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Axios Sports

Many believed this would be the year that a Western team finally won the League of Legends World Championship, but it wasn't meant to be. China-based FPX beat European-based G2 in Paris to claim the $1 million prize.

The backdrop: "A European team hasn't won finals since 2011, which wasn't a truly global event," writes WashPost's Matt Vella. "In the years following, Korean teams dominated — until 2018 when a Chinese team took the top spot."

4-time Olympian believes esports will become part of Olympic Games

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China tops Europe at League of Legends Worlds

Many believed a Western team might finally win the big prize.

Photo: Cyril Marcilhacy/Washington Post/Getty Images

Esports

Gaming

Many believed this would be the year that a Western team finally won the League of Legends World Championship, but it wasn&#x27;t meant to be. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="China-based FPX beat European-based G2" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/18589618.20819/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXNwbi5jb20vZXNwb3J0cy9zdG9yeS9fL2lkLzI4MDUwNTkxL2cyLWVzcG9ydHMtY29tZS1zaG9ydC1ncmFuZC1zbGFtLWxlYWd1ZS1sZWdlbmRzLXdvcmxkLWNoYW1waW9uc2hpcD91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc3Nwb3J0cyZzdHJlYW09dG9w/5c90f2c505e94e65b176e000Bc6eac342" data-vars-content-id="95a37f47-be7e-4857-bb68-70f53401de3f" data-vars-headline="China tops Europe at League of Legends Worlds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/18589618.20819/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXNwbi5jb20vZXNwb3J0cy9zdG9yeS9fL2lkLzI4MDUwNTkxL2cyLWVzcG9ydHMtY29tZS1zaG9ydC1ncmFuZC1zbGFtLWxlYWd1ZS1sZWdlbmRzLXdvcmxkLWNoYW1waW9uc2hpcD91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc3Nwb3J0cyZzdHJlYW09dG9w/5c90f2c505e94e65b176e000Bc6eac342" target="_blank">China-based FPX beat European-based G2</a> in Paris to claim the $1 million prize.The backdrop: &quot;A European team hasn&#x27;t won finals since 2011, which wasn&#x27;t a truly global event,&quot; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="writes" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/18589618.20819/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3ZpZGVvLWdhbWVzL2VzcG9ydHMvMjAxOS8xMS8xMC9sZWFndWUtbGVnZW5kcy13b3JsZC1jaGFtcGlvbnNoaXAtbGl2ZS11cGRhdGVzLXBhcmlzLz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc3Nwb3J0cyZzdHJlYW09dG9w/5c90f2c505e94e65b176e000B1a72c443" data-vars-content-id="95a37f47-be7e-4857-bb68-70f53401de3f" data-vars-headline="China tops Europe at League of Legends Worlds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/18589618.20819/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3ZpZGVvLWdhbWVzL2VzcG9ydHMvMjAxOS8xMS8xMC9sZWFndWUtbGVnZW5kcy13b3JsZC1jaGFtcGlvbnNoaXAtbGl2ZS11cGRhdGVzLXBhcmlzLz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc3Nwb3J0cyZzdHJlYW09dG9w/5c90f2c505e94e65b176e000B1a72c443" target="_blank">writes</a> WashPost&#x27;s Matt Vella. &quot;In the years following, Korean teams dominated — until 2018 when a Chinese team took the top spot.&quot;Go deeper: <ul><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Inside the esports investment boom" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/esports-investment-overwatch-league-212c76cf-6d0c-47e9-bb5a-94e1eb74a3ce.html" data-vars-content-id="95a37f47-be7e-4857-bb68-70f53401de3f" data-vars-headline="China tops Europe at League of Legends Worlds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/esports-investment-overwatch-league-212c76cf-6d0c-47e9-bb5a-94e1eb74a3ce.html" target="_self">Inside the esports investment boom</a></li><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="4-time Olympian believes esports will become part of Olympic Games" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/esports-olympic-games-angela-ruggiero-0ec9e9f0-72db-4ced-9349-ce756802ed3a.html" data-vars-content-id="95a37f47-be7e-4857-bb68-70f53401de3f" data-vars-headline="China tops Europe at League of Legends Worlds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/esports-olympic-games-angela-ruggiero-0ec9e9f0-72db-4ced-9349-ce756802ed3a.html" target="_self">4-time Olympian believes esports will become part of Olympic Games</a></li><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="How NBA 2k&#x27;s infrastructure sets the bar for esports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/nba-2k-league-esports-infrastructure-c1e49839-0239-4e44-abf6-96c1d33035fb.html" data-vars-content-id="95a37f47-be7e-4857-bb68-70f53401de3f" data-vars-headline="China tops Europe at League of Legends Worlds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/nba-2k-league-esports-infrastructure-c1e49839-0239-4e44-abf6-96c1d33035fb.html" target="_self">How NBA 2k&#x27;s infrastructure sets the bar for esports</a></li></ul>

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.