What Is 2015 Mid-Season Invitational

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2015 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) was the first official global League of Legends tournament hosted by Riot Games, held from May 7 to May 10, 2015, featuring top teams from seven regions competing in a double-elimination bracket.

Key Facts

The 2015 Mid-Season Invitational took place from May 7 to May 10, 2015
Five regional champions participated, including SK Telecom T1 and Invictus Gaming
SK Telecom T1 won the tournament, defeating Invictus Gaming 3–2 in the final
The event was held in Tallahassee, Florida, at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center
Total prize pool was $200,000, with the winner receiving $100,000

Overview

The 2015 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) marked a pivotal moment in competitive League of Legends, serving as the first official mid-year global tournament organized by Riot Games. It brought together the spring split champions from five major regions: North America, Europe, Korea, China, and Taiwan/Hong Kong/Macau (LMS).

This event aimed to bridge the gap between the seasonal splits and provide a platform for international competition before the World Championship. The tournament featured a double-elimination format during the group stage, followed by a single-elimination playoff bracket culminating in a best-of-five final.

Five teams qualified by winning their respective regional spring playoffs: Team SoloMid (NA), Fnatic (EU), SK Telecom T1 (KR), Invictus Gaming (CN), and ahq eSports Club (LMS).
The group stage was held from May 7 to May 9 in a double-elimination format, with the top two teams advancing to the knockout stage.
SK Telecom T1, led by Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, entered as heavy favorites after dominating the LCK Spring Split with a 15–3 record.
The final match between SK Telecom T1 and Invictus Gaming lasted five games, ending in a 3–2 victory for the Korean team on May 10, 2015.
The prize pool totaled $200,000, with the champions receiving $100,000 and the runners-up earning $50,000.

How It Works

The 2015 MSI introduced a new competitive structure for mid-year global events in League of Legends, combining regional supremacy with international rivalry. The format emphasized both consistency and adaptability across diverse play styles from different regions.

Double-Elimination Group Stage: The five teams played in a modified double-elimination bracket where losing a series sent a team to the losers' bracket, with elimination after a second loss.
Regional Representation: Only the spring split champions from each partnered region were invited, ensuring the highest level of competitive legitimacy.
Knockout Stage: The top two teams from the group stage advanced to a single-elimination final, a best-of-five series held on May 10.
Match Format: All series were best-of-five, except for early group stage matches, which were best-of-one, increasing strategic unpredictability.
Location and Venue: The event was hosted in Tallahassee, Florida, at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, chosen for its central location and esports-friendly infrastructure.
Global Broadcast: The tournament was streamed live in multiple languages, reaching millions of concurrent viewers, particularly in Korea and North America.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the participating teams and their performance at the 2015 MSI:

Team	Region	Spring Split Record	MSI Result	Prize Money
SK Telecom T1	Korea (LCK)	15–3	Champions (3–2)	$100,000
Invictus Gaming	China (LPL)	15–9	Runners-up	$50,000
Fnatic	Europe (EU LCS)	13–5	3rd–4th	$25,000
Team SoloMid	North America (NA LCS)	13–5	3rd–4th	$25,000
ahq eSports Club	LMS (Taiwan)	12–6	5th	$10,000

The table highlights the dominance of Korean and Chinese teams, with SK Telecom T1 and Invictus Gaming reaching the final. Despite strong performances from Fnatic and TSM, they were eliminated in the semifinals, underscoring the competitive gap between regions at the time. The event also demonstrated the rising strength of the LMS region through ahq’s participation.

Why It Matters

The 2015 MSI established a new benchmark for international mid-season competition in League of Legends, setting the stage for future editions and influencing global meta development. It reinforced Korea’s dominance in esports and highlighted the growing professionalism in international tournaments.

Set a precedent for future MSI events, which became annual fixtures in the League of Legends esports calendar.
Boosted global viewership, with peak concurrent streams exceeding 1.5 million viewers during the final.
Validated Korean supremacy, as SKT’s victory reinforced LCK’s status as the strongest region in 2015.
Provided international exposure for players like Faker, Uzi, and Bjergsen on a global stage.
Influenced in-game strategies, with meta shifts observed across regions following the event’s innovative champion picks.
Enhanced Riot’s esports model, proving the viability of mid-year global events between Worlds and All-Stars.

The 2015 Mid-Season Invitational remains a landmark event in League of Legends history, symbolizing the game’s growing global reach and competitive depth.