The Best LoL Esports Matches of 2021

2021 is coming to an end, and we decided to take a quick look back at last year's esports matches. Unfortunately, most events were once again played in empty arenas, but we have big hopes for 2022 and the upcoming World Championship in North America.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. It's time to look back at 2021's best League of Legends series. Which games will we still be watching five years from now? What were the most unforgettable matches of the year?

DAMWON KIA vs. MAD Lions – MSI Semifinal

LEC hopes held their breath through this series. MAD Lions came so close to beating the 2020 World Champions that not even G2 — the team no one in the LCK could get near, 2019 World finalists and European champions — could beat DAMWON.

Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, and DAMWON KIA had two aces up their sleeve in Canyon and ShowMaker. The two of them flipped into full power mode and delivered a match that will excite people for ages.

EDG vs. RNG – World Championship Quarterfinal

After LPL representatives got bombed out of the groups this year, the LPL's hopes rested on these two teams. Of course, the League of Legends gods weren't on the LPL's side, and the two representatives had to face each other in the very first round of the knockout stage.

Could EDG finally break the curse of failing at the quarterfinals? Would RNG, after stealing the Mid-Season Invitational crown, keep trying and keep winning at the biggest esports event? With this much expectation, the series didn't disappoint, keeping everyone on the edge of their seat.

DAMWON KIA vs. RNG – MSI Final

DAMWON KIA looked set to win the MSI trophy with ease. Who could challenge them? Well, none other than top laner Xiaohu and the rest of Royal Never Give Up. The LPL's spring champions kicked it into high gear.

DAMWON KIA made several mistakes as BerryL was outplayed by Ming in the support role, and their rotations fell apart. 2021 was truly heartbreaking, and other teams should have taken notes on how RNG played to try and beat DAMWON in the future.

T1 vs. DAMWON KIA – World Championship Semifinal

This was one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2021 World Championship. Would Faker keep his crown as the best mid laner, or would ShowMaker build his own legacy behind the unkillable demon king?

Everything came together, everything looked so close and so perfect for T1, but they stumbled at the final moments. It was a thrilling series, exciting, and it kept every League of Legends fan on the edge of their seat.

EDG vs. DAMWON KIA – World Championship Final

Everyone had written off Edward Gaming. Who were these plebeians from China? Could a team that had never gotten past the quarterfinals challenge the ultimate League of Legends team? Please, this would be nothing more than child's play — but everyone's expectations were turned upside down.

EDG stuck to the plan they'd followed since the start of the World Championship playoffs. Backed into a corner, down 2-1, Scout then went wild alongside jungler JieJie and beat the 2021 World Champions to bring the trophy home.

What International Tournaments Are There in 2022?

There are two international tournaments held every year, and planned again for this year. They are:

MSI (Mid-Season Invitational)

Worlds (World Championship)

When Are the 2022 International Tournaments Planned to Take Place?

The MSI tournament is planned for May,

and the Worlds tournament is planned for October 2022.