Summoning Insight

On the cusp of MSI playoffs, Thorin and Monte preview each match and discuss why the Western teams have slim odds of an upset and how each team matches up stylistically with their opponents. MAD Lions and Golden Guardians have been borrowing strategies from T1 and GenG, but how can they win as they face the real thing? G2's wacky team compositions won't be enough to topple the macro gods of GenG, especially if they continue to play without a teleport in top lane. Analysts have been talking a big game about NA's performance at play-ins at international tournaments, but Monte and Thorin are here to dispel that delusion and question how satisfied North American fans should be.

T1, JDG, and Gen.G all have strong claims to become the next MSI champion, but who do Thorin and Monte predict will claim the title? Spanish and French fans are crossing a line with player criticism and deserve to be called out, even though player performance from Europe has not been up to its usual international standards. T1 roars back after losing their Korean crown to GenG and we're here to break down why fortunes reversed and the teams evolved since their last best-of-five showdown in the LCK finals. JDG seem like the team to beat with spectacular teamfighting and a favorable meta that enables their superstar ADC, Ruler, but they showed some flaws in the LPL that have yet to be revealed on the MSI stage...

MSI ends with an all-LPL final and a convincing win for the JDG super team, and Summoning Insight is here to break down all the details. What went wrong for T1 and Gen.G? TSM announces their departure from the LCS for another region, which ends the TSM holy war in a final victory for Monte and Thorin. The North American academy system is in trouble as the teams vote to end the challenger team requirement and the players' association makes demands, but does this make sense financially in League of Legends?

Monte and Thorin are joined by eight classic Summoning Insight guests to share memories of League of Legends esports as a celebration of 200 episodes of the show! Taking turns on the podcast are Edward "Edward" Abgaryan, Nick "LS" De Cesare, Jakob "YamatoCannon" Mebdi, Maurice "Amazing" Stückenschneider, Yoon-seop "Locodoco" Choi, Erik "DoA" Lonnquist, Will "Chobra" Cho, and Christoph "nRated" Seitz. Learn the truth behind the Gambit Pringles sponsorship, the definition of a toxic cesspool of negativity, and stroll down memory lane from 10 years of League of Legends esports.

Richard "RichsWrath" Wells joins the show to discuss the ongoing walk-out saga from the LCS Players' Association and the current financial realities of player salaries within the League of Legends ecosystem. They dive into Doublelift's on-stream responses to the player walkout and his potential sabotage of the collective negotiating efforts. Other topics of discussion include Sjokz's surprise announcement that she'll be taking a break from the LEC broadcast for the Summer Split, the staleness of the meta as LPL kicks off once more, and the ethics of being a scab player for LCS teams.

Harris Peskin, attorney at ESG Law, comes on the show to finalize the discussion of the LCS player walk-out and debate whether the players themselves have taken too much money to make the league sustainable. They also discuss the possibility of unionization and salary caps for the professional players, which may be the only path forward to responsibly continue the LCS. The teams appear to have received the worst pain from the bursting of the esports bubble, so what will they need to do to survive?

All the major regions in League of Legends are up and running, so it's time to check in on the general level of play at the start of summer with LPL as the clear leader. Teams in LCS and LEC look poor at the moment and the LCS' viewership is hitting an all-time low, so it may be a rough Worlds for the West in 2023. Monte and Thorin chat about the upcoming telecom war in LCK and why fans should have hope that KT can finally beat T1, as well as the possibility of an upset by Dplus over GenG. They also discuss which teams might be currently overperforming, such as Team Liquid, Heretics, and Evil Geniuses, and why they expect those teams to fall back to Earth.

Rumors swirl that all major regions, LCS, LCK, and LPL, will be changing their formats next year to accommodate an additional international event, which sounds like a return to the League of Legends circuit from ten years ago. Fnatic's additions of Trymbi and Noah seem to have helped with the longstanding synergy issues between Humanoid and Razork, but will this new bot lane allow them to take the LEC title? JDG is a juggernaut and should be the favorites to win Worlds in almost any scenario, especially as they tore through the TOP Esports last week. Thorin and Monte discuss what makes them so strong and if any teams from the LCK can currently compete with the LPL's best.

T1 announced that Faker will sit out for at least two weeks with an arm injury, but how much will that affect his team's performance before LCK playoffs? The LPL displays a dazzling level of mechanical talent, which Riot has slowly optimized the game toward with new champions and patches, leading the right into China's wheelhouse as they look poised to dominate a weak field at Worlds. LCS viewership was lower than Brazil's CBLOL in the Spring Split and the gulf appears to be widening for Summer, leaving North America in a perilous position moving forward. Vitality's Summer draws to a close in a somehow even more disappointing fashion than the other splits this year, with Monte and Thorin giving a eulogy to the superteam.

What does it mean for Faker's legacy after seeing T1 play without him? Is the collapse of his team indicative of the essential strength of his leadership in game or a lack of motivation from his teammates given the circumstances. Substitute players abound with Bible, Spirax, and APA coming in for Dplus KIA, FlyQuest, and Team Liquid, and Monte and Thorin are here to discuss the impacts of these roster moves. The guys also chat about the upcoming LEC group stage and a random Apex Legends' caster's hot take on the value of casting.

The LCK announces new salary restrictions on players/teams, a luxury tax, and exemptions for former champions, which means that Thorin and Monte are here to discuss the details.

LPL playoffs have reached the double-elimination stage and fans are being treated to some of the best League of Legends in the world. JDG looks to defend their title and seem like the heavy favorites, but can LNG, BLG, or TOP put up a fight and steal the crown? In spite of better-than-expected play from Excel, G2 still should comfortably win the LEC with some adjustments to their strategy, which Monte breaks down. KT vanquishes GenG to claim the number one position in the LCK rankings as they look to continue their massive win streak straight into the playoffs in two weeks' time. Rumors persist that Riot is discussing a possible merger of LCS and CBLOL alongside a move outside of Los Angeles, and the guys insist in would be in the best interest of the competitive scene to proceed.

With the end of the LEC's Summer Split and the upcoming Season Finals, Thorin and Monte dive into whether this year's new format has been a success and the changes that need to be made before 2024. The LCK off-season looks insane this year, with players such as Kiin, Canyon, Showmaker, Chovy, and many more stars with their contracts expiring. What super team rosters will be possible to assemble next year in Korea. The LPL playoffs have reached the finals and JDG looks like a lock to win, but the races in LCS and LCK are not so sure and merit in-depth discussion. Faker is back and T1 already looks better, but formidable opponents stand in his way, including a revitalized HLE with their new jungler Grizzly.

A healthy roasting of Summoning Insight's nemeses kicks off this week's episode, with more hilarious social media hijinks from Evil Geniuses' staff drawing continued attention on Danny's disappearance. LPL crowned JDG as back-to-back champions in 2023 and the rest of the Chinese Worlds contenders have been decided, so Monte and Thorin break down the teams who will compete in Korea in October. TSM has allegedly played their last game in LCS and somehow Summoning Insight managed to outlast the once-popular American team. Surely, NRG can't pull off a third upset in a row to lock in a place in the LCS finals, right?

LCK playoffs have become surprisingly exciting with the resurgence of T1, and now it feels like anyone's bracket between T1, Gen.G, and KT. Can any of the Korean teams counter JDG's style at Worlds? Monte and Thorin discuss the reasons that JDG has yet to drop a single bo5 this year and theorize how the pre-tournament favorites might be toppled. The LCS playoffs have exposed numerous flaws in North America's play, leading our hosts to ask when we last saw a playoffs this bad considering the number of throws and blown leads. EG's rapid exit in spite of their regular season ranking exposed them as fraudulent, but it's not clear that Cloud9 or Golden Guardians will fare much better on the international stage.

Famous streamer Ibai might be paying 3 million Euros for player salaries and other costs to prop up KOI, whose ownership is struggling to make payments to staff and Riot for their franchise slot. Gabby Durden announces that she will not participate in the LCS next year, to a mixed reaction from fans who enjoyed her interviews and hosting but criticized her casting. The LCS leadership engaged in a bizarre interview with Travis Gafford in which they revealed they reveal their ridiculous goal is to draw more non-domestic viewership like the LCK, with Monte and Thorin here to reveal the difficult reality that impedes their vision. They discuss the LCK playoffs/regionals, the latest on the LEC Season Finals, and more.

Evil Geniuses' embattled CEO Nicole Lapointe Jameson steps down from her position after months of controversy surrounding her handling of Danny's mental health crisis and numerous articles revealing her incompetence in a leadership position. Monte and Thorin discuss the amusing email sent to all EG staff members at her departure, including an outrageous line that she is the "Warren Buffett of esports." LEC finalizes the teams that will be sent to the World Championship with BDS tagging along to face Golden Guardians in the Worlds Qualifying Series. Is there hope for Europe and was their promise shown in the LEC Season Finals so far?

The LEC season is finally over after a slow, extended grind through the season finals and, surprise, G2 lifts the European trophy once again. Monte and Thorin discuss their expected victory as well as Fnatic's surprising resurgence with Wunder coming in as a last-minute substitute. The LEC appears to be raising the minimum age of players to 18, but why? Does this mean that they have secured new betting or alcohol sponsors? After many promises from Riot about using Dash for content and VALORANT hosting, it appears to have all been lies now that we can reflect on the amount of work he received over the course of 2023. Is this an ill omen for Riot casters in NA?

This year's MEGA PREVIEW episode of Summoning Insight has landed! Guests galore join the show to talk about all major regions and many of the minor ones, making sure you'll be informed heading into the 2023 World Championship in League of Legends. Our featured guests are: Max "Atlus" Anderson (LCK caster), Alex "Nymaera" Hapgood (LPL analyst and LJL expert), Tom "Carix" Newing (VCS caster), Lucas "Maestro" Pierre (Furia head coach), Thomas "Thinkcard" Slotkin (NRG head coach, and Dylan Falco (G2 head coach).

The new format for Worlds Play-Ins has already delivered a much more exciting and robust competition in the early stages of League of Legends' marquee event, but Monte and Thorin still dread the upcoming Swiss format due to poor seeding and unavoidably wacky results. Our hosts discuss each of the match-ups from the first round of Swiss, and what fans can reasonably expect from the performance of each of the 16 teams.

We've got a few bangers to start off the second stage of the Swiss at the World Championship, particularly KT vs LNG and T1 vs BLG. JDG's performance has been marvelous, but has LNG shown the glimmers of how to beat them in their three recent, close series? Team Liquid's uniquely tragic performance underscores a disappointing Worlds run for Western teams, but thanks to the Swiss format we might still see one of Fnatic, Cloud9, or NRG qualify for the bracket stage. G2 has proven their mettle and deserves a quarterfinal match, with only the minor hurdle of NRG remaining. Would it be Summoning Insight without a little complaining about formats? No, it would not.

Worlds playoffs have arrived with the quarterfinal match-ups starting this week and you've got Monte and Thorin to preview each of the four match-ups. Fans have worked themselves into a tizzy about the performance of G2 and NRG, so it's time to bust some myths concocted on social media and address logical fallacies about these two teams' tournament runs. G2 released their entire year of scrim results, but it this a good look for the org?

This week, we break down all four of the quarter-final match-ups at the LoL World Championship and debate T1's chances at ending JDG's bid to complete their journey on the Golden Road. BLG should easily beat Weibo en-route to a berth in the finals, but if the series is close does this spell doom for an exciting end to the tournament? The question of the Dade Award looms as Tarzen turns in an unforgiveable performance, and Monte and Thorin contemplate if there should be a winner this year. With another GenG performance at the international level, the guys discuss if this is the end of the Chovy/Peanut partnership that yielded three domestic titles but collapsed at two Worlds and an MSI.

The show begins with reactions to the semi-final matches and an in-depth breakdown of the high-level series played between T1 and JDG, ending the latter team's attempt at completing the first Golden Road in League of Legends history. Thorin and Monte preview the finals and discuss how Weibo might hope to defeat the T1 juggernaut in a meta the Korean team has defined, but the opportunity appears slim. They chat about the variety of roster moves rumored for LCS and LEC teams, including G2's former members regrouping under Heretics' banner.

The 2023 League of Legends World Championship has ended with T1 and Faker's fourth title by beating a lifeless Weibo Gaming. Considering that Zeus, Keria, and Gumayusi are now free agents, what is the legacy of this iteration of T1's roster from their past two years of play together? Evil Geniuses and Golden Guardians suddenly exited the LCS, leaving the league with 8 teams for next season. Thorin and Monte discuss the ramifications on the LoL and broader esports ecosystem as a result of these moves, as well as the unfortunate plight of the players promised spots on these rosters. The free agency window officially opened on November 20th, which means it's time to rampantly speculate about the future of the LCK and LPL considering the huge number of elite players not yet contracted for the 2024 season.

Jakob "YamatoCannon" Mebdi is back on Summoning Insight to discuss the LEC and LCK rosters for the upcoming 2024 season of League of Legends! They also discuss what he would do in a theoretical universe where he's the head coach of Karmine Corp and his speculations about the team's roster and coaching staff construction. Doublelift announced his retirement (again), so Monte and Thorin discuss what it says about the health of the LCS and the success of his lengthy esports career.

After touching on this year's rostermania in the LCK and LEC, this week Thorin and Monte turn their discussions to North America and Europe. With Cloud9's acquisition of Jojopyun, will they be the presumptive title favorites in the LCS? Over in China, Knight has announced his move to BLG, Weiwei signs with LNG, and OMG topside moves to NiP to play alongside Rookie. Riot finally steps in to takeover the LPL English broadcast as well, but it comes at the cost of downsizing the already meager casting crew on the league.

Christian "IWillDominate" Rivera joins the Summoning Insight season finale to discuss the greatest teams of all-time in the history of League of Legends. They discuss over a decades' worth of competitive League of Legends to identify and celebrate the best teams in LoL. Our hosts evaluate teams that peaked at an extraordinary level, such as Samsung White and Invictus Gaming, while also examining the teams that almost managed to walk the Golden Road, including JDG, SKT T1, RNG, and G2. Join us to evaluate each teams' unique aspects, strength of individual players, and fierceness of competition they faced to reveal the best of the best!

We circle back on some old news that we have yet to discuss: long-time analyst and coach Mark "MarkZ" Zimmerman has been named the new commissioner of the LCS. Thorin and Monte give their takes on the news as well as examining the extent to which he can effect real change in the floundering North American league. Travis Gafford unexpectedly entered the conversation surrounding the commissioner role, which leads to quite a few laughs about the ridiculous situation. T1 fans are also compared to the movie Gremlins, but what else is new?

Disquieting news settled on the League of Legends esports world this week with new from Jacob Wolf that the Saudi Arabian government would be including League of Legends in their Esports World Cup in July, 2024. MonteCristo and Thorin discuss the history of the Saudi esports initiatives, including this past year's Gamers8 event, and what it means to have Riot approval for competition. Our hosts also unpack the latest LEC talent announcements, the changes to the Worlds seeding and format, the delays in announcing league schedules, and Riot's "Hall of Legends."

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss week 1 of the LEC, Ibai and MAD KOI vs Yamato and Karmine Corp, whether MarkZ's ideas can save the LCS, take stock of the LEC rosters, and more.

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss mass layoffs at Riot Games, the joint letter by the LCK teams + Joe Marsh's dissent, Karmine Corp's weak start in the LEC, the LCS's declining viewership, blue side dominance in Asian leagues, and more.

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss Riot Games's poor handling of LEC layoffs, Riot's cancelled streaming service, news out of TSM, the end of the split of Karmine Corps, Elyoya's decent performance as captain of Mad Lions KOI, BLG potentially stepping up to be what JDG was last year, Zeka's level of play on HLE, the messy game between CLoud9 and Shopify Rebellion, and more.

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss KC benching Yamato and whether the action was deserved, the Cloud9 losing streak and questionable drafts, problems with the LCS, LEC, LCK, and LPL broadcasts, BDS's and their T1 style of play, Team Heretics' chances to win against SK, KDF's rise in power, and more.

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss LCS viewership and Commissioner MarkZ's recent series of tweets on the topic, G2 once again rising to the top of the LEC power rankings, Hylissang's history of both strong and questionable plays, the strengths of MAD Lions KOI, the levels of play of the LEC and LCS, new information regarding the recent layoffs at Riot Games, and more.

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss the drama involving BDS Adam, Wooloo's decision-making in reporting on certain stories, the LEC Winter Playoffs, T1 fans malding over Monte's power rankings, updates from the LCK, and more.

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss the DDOS attacks on the LCK, T1 and Faker's current dominance over the league, TSM stories involving Bjergsen and Reginald, updates from the LPL, why FPX jungler milkyway is the player to watch this split, LCS Spring Finals once again being placed on Easter Sunday, and more.

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss the LCS matches that were played in a smaller, grungier studio, Tyler 1 vs Corejj drama, big roster moves at Heretics, Cloud9's 2-0 weekend, an update on the LCK DDoS saga, milkyway and FPX's plot armor, and more!

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss the latest drama featuring Doublelift and Dodo, milkyway's continued masterful performance in the LPL, the T1 vs Gen.G match, global power rankings, the start of the LEC split, Smolder in pro play, the latest from the Saudi Esports World Cup, a story about Kameto and KC, and more!

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss Quickshot exiting Riot Games and LEC, Cloud9 returning to form in the LCS Playoffs, HLE defeating T1, results from LEC, Riot's update to the esports franchise model, the VCS match fixing scandal, and more.

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss the LCK All-Pro voting, preview the LCS and LCK Playoffs, Cloud9's disappointing games, KC and Rogue finishing 9th and 10th again in LEC, G2's spot on global power rankings, milkyway continuing to impress, and more.

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics being a part of the Esports World Cup (backed by the government of Saudi Arabia), controversy surrounding a strategic coach before the LCS Finals, why Coach Spawn deserves a lot of the credit for Team Liquid's victory at the LCS Finals, the upcoming banger matches in the LCK Playoffs, G2 looking dominant again in LEC, the ongoing LPL Playoffs, and more!

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss why Monte thinks G2's lane swap strategies were leaked, the G2 vs BDS series, Faker's statements regarding the ongoing DDoS attacks on T1, Sjokz stories, controversy regarding Inspired's recent interview with dGon, Korean top laner Thanatos joining Cloud9, the future of Fudge's career, potential changes to the LCS, and more.

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss the League of Legends regional finals in LCK vs LEC and LCS, more Doublelift drama, why the current broadcast meta may be changing, the economics of professional esports, the Chovy bonjwa debate, the upcoming MSI event, and more.

MonteCristo and Thorin are joined by YamatoCannon, Damonte, Memento, and RandomMinionCaster to preview MSI 2024, discuss the goals of FlyQuest at this event, ponder the role that lane swaps will have, roast Doublelift, and more!

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss MSI 2024, FlyQuest's shocking early exit, leaks for a Faker Ahri skin to go with his induction into the "Hall of Legends," Fnatic, G2, and Team Liquid's chances of winning a match against an LPL or LCK squad, the reveal of "Club Support Program" teams for the Saudi-backed Esports World Cup, a common flaw in LEC broadcast talent, and more.

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss MSI 2024, Team Liquid vs Fnatic, the rivalry between NA and EU, Noah's lackluster performance, BLG vs T1, Caps potentially being one of the best mid-laners at MSI, the hype matchup of BLG and GenG + knight vs Chovy, Riot Games's subpar star-building strategy, LS's take on bracket resets, and more.

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss MSI 2024, Gen.G and their potential to Golden Road this year, Faker and T1 defeating G2 despite looking shaky, the future of League of Legends, Chovy's status as a bonjwa, Jensen being benched b FlyQuest, Esports World Cup and Riot Games shenanigans, and more!

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss controversy around Faker's Ahri skin for the Hall of Legends, changes coming to the LCS, Fearless Draft in the NACL and LPL, roster moves at Dignitas and Shopify Rebellion, how the Esports World Cup has affected pro teams' marketing exercises during LGBT+ Pride Month, and more!

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss the announcement by Riot Games regarding the potential merger between LCS, CBLOL, and LLA, a brand new annual international LoL esports event, reactions from Brazilian fans, Team Liquid's ownership's response to criticism of joining the Esports World Cup, the Esports Awards partnering with Saudi Arabia, analysis of LEC and LPL, and more!

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss the Esports World Cup (EWC) talent tease, Dash turning down invitations to attend EWC, reactions to the LCS Finals taking place at the YouTube Theater, Cloud9's first week of play, LCK week 1, a lack of hype surrounding LEC, praise for the LPL format, and more!

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss this Gen.G's lineup potential to be the greatest of all time, Chovy's significant role in his team's success, Twitter drama surrounding talent announcements for the Esports World Cup, results from LCS, LEC, and LPL, the fantastic content being made this split for LCS, and more!

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss why Riot Games and other game developers ought to be the target of fan frustrations over the Esports World Cup, T1's upset loss to KT, silly Twitter drama involving Dom and Jankos, the longest ever series winning streak in pro LoL esports history, why League of Legends may already be in a death spiral, the banger upcoming LPL matches, and more!

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss the Esports World Cup (EWC), why Riot Games lied when they said they weren't involved in the EWC, why there may never be another event called "MSI" in future years, lane swaps in the current League of Legends professional meta, T1 and their performance at the EWC, and more.

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss Riot Games subtweeting at us with more misleading information from Chris Greeley's account, IWDominate's treatment by Riot, Viper's strong recent performances, the LPL and LEC Playoffs, rumors of Rogue being bought out by Team Falcons, VALORANT and VCT's impact on LoL esports scheduling, and more. Get 50% off FACTOR meals at https://www.factormeals.com/lfn50 with code LFN50. High-quality, never-frozen meals delivered to your home!

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss the new Olympic Esports Games, KC's recent success, the baffling priority on Renekton, previews and predictions for the LEC Playoffs, the latest drama featuring Caedrel, KC fans, and Faker, T1 losing multiple matches, the latest from the LCS and LPL, and more! Thanks to this episode's sponsors! Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code SUMMONING at https://www.shopmando.com! ​ Get 50% off FACTOR meals at https://www.factormeals.com/lfn50 with code LFN50. High-quality, never-frozen meals delivered to your home! EXPRESSVPN now sponsors Summoning Insight! Get THREE free months of service with our link: https://www.expressvpn.com/summoning

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss Naz Aletaha stepping down as the Global Head of LoL Esports, the business practices and failures of Riot Games in esports, the disastrous LEC Summer Playoffs, the state of top lane globally, updates on Cloud9 in the LCS, results from LCK and LPL, and more! Thank you to our sponsors for this episode! Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code SUMMONING at https://www.shopmando.com! #mandopod ​HELLO FRESH sponsored this episode! Head on over to https://www.hellofresh.com/LFNAPPS for FREE appetizers for life! Go to https://www.buyraycon.com/lfn TODAY to get 15% off your Raycon order, plus free shipping!

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss the T1 vs Gen.G match, the infamous Faker video, how the new patch will affect LCK Playoffs and Worlds, Riot Games and their history of favoring Arcane over esports narratives, Cloud9 vs Team Liquid, previews for LPL Playoffs and LEC Season Finals, and more!

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss new esport team emotes in the League of Legends shop, Faker's surprising choice on T1 socials, KT defeating Gen.G, upcoming LPL and LEC matches, Team Liquid's dominance in LCS, the struggles of 100 Thieves, and more! Thank you to our sponsors for supporting today's episode! Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code SUMMONING at https://www.shopmando.com! #mandopod Get 50% off FACTOR meals at https://www.factormeals.com/lfn50 with code LFN50. High-quality, never-frozen meals delivered to your home! Thank you to INTOTHEAM for sponsoring this week's episode! You must use our link to receive 10% discount on anything you purchase on the website: https://www.intotheam.com/lfn

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss playoffs in the LCS, LEC, and LPL, Riot discovering that Twitch subs exist, Chovy winning LCK MVP, what the lack of roadshows combined with VALORANT's schedule says about Riot's priorities, and more.

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss LEC, LCS, LCK, and LPL playoff updates, Riot Games backpedaling on their 2025 update promises, why Adam caused BDS to miss out on Worlds, the underrated Knight vs Chovy rivalry, problems at Cloud9, the lackluster in-person experience at League of Legends events, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We discuss backlash from T1 and Faker fans, Cloud9's options following their disappointing 2024 run, Chovy's current era, the LEC Season Finals roadshow, Fnatic and G2's chances at Worlds, analysis of the LPL Regional Finals, and more! Thank you to the sponsors for today's episode! Go to https://www.buyraycon.com/lfn TODAY to get 15% off your Raycon order, plus free shipping! Thank you to INTOTHEAM for sponsoring this week's episode! You must use our link to receive 10% discount on anything you purchase on the website: https://www.intotheam.com/lfn Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code SUMMONING at https://www.shopmando.com! #mandopod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reactions to our recent Zeka hype video, lies that Redditors continue to tell about us, the LCK and LCS Finals, T1 failing to reach the Finals, Peanut stepping up, the League of Legends patch going into the final matches, the overall viewership of global leagues, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We discuss Rekkles being named T1's Worlds sub, the release of Deadlock and the slow death of the MOBA genre, the lack of LPL representation in the Worlds talent announcement, new information on Jojopyun's exit from Cloud9, why NRG made the correct move in leaving the LCS, the LNG and Scout drama coming into Worlds, and more! Thank you to our sponsors for powering today's episode! Manscaped skincare products are designed for your most delicate parts! Grab 20% OFF + Free Shipping with code LFN at https://www.manscaped.com Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code SUMMONING at https://www.shopmando.com! #mandopod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are joined by Aux, Dagda, Nyamaera, and Cubby to preview League of Legends Worlds 2024! Topics include the statuses of all 4 major regions, favorites and dark horse picks, and which players and champions will thrive in this Worlds meta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MonteCristo and Thorin discuss the League of Legends World Championship, potential candidates for this year's Dade Award, 100 Thieves bombing out of Worlds Play-Ins, Riot's new global power rankings, the opening matchups at the Worlds Swiss Stage, updates from TSM, Zaboutine's hot take on 100 Thieves, the 2024 Worlds anthem: "Heavy is the Crown" by Linkin Park, and more! Thank you to our sponsors for powering this episode! Get the ultimate immersive gaming experience with Turtle Beach today! For a limited time only, head to https://TurtleBeach.com and use Code SUMMONING for 10% off your entire order. HELLO FRESH sponsored this episode! Head on over to https://www.hellofresh.com/FREELFN for FREE breakfast for life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We discuss every team in the League of Legends World Championship, reactions to the video released with Spawn and CoreJJ, potential winners for this year's Dade Award, Yone's place in the Worlds meta, the G2 vs T1 matchup, and more! Thank you to our sponsors for powering today's episode! Manscaped skincare products are designed for your most delicate parts! Grab 20% OFF + Free Shipping with code LFN at https://www.manscaped.com Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code SUMMONING at https://www.shopmando.com! Go to https://www.buyraycon.com/lfn TODAY to get 15% off your Raycon order, plus free shipping! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We discuss results of League of Legends Worlds, what's next for G2, Dplus, and Team Liquid, ongoing issues with the Swiss format, the lack of NA vs EU matchups at this year's Worlds, predictions for the Worlds Quarterfinals, and more! Thank you to our sponsors for supporting today's episode! This episode was sponsored by MeUndies. Get 20% off your first order, plus free shipping, at https://www.meundies.com/summoning Get 50% off FACTOR meals at https://www.factormeals.com/lfn50 with code LFN50. High-quality, never-frozen meals delivered to your home! Learn real-life conversation skills in another language! Get up to 60% off your Babbel subscription at https://www.babbel.com/SUMMONING Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We react to the League of Legends Worlds matches. Other topics include GenG narrowly defeating FlyQuest, the potential knight vs Chovy Grand Finals matchup, how Faker's clutch factor could get T1 to another Worlds Final, layoffs at Riot Games, updates on a new League of Legends client and engine that were in development, the latest roster news, and more! Thank you to our sponsors for powering today's episode! EXPRESSVPN now sponsors Summoning Insight! Get THREE free months of service with our link: https://www.expressvpn.com/summoning Get the ultimate immersive gaming experience with Turtle Beach today! For a limited time only, head to https://TurtleBeach.com and use Code SUMMONING for 10% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MonteCristo and Thorin react to League of Legends Worlds and discuss the Dade Award for 2024, where Chovy and Ruler could end up next year, Faker's Worlds glow up, narratives around T1, the LCK format and what it tells us about "MSI," thoughts on a fearless draft tournament, analysis of T1 vs GenG and WBG vs BLG, predictions for the Worlds Final, and more! Thank you to our sponsors for powering today's episode! This episode is sponsored by Opera GX, a browser intended for gamers! Download now at https://www.operagx.gg/lastfreenation Go to https://www.buyraycon.com/lfn TODAY to get 15% off your Raycon order, plus free shipping! Thank you to INTOTHEAM for sponsoring this week's episode! You must use our link to receive 10% discount on anything you purchase on the website: https://www.intotheam.com/lfn Get 50% off FACTOR meals at https://www.factormeals.com/lfn50 with code LFN50. High-quality, never-frozen meals delivered to your home! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get ready for an in-depth discussion with MonteCristo and Thorin as they recap the League of Legends Worlds Final between T1 and BLG! They explore the future of the top teams and debate Faker's place in the pantheon of esports legends. This is a must-watch for any fan of competitive gaming! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join MonteCristo and Thorin for more in-depth discussion about League of Legends esports! They explore the latest roster rumors across the LCK, LTA, LEC, and LPL, discuss the history of the Dade Award, and respond to the large fanbases and individuals who continue to be upset with ongoing discussions about their favorite teams and players. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join MonteCristo and Thorin for another electrifying episode of Summoning Insight as they dive deep into the latest hot topics across League of Legends esports! This week, the duo tackles the shocking rumors surrounding T1's lineup and the future of Zeus. Dive into roster rumors sweeping through major regions that could shake the competitive scene! Plus, catch their insights on Riot Games' decision to end the English Broadcast for the LPL – what does it mean for fans, casters, and players alike? Don't miss this ultimate analysis! Like, subscribe, and hit that bell to never miss our insights! Note that the audio begins to get choppy at 1:20:00. The audio returns to normal at 1:25:10. Thank you to our sponsors for supporting today's episode! EXPRESSVPN now sponsors Summoning Insight! Get THREE free months of service with our link: https://www.expressvpn.com/summoning Thank you to INTOTHEAM for sponsoring this week's episode! Use our link to receive 10% discount on anything you purchase on the website: https://www.intotheam.com/lfn Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code SUMMONING at https://www.shopmando.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join MonteCristo and Thorin in the latest thrilling episode of Summoning Insight, where we dive deep into the hottest topics in League of Legends esports! This week, the duo unpacks the drama as Zeus makes waves leaving T1 to join HLE, reshaping the LoL competitive scene! We also discuss the formation of Caedrel's team, Los Ratones. Plus, stay tuned for a sneak peek at the major changes coming to League of Legends in 2025! Don't miss out—hit that subscribe button and join the conversation! Thank you to our sponsors for powering today's episode! Check out our t-shirt collaboration with INTO THE AM at https://www.intotheam.com/lfn-tee Get the ultimate immersive gaming experience with Turtle Beach today! For a limited time only, head to https://TurtleBeach.com and use Code SUMMONING for 10% off your entire order. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code SUMMONING at https://www.shopmando.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to a brand new episode of Summoning Insight, hosted by MonteCristo and Thorin! Join the dynamic duo as they dive into the exciting world of League of Legends esports. This week, get all the juicy highlights from Faker's latest stream, including his perspective on a crazy fan experience! We'll also discuss Riot's strict new rules for streamers and break down the latest roster changes making waves in the LEC and LPL! Don't miss out on this thrilling deep dive into the LoL universe! SUBSCRIBE for more amazing insights! Thank you to our sponsors for supporting us! Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat at https://www.AuraFrames.com. Use code SUMMONING at checkout to save! Check out our t-shirt collaboration with INTO THE AM at https://www.intotheam.com/lfn-tee Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code SUMMONING at https://www.shopmando.com! Go to https://www.buyraycon.com/lfn TODAY to get 15% off your Raycon order, plus free shipping! EXPRESSVPN now sponsors Summoning Insight! Get THREE free months of service with our link: https://www.expressvpn.com/summoning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dive into the latest episode of Summoning Insight with MonteCristo and Thorin! We're unpacking the shocking decline of the Esports Awards and dissecting the heated reactions to Caedrel and Sjokz's League Awards. Plus, we delve into the burning drama surrounding League of Legends superstar, Perkz! Whether you're a LoL fanatic or just love the world of esports, you won't want to miss this fiery discussion packed with insights and opinions! Thank you to our sponsors for powering today's show! Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat at https://www.AuraFrames.com. Use code SUMMONING at checkout to save! This episode was sponsored by MeUndies. Get 20% off your first order, plus free shipping, at https://www.meundies.com/summoning Get 50% off FACTOR meals at https://www.factormeals.com/50lfn with code 50LFN. High-quality, never-frozen meals delivered to your home! Get the ultimate immersive gaming experience with Turtle Beach today! For a limited time only, head to https://TurtleBeach.com and use Code SUMMONING for 10% off your entire order. Manscaped skincare products are designed for your most delicate parts! Grab 20% OFF + Free Shipping with code LFN at https://www.manscaped.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MonteCristo and Thorin are joined by PapaSmithy, the President and Chief Gaming Officer for FlyQuest, to discuss Riot Games's announcement about betting sponsors in LoL esports for 2025, shocking updates about the Zeus x T1 x HLE transfer saga, the exciting plans for FlyQuest, and more! Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat at https://www.AuraFrames.com. Use code SUMMONING at checkout to save! (US only) Get 50% off FACTOR meals at https://www.factormeals.com/50lfn with code 50LFN. High-quality, never-frozen meals delivered to your home! Get the ultimate immersive gaming experience with Turtle Beach today! For a limited time only, head to https://TurtleBeach.com and use Code SUMMONING for 10% off your entire order. EXPRESSVPN now sponsors Summoning Insight! Get THREE free months of service with our link: https://www.expressvpn.com/summoning Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code SUMMONING at https://www.shopmando.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to another epic episode of Summoning Insight with your hosts, MonteCristo and Thorin! Dive into the latest League of Legends insights as we break down the new Noxus cinematic that has everyone's attention! We'll also provide exclusive previews of all major LoL esports regional leagues and discuss the profound impact of Caps on European lolesports. Whether you're a hardcore fan or new to the League of Legends scene, this episode is packed with juicy analysis and entertaining commentary that you can't miss! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thorin, Yamato, and MonteCristo discuss Fearless Draft in League of Legends esports, react to Phreak's video that explains why Fearless Draft is being used in 2025, and reveal their top teams to watch in the LPL, LCK, LEC, and LTA. The group also shares the reasons why Monte is stepping away from League of Legends esports podcasts, what fans can expect from both Monte and Last Free Nation in the future, and why Yamato was chosen to be the new host of this show. ​Head to https://www.squarespace.com/summoning to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code SUMMONING. Get 50% off FACTOR meals at https://www.factormeals.com/lfn50off with code lfn50off. High-quality, never-frozen meals delivered to your home! Get the ultimate immersive gaming experience with Turtle Beach today! For a limited time only, head to https://TurtleBeach.com and use Code SUMMONING for 10% off your entire order. Go to https://www.buyraycon.com/lfn TODAY to get 15% off your Raycon order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thorin and Yamato discuss their thoughts on a shift in global LoL esports, how pro League of Legends teams are adapting to the 2025 season, first impressions of this year's LCK, LPL, and LEC, check in on T1, GenG, HLE, G2, Karmine Corp, Vitality, and iG, and more! Protect your online privacy TODAY by visiting https://ExpressVPN.com/summoning and you can get an extra four months FREE. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code SUMMONING at https://www.shopmando.com! ​Get up to 10 FREE meals and a free high protein item for life at https://www.hellofresh.com/lfn10fm ​Download the FREE Upside App and use promo code SUMMONING to get an extra 25 cents back for every gallon on your first tank of gas. https://www.upside.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thorin and Yamato discuss the banter between G2 and Guilhoto, competitive motivation in LoL esports, KC and Caliste's continued strong showings, the history of lane swaps in League of Legends, why Bwipo has a point in his trash talk, the ongoing T1 fan saga, the upcoming match between GenG and T1, and more! Thank you to INTOTHEAM for sponsoring this week's episode! Take part in their Anniversary Sale from January 22-February 9 with up to 50% OFF sitewide. Use our link to receive an additional 10% discount on anything you purchase on the website: https://www.intotheam.com/lfn Head to https://www.squarespace.com/summoning to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code SUMMONING. Get 50% off FACTOR meals at https://www.factormeals.com/lfn50off with code lfn50off. High-quality, never-frozen meals delivered to your home! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thorin and Yamato discuss League of Legends gameplay, Thorin's Rekkles video, the status of pro LoL rosters, FlyQuest and Cloud9 streaming their scrims on Twitch, results from LEC, LCK and LTA North, and more. Thank you to INTOTHEAM for sponsoring this week's episode! Take part in their Anniversary Sale from January 22-February 9 with up to 50% OFF sitewide. Use our link to receive an additional 10% discount on anything you purchase on the website: https://www.intotheam.com/lfn Head to https://www.squarespace.com/summoning to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code SUMMONING. Go to https://www.buyraycon.com/lfn TODAY to get 20% off your Raycon order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We discuss Thorin's recent video on Rekkles, LCK and LTA playoffs, an update regarding Riot Games and the Esports World Cup (EWC), Faker and T1, the latest results from the LPL, and more! Get 50% off FACTOR meals at https://www.factormeals.com/lfn50off with code lfn50off. High-quality, never-frozen meals delivered to your home! Exclusive $20-off Carver Mat at https://www.AuraFrames.com. Use code SUMMONING at checkout to save! (US, Canada, and UK only) Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code SUMMONING at https://www.shopmando.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MonteCristo returns as a guest to discuss the disappointing LCK Cup and LTA formats, the removal of hextech chests in favor of gacha mechanics, Doublelift's new team, the banger match between Fnatic and G2, previews for the LEC, LCK, and LPL, and more! Head to https://www.squarespace.com/summoning to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code SUMMONING. Get up to 10 FREE meals and a free high protein item for life at https://www.hellofresh.com/hellofreshpodcast ​Download the FREE Upside App and use promo code SUMMONING to get an extra 25 cents back for every gallon on your first tank of gas. https://www.upside.com Protect your online privacy TODAY by visiting https://ExpressVPN.com/summoning and you can get an extra four months FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The fraudulency level of Fnatic in LEC, the LCK Finals between HLE and GenG, the latest LPL results, LTA Playoffs and declining viewership, the KC vs G2 matchup, predictions for upcoming LoL esports matches, and more! Stop feeding. Get Opera GX and dominate the Rift now: https://operagx.gg/LastFreeNation3 Head to https://www.squarespace.com/summoning to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code SUMMONING. Protect your online privacy TODAY by visiting https://ExpressVPN.com/summoning and you can get an extra four months FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We discuss the LEC Finals between KC and G2, the upcoming First Stand tournament, the future of Fnatic, Hextech Chests returning to League of Legends, our LoL esports power rankings, and more! Head to https://www.squarespace.com/summoning to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code SUMMONING. Go to https://www.buyraycon.com/lfn TODAY to get 20% off the best-selling Everyday Earbuds! Get 50% off FACTOR meals at https://www.factormeals.com/factorpodcast with code factorpodcast. High-quality, never-frozen meals delivered to your home! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join hosts Thorin and Yamato in this exciting episode of Summoning Insight, where they delve deep into the world of League of Legends esports. They analyze KC's loss to TL and dramatic 2-0 win vs TES at First Stand, explore the intricacies of the Fearless draft format, and discuss potential future changes in the esports landscape. Tune in for a blend of in-depth analysis, humorous anecdotes, and thought-provoking discussions that cover both the past and future of competitive gaming. Take advantage of Ridge's one-a-year anniversary sale and get UP TO 40% OFF right now by going to https://www.Ridge.com/SI Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code SUMMONING at https://www.shopmando.com! Save big on high-quality apparel during the Into the AM Clearance Sale! They have up to 70% off of select graphic tees from the 3rd through the 16th of March. This is in addition to the 10% you always save by using the code "LFN" at intotheam.com/LFN ​Thrive all year with clean, easy meals from Green Chef. Go to https://www.Greenchef.com/lfnfree and use code LFNFREE to get started with FREE Salads for two months plus 50% off your first box Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices