5 most shocking upsets in LoL MSI history: Unmatched outplays 

With 10 teams gearing up for Riot Games’ Mid-Season Invitational, there’s no telling what MSI upsets the matches have in store for us. Previous performances rival those of Worlds tournaments, with quick thinking and stellar teamwork from underdogs putting the big players out to pasture. In preparation for the intense games that await you, we’ve compiled the five most shocking upsets in MSI history that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Watching these replays will give you a good idea of what to expect from this year’s exciting lineup. The new Fearless Draft format will inject MSI 2025 with even more stunning plays and unconventional counters. Read on for a primer on five victories that altered the trajectory of MSI history, with all-time favourites bowing out to unexpected victors.

MSI, known as the Mid-Season Invitational, is Riot Games’ second annual LoL tournament that takes place after the First Stand. This year, the event’s venue is the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada. Ten teams will fight for an impressive $2,000,000 prize pool from June 27 to July 12. 

The winning LoL MSI 2025 team will also secure a position in Worlds, Riot Games’ flagship tournament. While it might not be as well-known as Worlds, MSI lets you watch the world’s best international LoL players hone their strategies against worthy opponents. 

While each iteration of LoL’s MSI tournaments has its share of upsets, we narrowed our list to the five most impressive ones that fans continue to reminisce over to this day. These focus on the underdogs whose outcomes kept tournaments from getting predictable. Let’s start with JDG bagging its first title after beating T1 3-2 in five nerve-wracking semifinal games.

After a tense semifinals win against SK Telecom T1 (T1) at MSI 2023, JD Gaming (JDG) went on to win their first MSI title after beating Bilibili Gaming (BLG). JDG’s massive 3-2 upset against T1 clocked 2.2 million viewers, becoming the most-viewed match in MSI history, at the time. 

Ruler’s triple kill as Jinx at the 15-minute mark and his 12-1-3 KDA despite some fights going in T1’s favour kept the crowd spellbound. While some may argue that T1 could have won if not for their poorly timed Baron attempt at the 30-minute mark, none can contest the significance of this moment in MSI history. Check out the game here.

G2’s historic victory over Top Esports (TES) at MSI 2024 was an upset that shook the traditional dominance of Eastern teams in the tournament. For the first time since 2018, a European team defeated an LPL (League of Legends Pro League China) team in a Bo5 knockout. 

G2 did it in style too, securing a 3-0 win thanks to solid teamwork and better drafts. While TES went on the offensive with two early bot lane kills in Game 3, poor trades and a bad teamfight helped G2 bridge the gap and secure the game. G2 didn’t make it to the finals. Despite that, it was a strong EU upset against an Eastern team. Catch up on the LoL game here.

One day after TL brought down IG for one of the biggest upsets in MSI history, G2 would deliver yet another stunner at MSI 2019. They managed to beat SKT (T1) 3-2 in the semifinals and went on to win the finals. While all their matches were packed with intense moments, my personal highlight is Caps’ astonishing pentakill in Game 2. 

Naturally, it made its way into our top 10 LoL MSI performances of all time. Game 5 was tight as well, with Pyke securing five kills early for G2. While SKT handed G2 a lethal Ace and set eyes on the Baron, G2 picked up the pace and returned the Ace to SKT, sealing the game. See it for yourself here.

MSI 2017 was packed with electric moments. Among them, Team WE’s victory against Flash Wolves on Day 1 is an upset for the ages. After unconventional champion picks like Kled, Taliyah, and Bard, viewers were excited to see how WE would deal with Flash Wolves. It didn’t take long for 957 to dominate the top lane as Kled after securing a first blood kill against Elise. 

Once he secured six kills, Rumble, Ryze, and Malhazar surprised him in a three-man gank. Miraculously, he survives and distracts them with some help. 957 keeps them at bay long enough for WE to secure the Baron. Things went downhill from there for the Flash Wolves and the game ended in 30 minutes. Here’s where you can watch the MSI LoL match.

Hot off a 9-1 run, Invictus Gaming (IG) seemed poised to beat Team Liquid (TL) 3-0 in the MSI 2019 semifinals. However, things turned out very differently as a shocked crowd witnessed TL beat IG 3-1. The final match went in TL’s favour after Jensen picked Lux, helping them secure a 5-1 kill lead 12 minutes in. 

CoreJJ also played a pivotal support role in key moments as Galio. It didn’t take long for TL to accumulate a strong gold lead against IG, sealing their fate. Team Liquid went on to the finals, and while they were defeated by G2, knocking IG off the MSI ladder remains an achievement that the world will never forget. Check out the League of Legends match replay here.

LoL MSI is known for upsets that shook the ladder and presented fans with countless exhilarating moments. From Caps’ pentakill securing G2’s finalist position at MSI 2019 to 957’s Kled rampage for WE at MSI 2017, players continue to redefine expectations and challenge the best professional teams in the esports scene. Expect to see more upsets as we approach the grand finals of the Mid-Season Invitational 2025. Keep an eye on Esports Insider for the latest 2025 LoL MSI news.