10 best LoL MSI performances of all time: From pentakills to Baron steals

As we approach the 10th edition of Riot Games’ Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), we’ve decided to round up our favourite LoL MSI performances. While this year’s Fearless Draft adoption will shake up the tournament experience, previous games have also given us some exhilarating plays. Be it an impenetrable defence or a cutthroat attack, fans have plenty to relive if they haven’t caught up with the pentakills of yesteryear.

Here are our top ten LoL esports moments from MSI, right from its inaugural event in 2015 to its latest edition. These include outplays that gave teams a significant leg up against their opponents in crucial situations, often securing the game itself. And with that, let’s get right to it.

While MSI might not be the biggest League of Legends esports event of the year, every iteration was packed with unforgettable plays and wild upsets. It was a tall task to pick favourites from so many moments, but these ten stood out from the rest. Here are our picks for the 10 best MSI LoL performances of all time.

TSM secured an impressive win against Flash Wolves back in 2017 thanks to a combination of teamwork and sheer pluck. As Ahri, Bjergsen snuck behind the Elder Dragon and claimed the buff for himself in front of the enemy team, delivering a mental setback and securing a powerful enhancement. While it wasn’t the only impressive play of the game, this outplay is certainly among our favourites. 

Here’s how Bjergsen stole the Elder Dragon in one of MSI 2017’s most iconic plays.

When the going got tough at the top lane, Koro1 backed down. As the top laner of Edward Gaming, he started feeling the pressure as MaRin and Bengie from SKT rained hits on him. With moments to spare, Koro1 retreated only to stare down SKT’s Wolf near the tower. Thanks to a well-placed stun and dodge, he manages to stay alive and even knocks Wolf out in the process. The commentators go wild, and it’s an intense moment that fans won’t forget from MSI 2015’s SKT vs EDG match. 

Dive into MSI 2015 with this unforgettable SKT vs. EDG showdown on YouTube.

MSI 2023 was packed with jaw-dropping surprises, and Chovy’s quadrakill is no different. By sneaking into the backline during an enemy team offensive, Chovy helped Peyz put four opponents into the ground in the bottom lane. Caps’ well-timed stopwatch move merely delayed the inevitable as Chovy earned his Ace shortly afterwards. 

Experience G2 vs. GEN’s explosive MSI 2023 match all over again right here.

After a hasty retreat from the enemy base, seeing RNG’s Looper at the backline put the entire CLG team on alert. Thanks to some quick thinking, Stixxay managed to turn things around with a spectacular Ace, knocking down four opponents and continuing the push forward. It was a magical moment, especially since Royal Never Give Up were undefeated at the time. Counter Logic Gaming ended up beating RNG shortly afterward, cementing their place in LoL esports history.

Catch the key play from RNG vs. CLG in YouTube’s MSI 2016 recap.

Stealing the Baron buff proved to be a worthwhile gambit for MAD Lions despite three players quickly falling to DWG KIA’s team of enraged champions. You can’t help but be impressed when you see Carzzy slide into the fray and slay the Baron before DK can stop him. MAD ended up winning the game but ultimately lost 3-2 to DK. 

Rewatch the clutch moment from the RNG vs. FNC match at MSI 2018 right here.

Pentakills are always a showstopper at LoL tournaments, and Rekkles’ defensive one stood out from several others in previous MSI matches. Fnatic’s Rekkles sent the enemy team on a quick retreat from the blue base, but he wasn’t done yet. He proceeded to knock out every single RNG player, giving FNC a significant leg up in the match. It might not have been enough to win the game, but for a moment, things swung in FNC’s favour. 

Watch the unforgettable RNG vs. FNC moment from MSI 2018 right here.

Speaking of pentakills, Caps’ exhilarating pentakill from 2019 tops the previous one because this one happened right inside the enemy’s base. For the final kill, Caps went all the way to the steps of the enemy fountain and claimed his prey. Naturally, G2 had plenty of time to clean up the base and secure victory. 

This G2 vs. SKT highlight is one for the books – don’t miss it.

Landing at spot 3 is an immaculate outplay from GEN’s Peyz, surviving a nasty teamfight against Bilibili Gaming by clever dodges right from the jaws of death. The commentators could hardly believe their eyes as the fight swung back in Gen.G’s favour. GEN went on to win the match, securing a 3-2 victory against BLG at MSI 2024 last year. 

Watch how Peyz pulled off the clutch outplay in BLG vs. GEN at MSI 2024.

The MAD Lions were a hair’s breadth away from defeat in this incredibly close match against PNG in MSI 2021. With under 20% of the blue Nexus’ health left, Elyoya, Humanoid, and Armut managed to slay three PNG players, giving them just enough breathing room to go back on the offensive. MAD won the match shortly after, and this hair-raising moment remains one of MSI’s best performances. 

Here’s the must-watch LoL esports clip from MAD vs. PNG at MSI 2021.

This is it. While it was difficult to narrow down the best performances of all time, there’s only one moment that could effortlessly take the top spot. Low on health, GEN Chovy beats a hasty retreat with T1’s Zeus right behind him. Just as Chovy reaches the steps of the fountain, Zeus stuns him and proceeds to land what should have been the final blow. 

Instead, he’s greeted by a perfectly timed stopwatch freeze that protects Chovy from death. While that’s a worthy feat in itself, the commentators didn’t catch on to one crucial fact: Chovy didn’t have a stopwatch moments ago. To escape death, Chovy managed to open the store menu, purchase the item, and activate it before Zeus struck him. It’s a moment in MSI history that players will never forget. 

LoL MSI, known as the Mid-Season Invitational, is Riot Games’ second annual competition. This year, 10 teams will compete for a massive $2,000,000 LoL MSI prize pool. The event will take place from June 27 to July 12, 2025, at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada. 

In addition to the hefty cash prize, LoL MSI 2025 is also an opportunity for teams to bag a slot in Worlds 25, Riot Games’ biggest World Championship event of the year. With the qualifiers coming to a close, it’s only a matter of time before these talented teams from five regions face off in a heated battle for glory at the final LoL MSI location in Canada.

Over LoL MSI’s rich history of thrilling matches, countless outplays changed the course of the tournament and determined its victors. Our top ten moments celebrate the very best of those League of Legends strategies, featuring a blend of teamwork and luck that left commentators and audiences in awe. 

Expect more such moments to surprise you during LoL MSI 2025. The Fearless Draft setup will ensure that even more champion synergies and counters show up. Stay tuned to Esports Insider for all the latest news on the LoL MSI schedule and other developments.