If you’re a fan of the hugely popular online game League of Legends, then you already know there is some seriously intense competition. With millions of players around the world, there are plenty of teams vying for the top spot in the rankings. The game had gone on to reach levels of popularity that Riot Games could only have dreamed of when they released the game back in 2009.
The 2023 season has just gotten underway, and roads lead to the Worlds, which will take place later this year in South Korea. Online betting site Bodog now allows their players to bet on eSports and enjoy innovative strategy games, so if you’re an eSports guru, consider competing for an esports betting bonus at https://thunderpick.io/en/esports.
Still, the question is, which League of Legends teams stand out above the rest? While you may be one of the better ranked LoL players, it will take you a while before you reach the levels of some of these teams. Let’s take a look at five of the best and most popular League of Legends eSports teams in the world right now.
Team Liquid – North America/Europe
Team Liquid is one of the biggest names in eSports and has been consistently performing well since forming in 2002. It wasn’t until 2015, however, that the team branched out into the world of LoL. They have had some incredible players on their team over the years, from superstar mid-laner Jensen to ADC Doublelift, who has earned himself a reputation as one of the greatest ADCs in Western League of Legends history.
Team Liquid is also no stranger to winning tournaments in eSports in general. However, they haven’t yet managed to pick up a single tournament victory in League of Legends specifically.
They did reach the 2019 Mid-season Invitational. However, they were beaten by…
G2 Esports – Europe
G2 Esports is another team that needs no introduction when it comes to competitive gaming. Their roster has had some huge names feature in recent years, such as Perkz, Jankos, and Mikyx – all considered among some of Europe’s top players.
G2 has performed well on the global stage, also. They reached the semifinals at the World Championships in both 2018 and 2020; however, they were beaten on both occasions. They did go all the way at the 2019 MSI tournament, however, thumping Team Liquid 3-0 in a final whitewash. When it comes to viewing figures, G2 has a good following – their MSI 2019 finals match was viewed by over 1 million viewers around the world.
T1 – South Korea
The formerly named SK Telecom T1 – now just simply T1 – might be one of LoL’s oldest teams, but that doesn’t mean they’re slowing down anytime soon; this team is still going strong after 12 years together with no signs of stopping! This legendary Korean team has some serious star power on its roster, including Faker – widely considered to be the best League of Legends player ever – and Wolf – regarded as one of Korea’s best supports.
As far as tournament wins go, T1 Is the most successful team in League of Legends history, having amassed an incredible 18 major titles since forming back in 2011. They lifted the World Championship three times in four tournaments between 2013 and 2016.
Viewing figures are solid, too, with 1 million viewers tuning into their Worlds 2017 final match against Samsung Galaxy; however, that ended in a resounding 3-0 defeat. After a few years away from the upper echelons of LoL, T1 returned with a bang last year, reaching the finals of the Worlds and the MSI; however, they lost on both occasions.
FunPlus Phoenix – China
FunPlus Phoenix burst onto the scene back in 2017 but has quickly become one of China’s most successful teams thanks to its incredibly talented roster and dedication to practice and strategy. Their star player is Care, who plays mid-lane for FPX; he’s widely known as being one of China’s best players.
The team also made history back in 2019 when they became World Champions after beating G2 3-0 in what was a stunning victory barely one year after the team’s foundation. Viewership wasn’t bad either, with 1 million people tuning in to watch them lift their first trophy. The esteemed team is yet to build on its maiden success, however.
Royal Never Give Up – China
Royal Never Give Up (RNG) is another big name from China that needs little introduction. They are the most successful team in the history of the Mid-Season Invitational, winning the tournament three times. They lifted their maiden MSI crown back in 2018 and would lift back-to-back trophies in 2021 and 2022.
Their roster used to include Uzi, who is widely considered one of China’s best bot lakers. However, their new star player is Ming, who many think might be even better than Uzi himself. RNG is yet to make its presence felt in the World Championships, and they have never made it past the quarterfinals.
