by Riot Games has introduced an exciting new feature to the League of Legends esports ecosystem: Global Power Rankings.
Powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), this data-driven system provides real-time updates on the global standings of all Tier 1 teams, offering fans and analysts an up-to-the-minute view of the competitive landscape.
The Global Power Rankings are based on an Elo model that evaluates both a team’s individual performance and the overall strength of the region they represent.
Introducing LoL Esports Global Power Rankings powered by @awscloud! #Worlds2024
All the info: https://t.co/jUnYJus0en pic.twitter.com/d9OwjnU8q1
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) September 19, 2024
A team’s Power Score is weighted, with 80% based on their Elo rating and 20% on the strength of their regional league.
This “blended Elo metric” ensures that the rankings reflect both how well teams perform and the difficulty of the competition they face, offering a more balanced perspective on global standings.
One standout feature of the system is its ability to update after every game, rather than only after tournaments or splits.
This real-time tracking provides a dynamic view of team standings as they compete throughout the season, particularly during high-stakes matches.
Furthermore, international events are given more weight in the rankings than regional ones, and elimination matches carry greater significance compared to group-stage games.
This ensures that the most impactful games have a greater influence on the rankings.
Riot has also implemented “Contextualised Match Weighting (K Factors)” to further refine the system, making sure that more important competitions and games influence rankings appropriately.
Additionally, the rankings incorporate performance data from the last three years of regional play and the last two years of team performance, creating stability even amid roster changes.
The Global Power Rankings have been thoroughly tested and are designed with predictive capabilities, offering a reliable indicator of future match outcomes.
Riot has plans for future updates, which may include integrating in-game statistics to further refine the Power Scores and introducing player-based power rankings to evaluate individual impact on matches.
Fans will be able to follow the Global Power Rankings on the LoL Esports website and during official broadcasts throughout Worlds 2024, with the final rankings for the season published after the tournament concludes on November 2nd.
This innovative ranking system is set to transform how League of Legends fans, teams, and analysts understand the competitive scene on a global scale.
