The League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) has delivered countless unforgettable moments. Iconic runs, clutch outplays, and ruthless dominance don’t just bring titles—they write the language of LoL esports. It’s those stories that fans return to for nostalgia or study to replicate greatness.

Join us as we revisit some of the best Worlds performances in League of Legends history. By the end, you’ll have the full picture of what made each moment special, why it mattered, and how it helped shape the legacy of LoL esports.

What Makes A Worlds Performance Truly Legendary?

In League of Legends, greatness shows up in many forms. Sometimes it’s ruthless control with clean macro, steady teamfight setups, and zero panic. Other times, it’s chaos tamed by courage—an underdog that refuses to give up.

Ultimately, the best runs bring mechanics with meaning, innovation in draft, and perfect synergy when pressure peaks.

SKT T1 (2013, 2015, 2016) — The King’s Reign 

Faker’s arrival raised the ceiling of what a pro LoL player could achieve. In 2013, his map reads and mechanical outplays were unlike anything anyone had seen before. After a rough 2014, SKT returned to form in 2015, and Faker’s legendary carry performances set a new bar for every mid laner in LoL.

At Worlds 2015, Faker averaged an impressive 7.3 KDA after his team made a near-flawless run, dropping only one game in the entire tournament. His iconic Ryze was even more striking, posting a 14.0 KDA in five games. While his Worlds 2016 run wasn’t as dominant numbers-wise, he was still SKT’s main player.

The Semifinal against ROX Tigers was especially standout and is still widely considered the greatest LoL series ever played. Even though ROX banned Ryze in all five games, Faker’s deep champion pool allowed the “Unkillable Demon King” to carry SKT to the Finals, beating SSG in another five-game thriller.

Samsung Galaxy (2017) – The Redemption Arc

After losing the Final in 2016, SSG returned to Worlds 2017 more determined than ever. With clear setups, tidy vision lines, and elite macro, Ambition’s pathing steadied the early game while CuVee and Crown unlocked the side lanes.

Although SKT were heavy favorites in the Finals, they couldn’t find an answer for Crown’s Malzahar pick, which led to a clean, but unexpected 3–0 sweep. SSG’s run showed that playing relatively simple champions that don’t require god-like mechanics can be enough to win the LoL World Championship.

DRX (2022) — LoL’s Greatest Underdog Story

From Play-Ins to their Finals victory, DRX were considered underdogs throughout the entire Worlds 2022 bracket. Considering the stacked opposition at the time, this DRX run is widely considered the greatest underdog performance by a team—not only in League of Legends, but in all of esports.

Legendary ADC Deft carried years of near-misses into one perfect run. Zeka exploded onto the stage and put up a performance that rivaled Faker’s glory days. DRX’s Worlds win proved once again that seeding can be wrong, and courage can be the most determining factor when pressure peaks.

G2 Esports (2019) — The European Dream Run

G2 turned draft creativity into map pressure. They introduced elite flexibility with role swaps and non-stop skirmishing tempo that carried the team past many giants of the LoL scene. Perkz’s swap to the bot lane allowed unconventional picks in the ADC role that few teams could adapt to.

One of these picks was Yasuo, with whom they managed to beat SKT in the 2019 Worlds Semifinals. Even though they fell short in the Final, G2’s 2019 run was the best international performance by a Western team to date. It also proved the LEC and LCS could close the gap with the East.

FunPlus Phoenix (2019) — The New LPL Giants

FPX’s Worlds 2019 triumph felt unusual at first glance. Doinb’s off-meta mid lane picks—such as Nautilus, Sion, Malphite, and Rumble—unlocked the map completely, and the team’s “always together” mentality set the tone.

They looked overly aggressive early on in the tournament, but as the bracket progressed, their structured approach in an open meta became clear. Building on IG’s 2018 breakthrough, FPX brought one of the best Worlds performances ever and proved that the LPL’s international dominance was here to stay.

Royal Never Give Up (2018) — Uzi’s Legacy

RNG’s 2018 Worlds run felt inevitable. With MSI glory, regional dominance, and Uzi redefining the ADC role, they were clear favorites to take the Worlds title. He wasn’t just that focal point—he was the team’s blueprint. RNG funneled resources bot, drafted around Uzi’s item spikes, and he delivered.

Unfortunately, they were stopped by G2, and this run turned out to be Uzi’s last real shot at claiming the World Championship. Despite this, he’s still considered by many the second-best LoL player of all time, with RNG’s 2018 dominance being a big reason why.

Invictus Gaming (2018) — The Shy And Rookie

LoL’s chaotic 2018/2019 meta let players express themselves in a way like never before. The duo that defined it was IG’s TheShy and Rookie. TheShy applied immense lane pressure, constant limit-testing, and it’s safe to say that he popularized the term “top-gap” during this impressive run.

Rookie, on the other hand, provided stability with a flexible style that let TheShy and JackeyLove take over fights. Their toughest series at Worlds 2018 was against the LCK superteam, KT Rolster. This series also included the famous Game 3 base race, one of the most iconic LoL plays of all time.

IG’s domination showed both on stage and in scrims. Team Vitality coach YamatoCanon later stated that, in his career, he had never faced a force like that 2018 IG team, despite not officially playing against them on stage. Breaking an era of LCK dominance, IG’s 2018 lineup secured LPL’s first Worlds title.

DAMWON Kia (2020) — LCK Redemption

After the LPL giants topped most power rankings in 2018 and 2019, LCK teams had to reinvent themselves, as their usual controlled style was no longer enough. DWG didn’t just bring Korea back—they modernized control. ShowMaker set the tempo mid, Canyon dictated every fight window, and the side lanes played along.

As the Worlds 2020 champion, DWG bridged eras, blending the discipline of SKT and SSG with a new-age, aggressive style. This run is often overlooked simply because it was so dominant and came from a team without a long legacy.

DWG didn’t let any series reach five games, which speaks volumes about their control. ShowMaker’s 17.0 KDA on Twisted Fate across five Worlds games reflects DWG’s methodical map-control approach with the flexibility to adapt amid chaos. Their 2020 performance stands as one of the best Worlds runs of all time.

G2 Esports (2018) — Perkz’s Carry Run Against RNG

G2 Esports’ Perkz was on the other side of RNG’s loss in the Worlds 2018 Quarterfinals. His carry performances across 2018, especially against Worlds’ favorite RNG, remain a perfect example of how elite players can solo-carry with great confidence and map awareness.

Over the five-game series against RNG, Perkz played five different champions, which speaks to his 2018 form and adaptability. Two games stand out: a 7/1/4 Aatrox in Game 4 and an 11/0/4 LeBlanc in Game 5—performances that sent G2 to the Worlds 2018 Semifinals.

Honorable Mentions

Some Worlds runs didn’t result in teams lifting the Summoner’s Cup, or came in different eras, but you still feel their imprint. Players still remember the legendary calls, innovative drafts, and nerve-racking plays. Here are a few that still resonate:

• T1 (2023) — T1’s 2023 run marked a measured return after the heartbreaking 2–3 loss to DRX in the Worlds 2022 Finals, with Faker’s veteran presence anchoring a hungry young core and Zeus claiming Worlds 2023 Finals MVP for his dominant carry picks.
• EDward Gaming (2021) — EDG’s triumph at Worlds 2021 was defined by vision, patience, and teamfights in a hard-fought 3–2 victory over DWG KIA in the Worlds Finals.
• ROX Tigers (2016) — ROX Tigers’ 2016 campaign was a display of the team’s creativity, relentless lane pressure, and bold drafts and set a new strategic standard, even without a Worlds title to their name.

FAQs

What is the best Worlds performance in LoL history?

Faker’s 2013–2016 era and DRX’s 2022 miracle run are widely regarded as some of the best Worlds performances in League of Legends history.

Has any team won Worlds back-to-back?

Yes. SKT T1 (now T1) won back-to-back Worlds in 2015–2016 and again in 2023–2024.

Who has the most Worlds titles in LoL esports?

Faker holds the record of having the most Worlds titles (5): 2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, and 2024. T1 also tops the team’s list with five titles.

Which region has the best track record at Worlds?

The LCK has historically led with 9 Worlds titles, followed by the LPL with 3 titles.

What is the biggest underdog win in Worlds history?

DRX’s victory at Worlds 2022, starting all the way from the Play-Ins, is widely regarded as the greatest underdog story in LoL history.