. While we won’t be able to pass a complete judgment until this Saturday, we can take a look at the highs and lows of Worlds 2024 and attempt to rank it. Has Worlds 2024 been one of the best Worlds ever?

How Worlds 2024 Stacks Up to the Rest

The Meta

Let’s start with one of the more straightforward criteria. Worlds metas have varied greatly based on what happens to be broken at the time of the tournament. Who could forget the Juggernaut Update Worlds, or the Ardent Censer Worlds?

The most prominent picks at Worlds 2024 are more towards the diverse and skillful end of the spectrum. Gone are the days of Yuumi or Pantheon crushing people with no interaction. Aurora and Yone are the highest presence picks right now, and while very strong, they are at least fun to watch.

The volatile bot lane has seen a wide mix of champions, ranging from lane dominant duos like Kalista and Renata to playmaking and utility picks like Ashe and Leona. Oh, and don’t forget Ryu “Keria” Min-seok’s Pyke and Bard.

Solo lanes have a good mix of strong laners and scaling champs. Jax and Gnar are at the top of top, while Ahri and Sylas are dashing all over the place in mid. The only role with a true meta dominator is Jungle. Skarner is running (drifting?) all around the Rift as a premier frontliner with utility and pick potential. He’s the most likely champion to be picked every game in the first rotation come finals.

The Games

Worlds 2024 has been fairly competitive across the board. The Swiss Stage had its problems but continued to deliver upon being an improvement over the old Groups format, making sure that every match matters and that tension stays high throughout the entire stage.

Ever since the final round of the Swiss Stage, only two of the nine series’ played have been clean sweeps. We were treated to the likes of G2 Esports nearly overcoming eventual Grand Finalists Bilibili Gaming, and an NA vs NA clown fiesta for Top 8 to follow. FlyQuest redeemed themselves by playing the best match of the entire tournament against Gen.G in the Quarterfinals, finally bringing hope back to the NA faithful.

Best Worlds 2024 FLY
Image Credit Riot Games (Adela Sznajder)

While the T1 vs Gen.G series was very hype, it’s a shame that Gen.G couldn’t at least begin to conquer their Worlds demons and lost in four games. The WBG vs BLG Semifinal was a let down as well. Uncompetitive sweeps in the Semifinals are never fun.

As far as game quality and competitiveness goes, Worlds 2024 stands above many that came before, but not at the top. Of course, one thing that could swing that narrative would be a five-game max intensity Grand Final this Saturday.

The Storylines

As a cheesy video game review might say, “Worlds 2024 has a little something for everyone.” We got G2 getting shafted by the format yet nearly overcoming it. We saw FLY give us the best NA performance at Worlds in years. Not getting to see a single NA vs EU matchup does sting a bit though.

On the eastern side of the world, China and the LPL witnessed the slump and subsequent rise of their number one team BLG. Now, they stand in the Grand Finals as an all-Chinese lineup. They would be the first roster of the sort to ever lift the Summoners’ Cup if they win.

And of course, T1 is back from the depths to defend their crown. League’s favorite team was just one game away from not making it to Worlds back in the Regional Gauntlet, yet here they stand on the grandest stage. T1 was the bane of the LPL last year on their improbable run to the title.

Now, T1 will either prove that they are once again the best in the world, or BLG will give a Worlds title-starved nation their sweet, sweet revenge. Worlds 2024 is a continuation of the past two years of peak international action, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.