At the start of 2018 it was announced that Vietnam was to separate from the GPL and become an independent region with a linear pathway to international competition. This is not only due to the size of the player base in Vietnam, but also their dominance in the GPL, and their outstanding recent international performances. Last MSI was when the world was introduced to the GIGABYTE Marines, a team that easily took games off major regions, and showed a whole new way to play League of Legends. Teams from Vietnam are known for a fast-paced playstyle, where you never know what they’ve prepared. EVOS is a newly formed team with one goal in mind: to dominate the now-independent Vietnam Championship Series. Despite being a rookie team in the league, EVOS brought some of the greatest Vietnamese players into their roster, like Slay and Stark. Although they faced many obstacles at the very beginning, with intense effort, they reached their goal and became champions of the VCS in their debut split. EVOS will be the first team to represent the Vietnam Championship Series on the international stage.

Turkey’s TCL has been growing each split, something that was accelerated in 2018 thanks to the arrival of a wealth of Korean stars. They not only elevated the quality of gameplay across the league, but also leveled up the ability of Turkey’s home grown talent. Last year at Worlds 2017 it was 1907 Fenerbahçe Espor who showed the strength of the region, beating the Play-In competition and progressing to the Group Stage. Now Turkey will get another chance to show just how far they’ve come since then. BAUSuperMassive was established in 2016 and since then they have made the Finals of every single TCL Split. Not only this, but they have also won every Winter Split, meaning that this will be their third time representing Turkey at the Mid-Season Invitational. With the help of well-known Korean players GBM and SnowFlower, they will once again test themselves against the best that the rest of the world has to offer.

The Oceanic Pro League is built around raw, unfiltered teams. Players wear their hearts on their sleeves, with strong personalities coming through both on and off the Rift. Split 1 of 2018 saw the closest finish in OPL history, and with the top teams pushing each other harder than ever, it’s about time for OCE to make a name for itself on the international stage. Dire Wolves once again earned their spot to represent Oceania at the Mid-Season Invitational after a nail-biting reverse sweep in the OPL Finals. They’ve made slight roster changes since last year’s tournament, and have faced intense competition from other teams in their region. But this has only made them stronger. A team that thrives on confidence and aggression, the wolfpack are looking to make a huge statement when they hit the international stage this time around. After their explosive 10-0 undefeated run in Split 1 of the OPL, their competition better be ready.

It has been a year of change for North America and the NA LCS. Franchising meant the introduction of new teams, new talent, and new money to the scene. The return of Best of 1s created more volatility in the standings, with six playoff teams finishing within one game of each other. All these changes culminated in the biggest change of all: breaking away from the traditional gatekeepers of the NA LCS trophy and crowning Team Liquid as the 4th NA LCS Champion. Team Liquid broke the long-time hold that Cloud9, Counter Logic Gaming, and TSM held over the NA LCS as they became the first champion in the franchising era. Although it will be their first major international event as an organization, Liquid's roster is not without experience; every single player on it has been to Worlds. This also includes one former MSI Finalist, and a World Champion. Now we’ll finally get to see if the 4th curse translates to the international stage.

The LPL is undoubtedly the strongest region never to win a World Championship and is the only region other than Korea to win at the Mid-Season Invitational. While the whole world looks to Korea to refine their style, the LPL has cultivated its own unique way of playing League of Legends. Their games are shorter than the other major regions, and significantly bloodier. This chaotic, bloodbath style of play has made them one of the most exciting regions to watch domestically, and one of the most intriguing when it comes to international play. Will they conform to the standard international meta? Or will they force the rest of the tournament to adapt? Royal Never Give up will take to the stage at the Mid-Season Invitational after their victory over rivals EDG. They’re no strangers to international competition, having made it to the Worlds Quarterfinals and Semifinals respectively in 2016 and 2017. They finished at the top of the Group Stage at MSI back in 2016, only to be knocked out in the Semifinals. Now they’ll get another chance to go even further.

The LMS is one of the only regions not called Korea to have a World Championship under their belt. After the success of the Taipei Assassins at the Season 2 World Championship, and the growth of the region, the League of Legends Master Series was established to separate Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau from the GPL to create a new major region. They have a unique offensive team fighting style, and will once again be represented by the Flash Wolves at this year's Mid-Season Invitational. Flash Wolves are now synonymous with the LMS and international competition. The last time they didn’t represent the region at a major event was back at the 2015 Mid-Season Invitational. This trip to MSI comes off the back of their 5th consecutive LMS Championship, and it will be their third trip to this competition. Although they faced changes in the off-season with the departure of star jungler Karsa, and their coach Steak, they still managed to go 13-1 in the Regular Season and take home the LMS title once more.

One of the key elements that sets the LLN apart from the other leagues represented at MSI is that they’ve only ever had one champion: Rainbow7. Formerly known as Lyon Gaming, the roster claimed their tenth consecutive title at the LLN Finals, something unprecedented in the professional landscape. Despite the domestic success that Rainbow7 has garnered, they’re still yet to make the international splash that would put their region on the map. Rainbow7 are no strangers to international competition or LLN Championships. Formerly known as Lyon Gaming, they’re the only champion that Latin America North has ever known, with now a record 10 Championships under their belt. And they’ve been on the precipice of international success before. At IWCQ Brazil they were one win away from a trip to Worlds, and at Worlds 2017, they were a Best of 5 away from progressing to the Group Stage. As always, R7 will be looking to finally make their mark for Latin America North at an international competition.

The LJL has steadily gained momentum over the years. Most of the teams and players are influenced by the Korean meta, forging picks, strategy, and techniques from their neighbors. Imports from Korea have also made the relatively short jump to Japan, which has levelled up the league through their greater experience. Traditionally LJL players have focused on a conservative style of play, though recently they are opting in for vastly different styles and strategies, showing far more diversity. PENTAGRAM, the team formerly known as Rampage, finished in 2nd place at the end of their Regular Season in Japan’s LJL. In the Finals they once again went head-to-head with DetonatioN FocusMe, continuing one of the longest rivalries in League esports. There, they found their way to an overwhelming 3-0 victory to earn their place at the Mid-Season Invitational. For the majority of the roster it will be their 2nd MSI, and they will once again get to test their mettle on the international stage.

The CIS has traditionally been one of the biggest players in the former Wildcard scene. But their true achievement came at Worlds 2016, when they became the first emerging region to make it to the Quarterfinals, and it happened with an Albus NoX Luna win over tournament favorites ROX Tigers in historic fashion. Since then, the region has struggled to find the same level of performance on the international stage, but with Gambit spearheading, they’ll look to recapture some of that lightning in a bottle. Gambit Esports is historically a powerhouse team in League of Legends, and one of the West’s original hopes in the face of Eastern dominance. The modern iteration of their team is a combination of these old guard players, Worlds Quarterfinalists from Albus NoX Luna, and some new blood. Now, one of the most beloved organizations in the West will return to Europe for the Mid-Season Invitational; the homeland which marked their greatest successes, including multiple Intel Extreme Masters titles and making the World Championship Playoffs.

The LCK looks to extend its dominance over international events on the backs of heavy favorite Kingzone DragonX. Every year teams and fans cling onto some sort of declaration that the gap between Korea and the world is closing, and every year they are wrong. The Korean region has won the past five World Championships and the last two Mid-Season Invitationals. This, however, will be the first time SK Telecom T1 is not their MSI representative. It may signify a changing of the guard, but KZ has been pegged as the favorite to win this tournament since before the Spring Split even started. The only tension for LCK fans may hinge on whether or not KZ drops even a single game. Kingzone DragonX dominated the LCK Spring Split to secure their trip to this year’s Mid-Season Invitational. After a disappointing loss at the Quarterfinals of Worlds last year, the roster revamped by adding world-class jungler Peanut. Their roster features players at every single position who could stake a claim for being the best in the world at their respective roles. Translating their domestic success into international accolade, however, is something that’s generally eluded their players. This is a golden opportunity for them to stand at the top of the world.

The Garena Premier League is one of the oldest competitive regions. It represents teams and leagues from across Southeast Asia and gave rise to the 2012 World Champions, Taipei Assassins. It is a region that has performed strongly at recent international events, largely off the back of Vietnamese teams. Now, with the inception of VCS, those Vietnamese teams have broken away to compete in their own emerging league. At the Mid-Season Invitational, the rest of the GPL will have a chance to step out from the shadow of the Vietnamese teams and prove they can still hold their own. Ascension Gaming has only been around for a bit more than a year, but that hasn't stopped them from steamrolling the competition. With two veteran players and a coach from the Bangkok Titans Worlds 2015 roster, the Thai superstars were on fire in the GPL Finals. The team went 3-1 against the Kuala Lumpur Hunters, earning the new organization its first ticket to the Mid-Season Invitational.

The European LCS has had very mixed results in previous Mid-Season Invitationals. Despite the G2 vacation memes that originated at MSI 2016, G2 Esports was then able to turn a mediocre Group Stage performance at MSI 2017 into a run all the way to the Finals. Now all eyes are on Fnatic to see if they can match or exceed G2’s performance from last year. They’re the only Western region to have a World Championship under their belt, and have historically put on strong performances at international competitions. Fnatic took back their crown as the Kings of Europe after smashing G2 Esports 3-0 in the EU LCS Finals. The last time Fnatic played at the Mid-Season Invitational, they made it to the Semifinals and became the first Western team to take SK Telecom T1 to a five-game series. Now, they return to MSI to represent Europe in front of their home crowd. Last year, it was a European team that reached the MSI Finals, and this year Fnatic will be looking to do one better.

Latin America South was originally created as a duo with Latin America North, and they both battled against each other for one spot in international events. It created strong rivalries between the two regions, similar that of North America and Europe. By 2016, both regions had grown to the point where they could be separated into two different championships, each earning their spot at international events. Latam South will often scrim with Brazilian teams and develop similar play styles, and due to its young age as a region will usually favor team fighting over a polished macro game. Kaos Latin Gamers is one of the most popular teams in the CLS, and one of the biggest esports organizations in Latin America South. They’ve faced both relegations and won championships, all the while fighting for the CLS on the international stage. Their last showing was at Worlds 2017, where they struggled against the competition. But with a new top laner and another Championship-winning split under their belts, they’ll be looking to make amends at MSI.

Brazil has traditionally been one of the strongest emerging regions, and for good reason. They’ve attended four World Championships and have been responsible for some of the biggest upsets in competitive history -- shocking major regions at a time when it wasn’t fathomable that you could lose to a Wildcard. Their fans are loud, their players passionate, and Brazilian teams are always ready and willing to show just how far the region has come whenever it’s time for international competition. Although the geographical location makes it hard for Brazilian teams to scrim against stronger regions, they still hold on to the hope for a bright future on the international stage. KaBuM is a name that sends shivers down the spine of European fans everywhere. It’s only fitting that their return to the top of Brazil comes hand-in-hand with an appearance at the Mid-Season Invitational in front of the European crowd. But for KaBuM, it’s been a trepidatious journey back to the international stage. They played in two relegation series, one of which sent them back down to the Challenger Circuit. It was a dream run that brought them back into the CBLoL, where they would eventually beat Keyd Stars 3-2 in the Finals to earn their spot at MSI.

KABUM! E-SPORTS ZANTINS RANGER DYNQUEDO TITAN RIYEV COACH NUDDLE SUB ATLANTA Brazil has traditionally been one of the strongest emerging regions, and for good reason. They’ve attended four World Championships and have been responsible for some of the biggest upsets in competitive history -- shocking major regions at a time when it wasn’t fathomable that you could lose to a Wildcard. Their fans are loud, their players passionate, and Brazilian teams are always ready and willing to show just how far the region has come whenever it’s time for international competition. Although the geographical location makes it hard for Brazilian teams to scrim against stronger regions, they still hold on to the hope for a bright future on the international stage.

KaBuM is a name that sends shivers down the spine of European fans everywhere. It’s only fitting that their return to the top of Brazil comes hand-in-hand with an appearance at the Mid-Season Invitational in front of the European crowd. But for KaBuM, it’s been a trepidatious journey back to the international stage. They played in two relegation series, one of which sent them back down to the Challenger Circuit. It was a dream run that brought them back into the CBLoL, where they would eventually beat Keyd Stars 3-2 in the Finals to earn their spot at MSI.

KAOS LATIN GAMERS NATE TIERWULF PLUGO FIX SLOW COACH PIERRE SUB ZEALOT Latin America South was originally created as a duo with Latin America North, and they both battled against each other for one spot in international events. It created strong rivalries between the two regions, similar that of North America and Europe. By 2016, both regions had grown to the point where they could be separated into two different championships, each earning their spot at international events. Latam South will often scrim with Brazilian teams and develop similar play styles, and due to its young age as a region will usually favor team fighting over a polished macro game.

Kaos Latin Gamers is one of the most popular teams in the CLS, and one of the biggest esports organizations in Latin America South. They’ve faced both relegations and won championships, all the while fighting for the CLS on the international stage. Their last showing was at Worlds 2017, where they struggled against the competition. But with a new top laner and another Championship-winning split under their belts, they’ll be looking to make amends at MSI.

FNATIC BWIPO BROXAH CAPS REKKLES HYLISSANG COACH DYLAN FALCO SUB SOAZ The European LCS has had very mixed results in previous Mid-Season Invitationals. Despite the G2 vacation memes that originated at MSI 2016, G2 Esports was then able to turn a mediocre Group Stage performance at MSI 2017 into a run all the way to the Finals. Now all eyes are on Fnatic to see if they can match or exceed G2’s performance from last year. They’re the only Western region to have a World Championship under their belt, and have historically put on strong performances at international competitions.

Fnatic took back their crown as the Kings of Europe after smashing G2 Esports 3-0 in the EU LCS Finals. The last time Fnatic played at the Mid-Season Invitational, they made it to the Semifinals and became the first Western team to take SK Telecom T1 to a five-game series. Now, they return to MSI to represent Europe in front of their home crowd. Last year, it was a European team that reached the MSI Finals, and this year Fnatic will be looking to do one better.

ASCENSION GAMING ROCKKY INTRESO G4 LLOYD RICH COACH CABBAGE SUB ARALE The Garena Premier League is one of the oldest competitive regions. It represents teams and leagues from across Southeast Asia and gave rise to the 2012 World Champions, Taipei Assassins. It is a region that has performed strongly at recent international events, largely off the back of Vietnamese teams. Now, with the inception of VCS, those Vietnamese teams have broken away to compete in their own emerging league. At the Mid-Season Invitational, the rest of the GPL will have a chance to step out from the shadow of the Vietnamese teams and prove they can still hold their own.

Ascension Gaming has only been around for a bit more than a year, but that hasn't stopped them from steamrolling the competition. With two veteran players and a coach from the Bangkok Titans Worlds 2015 roster, the Thai superstars were on fire in the GPL Finals. The team went 3-1 against the Kuala Lumpur Hunters, earning the new organization its first ticket to the Mid-Season Invitational.

KING-ZONE DRAGON X KHAN PEANUT BDD PRAY GORILLA COACH ACTSCENE SUB CUZZ The LCK looks to extend its dominance over international events on the backs of heavy favorite Kingzone DragonX. Every year teams and fans cling onto some sort of declaration that the gap between Korea and the world is closing, and every year they are wrong. The Korean region has won the past five World Championships and the last two Mid-Season Invitationals. This, however, will be the first time SK Telecom T1 is not their MSI representative. It may signify a changing of the guard, but KZ has been pegged as the favorite to win this tournament since before the Spring Split even started. The only tension for LCK fans may hinge on whether or not KZ drops even a single game.

Kingzone DragonX dominated the LCK Spring Split to secure their trip to this year’s Mid-Season Invitational. After a disappointing loss at the Quarterfinals of Worlds last year, the roster revamped by adding world-class jungler Peanut. Their roster features players at every single position who could stake a claim for being the best in the world at their respective roles. Translating their domestic success into international accolade, however, is something that’s generally eluded their players. This is a golden opportunity for them to stand at the top of the world.

GAMBIT ESPORTS PVPSTEJOS DIAMONDPROX KIRA LODIK EDWARD COACH ATREMAINS SUB SEIGIMITSU The CIS has traditionally been one of the biggest players in the former Wildcard scene. But their true achievement came at Worlds 2016, when they became the first emerging region to make it to the Quarterfinals, and it happened with an Albus NoX Luna win over tournament favorites ROX Tigers in historic fashion. Since then, the region has struggled to find the same level of performance on the international stage, but with Gambit spearheading, they’ll look to recapture some of that lightning in a bottle.

Gambit Esports is historically a powerhouse team in League of Legends, and one of the West’s original hopes in the face of Eastern dominance. The modern iteration of their team is a combination of these old guard players, Worlds Quarterfinalists from Albus NoX Luna, and some new blood. Now, one of the most beloved organizations in the West will return to Europe for the Mid-Season Invitational; the homeland which marked their greatest successes, including multiple Intel Extreme Masters titles and making the World Championship Playoffs.

PENTAGRAM PAZ ONCE RAMUNE YUTORIMOYASI GAENG COACH 34 SUB HAFU The LJL has steadily gained momentum over the years. Most of the teams and players are influenced by the Korean meta, forging picks, strategy, and techniques from their neighbors. Imports from Korea have also made the relatively short jump to Japan, which has levelled up the league through their greater experience. Traditionally LJL players have focused on a conservative style of play, though recently they are opting in for vastly different styles and strategies, showing far more diversity.

PENTAGRAM, the team formerly known as Rampage, finished in 2nd place at the end of their Regular Season in Japan’s LJL. In the Finals they once again went head-to-head with DetonatioN FocusMe, continuing one of the longest rivalries in League esports. There, they found their way to an overwhelming 3-0 victory to earn their place at the Mid-Season Invitational. For the majority of the roster it will be their 2nd MSI, and they will once again get to test their mettle on the international stage.

RAINBOW7 JIRALL ODDIE SEIYA WHITELOTUS GENTHIX COACH YETI SUB MANU One of the key elements that sets the LLN apart from the other leagues represented at MSI is that they’ve only ever had one champion: Rainbow7. Formerly known as Lyon Gaming, the roster claimed their tenth consecutive title at the LLN Finals, something unprecedented in the professional landscape. Despite the domestic success that Rainbow7 has garnered, they’re still yet to make the international splash that would put their region on the map.

Rainbow7 are no strangers to international competition or LLN Championships. Formerly known as Lyon Gaming, they’re the only champion that Latin America North has ever known, with now a record 10 Championships under their belt. And they’ve been on the precipice of international success before. At IWCQ Brazil they were one win away from a trip to Worlds, and at Worlds 2017, they were a Best of 5 away from progressing to the Group Stage. As always, R7 will be looking to finally make their mark for Latin America North at an international competition.

FLASH WOLVES HANABI MOOJIN MAPLE BETTY SWORDART COACH WARHORSE SUB MORNING The LMS is one of the only regions not called Korea to have a World Championship under their belt. After the success of the Taipei Assassins at the Season 2 World Championship, and the growth of the region, the League of Legends Master Series was established to separate Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau from the GPL to create a new major region. They have a unique offensive team fighting style, and will once again be represented by the Flash Wolves at this year's Mid-Season Invitational.

Flash Wolves are now synonymous with the LMS and international competition. The last time they didn’t represent the region at a major event was back at the 2015 Mid-Season Invitational. This trip to MSI comes off the back of their 5th consecutive LMS Championship, and it will be their third trip to this competition. Although they faced changes in the off-season with the departure of star jungler Karsa, and their coach Steak, they still managed to go 13-1 in the Regular Season and take home the LMS title once more.

ROYAL NEVER GIVE UP LETME MLXG XIAOHU UZI MING COACH HEART SUB KARSA The LPL is undoubtedly the strongest region never to win a World Championship and is the only region other than Korea to win at the Mid-Season Invitational. While the whole world looks to Korea to refine their style, the LPL has cultivated its own unique way of playing League of Legends. Their games are shorter than the other major regions, and significantly bloodier. This chaotic, bloodbath style of play has made them one of the most exciting regions to watch domestically, and one of the most intriguing when it comes to international play. Will they conform to the standard international meta? Or will they force the rest of the tournament to adapt?

Royal Never Give up will take to the stage at the Mid-Season Invitational after their victory over rivals EDG. They’re no strangers to international competition, having made it to the Worlds Quarterfinals and Semifinals respectively in 2016 and 2017. They finished at the top of the Group Stage at MSI back in 2016, only to be knocked out in the Semifinals. Now they’ll get another chance to go even further.

TEAM LIQUID IMPACT XMITHIE POBELTER DOUBLELIFT OLLEH COACH CAIN SUB JOEY It has been a year of change for North America and the NA LCS. Franchising meant the introduction of new teams, new talent, and new money to the scene. The return of Best of 1s created more volatility in the standings, with six playoff teams finishing within one game of each other. All these changes culminated in the biggest change of all: breaking away from the traditional gatekeepers of the NA LCS trophy and crowning Team Liquid as the 4th NA LCS Champion.

Team Liquid broke the long-time hold that Cloud9, Counter Logic Gaming, and TSM held over the NA LCS as they became the first champion in the franchising era. Although it will be their first major international event as an organization, Liquid's roster is not without experience; every single player on it has been to Worlds. This also includes one former MSI Finalist, and a World Champion. Now we’ll finally get to see if the 4th curse translates to the international stage.

DIRE WOLVES CHIPPYS SHERNFIRE TRIPLE K1NG CUPCAKE COACH SHARP SUB GETBACK The Oceanic Pro League is built around raw, unfiltered teams. Players wear their hearts on their sleeves, with strong personalities coming through both on and off the Rift. Split 1 of 2018 saw the closest finish in OPL history, and with the top teams pushing each other harder than ever, it’s about time for OCE to make a name for itself on the international stage.

Dire Wolves once again earned their spot to represent Oceania at the Mid-Season Invitational after a nail-biting reverse sweep in the OPL Finals. They’ve made slight roster changes since last year’s tournament, and have faced intense competition from other teams in their region. But this has only made them stronger. A team that thrives on confidence and aggression, the wolfpack are looking to make a huge statement when they hit the international stage this time around. After their explosive 10-0 undefeated run in Split 1 of the OPL, their competition better be ready.

BAUSUPERMASSIVE ESPORTS FABFABULOUS STOMAGED GBM ZEITNOT SNOWFLOWER COACH IREAN SUB SECAF REIS Turkey’s TCL has been growing each split, something that was accelerated in 2018 thanks to the arrival of a wealth of Korean stars. They not only elevated the quality of gameplay across the league, but also leveled up the ability of Turkey’s home grown talent. Last year at Worlds 2017 it was 1907 Fenerbahçe Espor who showed the strength of the region, beating the Play-In competition and progressing to the Group Stage. Now Turkey will get another chance to show just how far they’ve come since then.

BAUSuperMassive was established in 2016 and since then they have made the Finals of every single TCL Split. Not only this, but they have also won every Winter Split, meaning that this will be their third time representing Turkey at the Mid-Season Invitational. With the help of well-known Korean players GBM and SnowFlower, they will once again test themselves against the best that the rest of the world has to offer.