IG 2018: China's first title

Five years waiting

Until 2018, Korea had won every Worlds. The LPL tried everything: importing Koreans, changing coaches, signing stars. And then came Invictus Gaming: TheShy, Ning, Rookie, JackeyLove and Baolan.

They were not favourites. KT Rolster and RNG looked stronger. But IG played at another speed: endless fights, minute-three dives, controlled chaos nobody could stop.

The KT semifinal

Before the final they had to survive the 3-2 against KT Rolster in quarters, the best series of that tournament. TheShy on Aatrox versus Smeb was an all-time duel that IG won through sheer nerve.

The Incheon final

In Incheon, against the Fnatic of Caps and Rekkles that had thrilled Europe, IG gave no chance: 3-0 in 85 total minutes, the fastest final in history at the time. Ning was MVP with a perfect aggressive jungle tournament and 17-year-old JackeyLove became a star.

Legacy

China’s first title shifted LoL’s balance of power: since 2018, the LPL has won half the Worlds. And it proved unleashed mechanical talent can be a game plan.

“We didn’t know how to stop. So we didn’t stop.” — Rookie on the IG style.

Relive the tournament that broke the world order and rate its games.