Pockets of the UK League of Legends community were left disappointed today after Riot Games announced no global events will take place on our shores this year.
2018 will be the third consecutive year no global LoL esports events have taken place in the UK, following the Worlds quarter finals in London in October 2015 and an LCS event also at Wembley in June 2014.
Riot announced that Worlds will take place in South Korea which is expected once again towards the latter part of the year, All-Star will be hosted by North America in December, while Rift Rivals venues and locations will be revealed at a later date.
We are excited to announce the locations of our global events in 2018!#MSI2018 ?? ??#RiftRivals2018 ?? ?? ?? ?? ??#Worlds2018 ??#AllStar2018 ?
Learn more at: https://t.co/6WBZHp78GM pic.twitter.com/KAmAmm2MZL
— lolesports (@lolesports) February 27, 2018
The closest event to the UK is the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) which runs in Germany and France in May.
It could be that the UK gets some LCS or Rift Rivals events, but for now there’s been no confirmation that it will.
It’s a shame – it was almost a year ago when Riot announced it would be opening a UK office and Esports News UK understands that Riot UK has its main members of staff in place, including Riot UK head of esports Mo Fadl.
We’re sure Riot UK has something up its sleeve, so don’t rule the UK out just yet.
Saying that, some members of the UK LoL community took to Twitter to express their disappointment following today’s announcement:
Gotta be honest, a touch sad none of the MSI stages are being held in UK. With it being at worlds a few years back, that was my first ever LOL event live and is what got me hooked on getting into the industry. Just a shame but hope it returns soon (cos doubt it will after brexit)
— Grant Rousseau (@GrievanceLOL) February 27, 2018
How long until we get another event in the UK? The last one was in 2015 for worlds quarters. @RiotYuka bring league back to Britain!
— Eld #EULCS (@Eld_on_Twitch) February 27, 2018
At least make Allstars in the UK, next year is probs gonna be in the US… AGAIN
— Aamir (@m4custom1) February 27, 2018
The UK need a week of lcs again :€ with a pop up store! Will see if I can make it to Paris:×
— Zak Feasey (@ZakFeasey) February 27, 2018
nothing in UK? kmt
— Dbsi (@El4sticlov3) February 27, 2018
if EU summer finals isnt in UK ill be so disapointed
— Alistair D Johnson (@Bobcat1939) February 27, 2018
Eventually something will be hosted in the Uk.. Last thing we got was the 2015 Worlds quarter finals..
— Ben Bright (@BenBright__) February 27, 2018
no UK? fml
— FNC_EpicallyEvil (@EpicallyEvil) February 27, 2018
Let’s hope Riot has something planned for us outside of the usual UK tournaments for 2018 or 2019.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
