Difference between Masters and Champions

#1

Pondy

Genuine question. Aside from the name and prize money is there actually any real difference between a masters title and a champions title?
The main thing I can think of is that for champions everyone starts on the same starting blocks, but in most cases it would be the higher seeds from each region getting through anyways (like how in champs 2023 none of the LCQ teams made it out of groups).
The other one is that maybe champs being later on means weaker teams have shown more of their playbook and it tests which teams has more depth?

#2

Achlys

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Basically champions has more teams

#3

skatman

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apart from the factors you mentioned, there's a big gap between masters 2 and champs so teams and sit down and figure shit out
metal has alr been figured out by the 2nd masters, so its all about teams mastering it
rito intentionally stops changing shit before champs so that the meta becomes stale and teams can practice and perfect it
the breathing space means the level of gameplay seen in champs is much higher than masters.
i would say top 3 at each champs would win any masters had they been in their champs form during a previous masters
basically each year there is a new meta, masters 1 is the experimentation, masters 2 is figuring it out and champions is the polished version

#4

horse69

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msi vs worlds

#6

Selex

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No, not really. Until this year, MSI has never been comparable to worlds in terms of competitiveness and difficulty in winning(it still isn't tbh) because of the disparity in number of teams going. Masters/Champs is much much much closer.

#7

lucidity0000

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More teams in msi than in masters, at least in 2023

#12

Selex

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Yes but up till last year it was 11 teams with only a single team from each of the major regions vs 22+ teams at worlds. LoL isn't like valorant. There is no regional parity. China and Korea dominate everything. So realistically, you had an 11 team tournament where only 2 teams could win. And besides 2019 when Europe's G2 was really strong, The chinese/korean representative have won every single msi only really having each other to compete with. Only worlds is really competitive since you have a much wider array of potential teams that can win (8 chinese/korean teams vs the 2 you have at msi).

At least in valorant masters are 12 teams vs champions with only 4 additional teams(16). The field is more even and it's never been unreasonable to say you could see many different teams winning(besides in early/mid 2021 when certain regions were very behind).

#5

MNFRKK

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champions are more prestigious, only consistent teams can directly played in champs (by circuit points), but in 2023 it looked like same with masters even champs still the biggest tourney of the year. Anyway, in 2024 the circuit point is back, it bring more value to champs, like '21 and '22

#8

grenji

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Champions has more prize money, more teams, more prestige. It's the tournament every team is built with the hopes of winning.

I'd still classify masters as majors tho (not madrid that shit mickey mouse.)

#9

Er3ngenes1s

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still the best 2 teams from every region compete in it, though it has 8 teams. competition is still high

#10

melon_fan

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We are delusional and rate champions higher that’s it

#11

DeluluGavin

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Players tend to put more emphasis and importance in champs