The 2016 Mid-Season Invitational was the second event of the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), a League of Legends tournament by Riot Games. It took place from March 4 to March 15, 2016, in Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, Pudong, Shanghai, China. The participants were 6 winning teams of the Spring Seasons in their respective regions: 5 teams from North America (NA LCS), Europe (EU LCS), China (LPL), South Korea (LCK), Taiwan/Hong Kong/Macau (LMS) and a team from Wildcard regions (Brazil, CIS, Japan, Latin America, Oceania, Southeast Asia) that won the Mid-Season International Wildcard Invitational (IWCI).

SK Telecom T1 from South Korea won their first MSI title after defeating Counter Logic Gaming from North America 3–0 in the final.

Qualified teams

RegionLeaguePathTeam
Starting in the bracket stage
ChinaLPLSpring championRoyal Never Give Up
South KoreaLCKSpring championSK Telecom T1
EuropeEU LCSSpring championG2 Esports
North AmericaNA LCSSpring championCounter Logic Gaming
TW/HK/MOLMSSpring championFlash Wolves
TurkeyTCLIWCI winnerSuperMassive eSports

Venue

Shanghai was the city chosen to host the competition.

Shanghai, China
Shanghai Oriental Sports Center
Shanghai

Group stage

  • Double Round Robin, all matches are Best-of-one.
  • Top 4 teams advance to Play-off. Bottom 2 teams are eliminated.
PosTeamPldWLPCTQualification
1Royal Never Give Up10820.800Advance to Knockout Stage
2Counter Logic Gaming10730.700
3Flash Wolves10640.600
3SK Telecom T110640.600
5G2 Esports10280.200
6SuperMassive eSports10190.100

Knockout stage

  • The 1st-place team plays with the 4th-place team, The 2nd-place team plays with the 3rd-place team in semifinals.
  • Matches are Best-of-five
SemifinalsFinal
1Royal Never Give Up1
4SK Telecom T13
SK Telecom T13
Counter Logic Gaming0
3Flash Wolves1
2Counter Logic Gaming3

Final standings

PlaceTeamPrize money
1stSK Telecom T1$250,000
2ndCounter Logic Gaming$100,000
3rd–4thFlash Wolves$50,000
Royal Never Give Up
5th–6thG2 Esports
SuperMassive eSports