WORLDS STAGES BREAKDOWN
Play-In Stage: Sept 25-30
The 10 Play-In teams will be split into 2 groups of 5 teams each.
Each of these groups will play a single round-robin cycle, with the first-place teams both advancing to the Group Stage, and the last-place teams being eliminated.
The third- and fourth-place teams in each group will play a best-of-five series, with the loser being eliminated and the winner advancing to a best-of-five series against the second-place team from the other group. The winners of those matches also will qualify for the Group Stage.
These matches will determine the four Play-In teams that move on to the Group Stage.
Check out the Worlds Format Explainer for a detailed look at this year’s Worlds format!
Group Stage: Oct 3-6; Oct 8-11
16 teams – 12 that qualified for the Group Stage directly, and 4 from the Play-In Stage – are drawn into 4 groups. Each group plays a double round-robin, best-of-one series. The two highest-ranked teams from each group will move on to the final leg of the tournament, the Knockout Stage.
Knockout Stage: Oct 15-18 (Quarterfinals); Oct 24-25 (Semifinals); Oct 31 (Finals)
Eight teams move on to the Knockout Stage, which encompasses Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals. For this stage, the tournament transitions to a single-elimination bracket with all matches played in a best-of-five format. Matchups are decided by an on-stage draw before each day of play begins.
The team that comes out on top will become the 2020 World Champions.