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The 2018 Mid-Season Invitational is right around the corner, but before we get to the main stage matches, we’ve got to see which smaller region teams will make it through the play-in stage. Each and every play-in stage, the teams involved get more and more competitive and this year shouldn’t be any different.
Fans will recognize a few of the competitors at this year’s MSI play-in from international competitions last year, like Kaos Latin Gamers, Gambit Esports, or Dire Wolves. At least one of the teams has even rebranded since their last international appearance as the Japanese team Rampage became Pentagram earlier this year.
During the first portion of the play-in stage, eight teams will face off in two groups, before the winner of each group is sent to play against either EVOS Esports or the Flash Wolves for a chance to enter the MSI 2018 main stage competition.
The 2018 Mid-Season Invitational play-in stage will be broadcast on the Riot Games Twitch and Youtube channels, as well as on lolesports.com.
Schedule
Playoffs
EVOS Esports vs BAUSuperMassive eSports, 3-1
Flash Wolves vs Gambit Esports, 3-0
Group Stage
Thursday, May 3
- Gambit Esports vs Kaos Latin Gamers, 7 a.m. ET
- Rainbow7 vs Ascension Gaming, 8 a.m. ET
- Gambit Esports vs Ascension Gaming, 9 a.m. ET
- Rainbow7 vs Kaos Latin Gamers, 10 a.m. ET
- Kaos Latin Gamers vs Ascension Gaming, 11 a.m. ET
- Rainbow7 vs Gambit Esports, 12 p.m. ET
Friday, May 4
- BAUSuperMassive Esports vs Dire Wolves, 7 a.m. ET
- Kabum! Esports vs Pentagram, 8 a.m. ET
- BAUSuperMassive Esports vs Pentagram, 9 a.m. ET
- Kabum! Esports vs Dire Wolves, 10 a.m. ET
- Dire Wolves vs Pentagram, 11 a.m. ET
- Kabum! Esports vs BAUSuperMassive Esports, 12 p.m. ET
Saturday, May 5
- Ascension Gaming vs Gambit Esports, 5 a.m. ET
- Kaos Latin Gamers vs Rainbow7, 6 a.m. ET
- Ascension Gaming vs Rainbow7, 7 a.m. ET
- Kaos Latin Gamers vs Gambit Esports, 8 a.m. ET
- Gambit Esports vs Rainbow7, 9 a.m. ET
- Ascension Gaming vs Kaos Latin Gamers, 10 a.m. ET
Sunday, May 6
- Pentagram vs BAUSuperMassive Esports, 5 a.m. ET
- Dire Wolves vs Kabum! Esports, 6 a.m. ET
- Pentagram vs Kabum! Esports, 7 a.m. ET
- Dire Wolves vs BAUSuperMassive Esports, 8 a.m. ET
- BAUSuperMassive Esports vs Kabum! Esports, 9 a.m. ET
- Pentagram vs Dire Wolves, 10 a.m. ET