Methodology
> How we rank League of Legends professional players based on tournament achievements
> The Core Philosophy
LoL Virtuoso ranks players by awarding points only for 1st or 2nd place finishes in major tournaments. This creates a "trophy cabinet view" that weighs championships based on their real-world prestige and difficulty.
The system solves three critical problems in esports ranking: Regional Disparity (East vs West strength), Format Inflation (2-split vs 3-split eras), and Prestige Hierarchy (ensuring World Championships remain statistically supreme).
> Ratios Matter, Not Absolute Points
The numbers you see (27, 18, 9, 6, 3) are intentionally arbitrary. What makes the system work are the ratios between tiers.
Example: If we divided every value by 3, the rankings wouldn't change at all. A player with "9 points" would still rank the same against someone with "6 points" because the 3:2 ratio is preserved.
This system answers: "How much harder/more valuable is this achievement than that one?" rather than assigning arbitrary point totals.
Key Ratios
- > Worlds : MSI = 3 : 2 (Worlds ≈ 1.5× MSI)
- > MSI : First Stand/Asian Games/EWC = 2 : 1
- > Major Regional (LCK/LPL) : Minor Regional = 2 : 1
- > Winner : Runner-up = 3 : 1 (always)
> International Tournament Hierarchy
| Tournament | 1st Place | 2nd Place | Justification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worlds | 27 | 9 | The apex. Largest bracket, all regions, ultimate career-defining trophy. |
| MSI | 18 | 6 | 2/3 of Worlds. Objectively the hardest tournament since double elimination, but fewer teams and less historical prestige than Worlds. |
| First Stand | 9 | 3 | 1/2 of MSI. Newer international tournament with shorter format than MSI/Worlds. |
| Asian Games | 9 | 3 | Olympic-backed event. High prestige but infrequent. |
| EWC | 9 | 3 | Esports World Cup. Emerging international competition. |
Why this hierarchy? Prize pools and format length validate these tiers. Worlds (~$5M) > MSI (~$2M) > First Stand (~$1M). The point ratios mirror competitive reality.
> Regional Scaling: East vs West
Not all regional titles are created equal. Historical performance shows Eastern teams (LCK/LPL) dominate international competition, winning ~90% of knockout matches against Western opponents. The system reflects this competitive reality.
| Region/League | Format | Win | Runner-Up | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCK (Korea) | Spring/Winter | 6 | 2 | Historically strongest region |
| LCK Summer 2025+ | Season Finals | 12 | 4 | Only 1 per year, Riot salary cap validates 2× value |
| LPL (China) Pre-2025 | 2-split | 6 | 2 | Equal to LCK in strength |
| LPL 2025+ | 3-split | 4 | 2 | Reduced to prevent inflation (3×4 = 12 pts/year) |
| LEC (Europe) 2023+ | 3-split | 2 | 1 | Adjusted for 3-split format |
| LCS (North America) 2025+ | 3-split | 2 | 1 | Adjusted for 3-split format |
| Other Regions | Varies | 3 | 1 | PCS, VCS, LLA, CBLOL, LJL, etc. |
> Why LCK/LPL Get More Points
Winning the LCK is objectively harder than winning the LCS. Awarding an LCK title 2-3× the points of a Western title isn't bias—it's statistical correction based on decades of international results.
This prevents a player who dominates a weaker region from mathematically surpassing someone competing in "hard mode" regions.
> The 1/3 Runner-Up Rule
Second place finishes are worth exactly 1/3 of the winner's points across all tournaments. This creates a steep but fair drop-off that ensures winning is what matters for GOAT status.
The Math
- > Worlds: 27 → 9 (1/3)
- > MSI: 18 → 6 (1/3)
- > First Stand: 9 → 3 (1/3)
- > LCK Summer: 12 → 4 (1/3)
- > LCK Regular: 6 → 2 (1/3)
Why 1/3?
If 2nd place was worth 50-70% of 1st, a "King of Silver" with 5 finals losses could outrank a true champion with 2 wins.
The 1/3 ratio respects consistency (4 finals ≈ 1 win in points) but prevents inflating participation medals.
> Era Normalization: Preventing Inflation
The critical flaw in most ranking systems is "Recency Bias"—modern formats often have more tournaments, allowing new players to farm points faster than legends of the past.
> The 3-Split Adjustment
In 2025, major regions (LPL, LEC, LCS) moved from 2 splits to 3 splits per year. Without adjustment, modern players could farm 50% more regional titles.
LPL Example (Perfect Balance)
Old Era: 2 wins × 6 pts = 12 pts/year
New Era: 3 wins × 4 pts = 12 pts/year
A dominant 2025 season = A dominant 2018 season
Western Leagues (Same Logic)
LEC/LCS: 2 wins × 3 pts = 6 pts/year (old)
LEC/LCS: 3 wins × 2 pts = 6 pts/year (new)
Result: This protects the integrity of historical comparisons. Faker's 2013-2017 dominance remains statistically comparable to modern players despite format changes.
> LCK Summer Doubling (2025+)
Starting in 2025, the LCK moved to a single-season format with one major championship: the Summer/Season Finals. This tournament is worth 12 points (2× regular splits).
Why Double?
- > Only 1 per year (not 2-3 like before)
- > Longer format with full double round-robin
- > Season-defining tournament
- > Riot-validated via salary cap rules
Institutional Proof
The LCK's 2025 Sporting Financial Regulations explicitly treat Summer/Season Finals as worth double in performance-based salary cap exemptions.
This isn't opinion—Riot's own money backs up the 2× weighting.
> Frequently Asked Questions
Why only 1st and 2nd place?
3rd-4th place finishes don't carry the same weight in legacy discussions. Finals appearances (win or lose) are career-defining moments. Semifinal exits, while respectable, don't belong in the same tier statistically.
Can I customize point values?
Yes! The default profile is read-only, but you can create custom profiles with your own values. The ratios remain internally consistent.Try it in the rankings page.
What about excluded tournaments?
Some tournaments (like LCK's 2025+ "Road to MSI") are excluded because they're qualifier events, not championships. They're worth 0 points and hidden from the UI to avoid clutter.
Is this system perfect?
No system can capture every nuance of esports greatness. This is a transparent, ratio-based framework that values trophies consistently across eras. It's not a "who's better at League" predictor—it's a trophy cabinet scoreboard.
> Why This System Works
✓ Time-Proof: Era normalization prevents modern inflation from skewing historical rankings.
✓ Region-Aware: Eastern dominance is reflected mathematically, not ignored for political correctness.
✓ Prestige-Focused: Worlds reigns supreme. No amount of regional farming can match international glory.