2023 Avatar World Championship
| 2023 | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Avatar |
| Location | Las Venturas |
| Dates | November 2023–December 2023 |
| Administrator(s) | Glace |
Tournament format(s) | 10 team single round robin 5 team best-of-seven elimination ladder matchups |
| Venue(s) | Miranda Arena Las Venturas Convention Center |
| Teams | 10 |
| Purse | 10,000,000 euclos |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | E-sports Benteji |
| Runner-up | Grupp FALKN |
The 2023 Avatar World Championship was the 2023 iteration of the Avatar World Championship, the oldest and most prestigious esports tournament for the multiplayer online battle arena game Avatar. The Avatar World Championship is run by Glace, the developers of Avatar. 2023 was the eleventh time the tournament ran.
Ten teams from around the world competed in the tournament, qualifying as the top teams from six top-level regional leagues (Asteria Inferior, Asteria Superior, the Brown Sea, East Euclea, Rahelia and West Euclea). Many teams from 2022 were present again, including first-place S5 Gaming and second-place SilverknightS. The format had each team playing each other in a single round robin, and then the top five proceeding to play best-of-sevens on an elimination ladder; the format was the same as 2022's but for allowing an additional team into the ladder stage.
An unprecedent five-way tie occurred after the round robin stage, necessitating 2 rounds of tiebreakers totalling 6 games. The finals saw E-sports Benteji beat Grupp FALKN 4-0 to win the tournament, an upset which was the first time Rahelia won the tournament. The prize pool totalled 10 million euclos, though 102.5 million euclos was disbursed owing to tied teams being granted the higher prize where no tiebreaker was subsequently played.
The tournament was hosted in Las Venturas, Rizealand from November to December. Round robin games were played in the Las Venturas Convention Centre, and best-of-sevens in the Miranda Arena. Being held in the Asterias, the tournament completes the Invictus Games-style cycling between the continents (Euclea, Coius and the Asterias) commenced in 2021.
Hosting
The tournament was hosted in Las Venturas, Rizealand from November to December. It was held somewhat later than usual in the year, though around the same time as the 2022 tournament which was delayed to make room for esports at the 2022 Summer Invictus Games in Verlois. Round robin games were played in the Las Venturas Convention Centre, and best-of-sevens in the Miranda Arena, which has a larger capacity. Being held in the Asterias, the tournament completed the Invictus Games-style cycling between the continents (Euclea, Coius and the Asterias) commenced in 2021.
Qualification
The three top teams from Asteria Superior and East Euclea, and the top teams from Asteria Inferior, the Brown Sea, Rahelia and West Euclea qualified, as determined by Glace. As has been common throughout the tournament's history, there was criticism of the opaque way in which the selection criteria were applied. Compared to last year, in 2023 Asteria Superior sent two more teams, and Rahelia made an appearance, while West Euclea lost a slot, and Bahia and Senria did not qualify teams at all.
In Bahia's case, the strength of Rahelia saw their being selected instead, despite the respectable Bahian performances (especially their making finals in 2021, with Mtel Lion City). There is an informal practice of having a single slot assigned to the stronger of the regions of Bahia and Rahelia.
Senria's Rikan Kaminari had also done well in coming fourth in 2022, but the decision was made based that the Asteria Superior region ought to send another team; critics alleged that this was done more for logistical or business regions, given the tournament was to be hosted in Asteria Superior, rather than for competitive ones. However, the justification was also given that Senrian teams fared poorly in trans-Lumine tournaments throughout the year, and apart from 2022, Asteria Superior has generally been in the top three (or four) competitive regions by Avatar World Championship results.
Asteria Superior was assigned only two slots, but the uncovering of West Euclea's Team Ace's cheating saw them be uninvited by Glace. Under the logistical pressures resulting from the short notice, the decision was made to offer the slot to the third placed team in Asteria Superior, the São José Vigilância of Choachua, who were able to quickly confirm they could make it, and without excessive expense.
Expectations that Shangea might mature enough as a competitive region to send a team were again not met.
Participants
| Team | Qualification | Players | Coach | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top laner | Top roamer | Mid laner | Bot roamer | Bot laner | |||
| Sainte-Chloe Imperials Esports "Monarchs" |
 Asteria Inferior2023 Champions |
 tourdeforce(Raymond Delacroix) |
 pr1nceTienny(Etienne Fenelon) |
 Ventodoro(Giorno Giovanna) |
 Bònge(Anne Gaubina) |
File:ImaguaFlag.png LaManto (Antelmo Mantovani) |
N.A. |
| Octagamers |  Asteria Superior2023 Champions |
 Zebrass(Fred Good) |
 Gomuchae(Song Min-soo) |
SyncTwinc (Leslie Scott) |
 Bandito89(Diego Nunez) |
GhaillishGhoul (Kaiden Kilmartin) |
N.A. |
| Grupp FALKN | Asteria Superior 2023 Runners-up |
File:Eldmark.png OneTrickRik (Erik Lindholm) |
File:Eldmark.png Kat5Gaming (Raul Ossler) |
File:Eldmark.png GunthyWunthy (Gunther Hansen) |
File:Eldmark.png Irrelefant (Priscilla Lund) |
File:Eldmark.png Frakturkon (Kris Nysund) |
N.A. |
| Equipa do Esporte-Cibernético da Universidade do Avanço Tecnológico de São José Vigilância |
Asteria Superior 2023 Wildcard |
 Txmpxst(Yelyzaveta Boyko) |
 Mu(Ines Pereira) |
BR4INZZ (Mae Park) |
Acoustic (Artem Neizhpapa) |
Ayach (Megan Castelhano) |
N.A. |
| Green Ant Esports |  Brown Sea2023 Champions |
 ultima ratio(Mauzena Dhomhonai) |
bijemene (Jazengi Vidimhe) |
oignon (Mamhe Nhidomou) |
Death (Zuadui Jagaozadhe) |
De Dioba (Zudhumu Nhiamhouze) |
Debi (Debi Zugaumo) |
| "Les Amateurs" Équipe de Dêport-Cyber de Rouanet |
 East Euclea2023 Champions |
 XaverGamer(Xavier Boutroux) |
FlameBlaise (Sylviane Blaise) |
 SerChl03(Ingrid Bouchard) |
JPLGaming (Jean-Paul Laurens) |
xX_Stunzeed_Xx (Antoine Gérin) |
N.A. |
| "SilverknightS" SwordArts Internet Gaming |
East Euclea 2023 Runners-up |
 SilverPaladin(Alexandru Verean) |
ArkleeD (Maria Braz) |
 Marada(Adam Bonnard) |
ShielDCitadeL (Andreea Marin) |
Levikushi (Denis Perenoi) |
N.A. |
| University of Morwall Esports Club – The Magpies |
East Euclea 2023 Wildcard |
Template:Country data Estmere dr_dooda (John Turner) |
Template:Country data Estmere silentsiren (Chloë Weaver) |
Template:Country data Estmere xX_RascaL_Xx (Robin Scott) |
 maemae_ (Mae Leung) |
 estaku (Nakao Toyotomi) |
Template:Country data Estmere Ed Calhoun (zounhoun) |
| E-sports Benteji |  Rahelia2023 Champions |
 Saje Ajexe(Asaru Ardeşe) |
SnakeSsandru (Ajessandru Luçu) |
p1xx0r (Françeska Orora) |
K1UTATC0M3T3Ś0R (Dante Magnu) |
Citadel (Aframu Fejixe) |
N.A. |
| S5 Gaming |  West Euclea 2023 Champions |
 Vars(Aleksandre Glonti) |
 delphi(Villiam Järvenpää) |
 Sagacité (Cyriac Asotriani) |
 volo_city(Valentina Voloshyn) |
 King_Stanis(Stanisłaŭ Vajciuškievič) |
Cheslav Ungern
|
Schedule
Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony was held on the 30th of November, with larger-than-usual gap of a few days between it and the first games. High-ranking officials from Glace opened the tournament with short remarks, along with performances by local and global dance and musical artists.
Round robin
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monarchs | Octagamers | Monarchs | Grupp FALKN | Monarchs | São José Vigilância | ||
| Grupp FALKN | E-sports Benteji | Octagamers | S5 Gaming | Octagamers | Grupp FALKN | ||
| São José Vigilância | Morwall Magpies | São José Vigilância | E-sports Benteji | Green Ant Esports | E-sports Benteji | ||
| Green Ant Esports | SilverknightS | Green Ant Esports | Morwall Magpies | Les Amateurs | Morwall Magpies | ||
| Les Amateurs | S5 Gaming | Les Amateurs | SilverknightS | SilverknightS | S5 Gaming | ||
| Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monarchs | Green Ant Esports | Monarchs | Les Amateurs | Monarchs | SilverknightS | ||
| Octagamers | São José Vigilância | Octagamers | Green Ant Esports | Octagamers | Les Amateurs | ||
| Grupp FALKN | S5 Gaming | Grupp FALKN | São José Vigilância | Grupp FALKN | Green Ant Esports | ||
| Les Amateurs | E-sports Benteji | SilverknightS | E-sports Benteji | São José Vigilância | S5 Gaming | ||
| SilverknightS | Morwall Magpies | Morwall Magpies | S5 Gaming | Morwall Magpies | E-sports Benteji | ||
| Round 7 | Round 8 | Round 9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monarchs | Morwall Magpies | Monarchs | E-sports Benteji | Monarchs | S5 Gaming | ||
| Octagamers | SilverknightS | Octagamers | Morwall Magpies | Octagamers | E-sports Benteji | ||
| Grupp FALKN | Les Amateurs | Grupp FALKN | SilverknightS | Grupp FALKN | Morwall Magpies | ||
| São José Vigilância | Green Ant Esports | São José Vigilância | Les Amateurs | São José Vigilância | SilverknightS | ||
| E-sports Benteji | S5 Gaming | Green Ant Esports | S5 Gaming | Green Ant Esports | Les Amateurs | ||
Tiebreakers
| Round 1 | Round 2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monarchs | Grupp FALKN | Monarchs | S5 Gaming | |
| Monarchs | E-sports Benteji | |||
| Grupp FALKN | Les Amateurs | |||
| Les Amateurs | S5 Gaming | |||
| E-sports Benteji | S5 Gaming | |||
Eighth-finals
| Upper eighth-final | Lower eighth-final | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grupp FALKN | E-sports Benteji | Les Amateurs | S5 Gaming | |
| Grupp FALKN | E-sports Benteji | Les Amateurs | S5 Gaming | |
| Grupp FALKN | E-sports Benteji | Les Amateurs | S5 Gaming | |
| Grupp FALKN | E-sports Benteji | Les Amateurs | S5 Gaming | |
| Grupp FALKN | E-sports Benteji | Les Amateurs | S5 Gaming | |
| Grupp FALKN | E-sports Benteji | Les Amateurs | S5 Gaming | |
| Grupp FALKN | E-sports Benteji | Les Amateurs | S5 Gaming | |
| 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
Quarter-finals
| Upper eighth-final | Lower eighth-final | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grupp FALKN | Green Ant Esports | E-sports Benteji | S5 Gaming | |
| Grupp FALKN | Green Ant Esports | E-sports Benteji | S5 Gaming | |
| Grupp FALKN | Green Ant Esports | E-sports Benteji | S5 Gaming | |
| Grupp FALKN | Green Ant Esports | E-sports Benteji | S5 Gaming | |
| Grupp FALKN | Green Ant Esports | N.A. | N.A. | |
| Grupp FALKN | Green Ant Esports | N.A. | N.A. | |
| N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | |
| 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | |
Semi-finals
| Semi-final | |
|---|---|
| Green Ant Esports | E-sports Benteji |
| Green Ant Esports | E-sports Benteji |
| Green Ant Esports | E-sports Benteji |
| Green Ant Esports | E-sports Benteji |
| Green Ant Esports | E-sports Benteji |
| N.A. | N.A. |
| N.A. | N.A. |
| 1 | 4 |
Grand finals
| Grand final | |
|---|---|
| Grupp FALKN | E-sports Benteji |
| Grupp FALKN | E-sports Benteji |
| Grupp FALKN | E-sports Benteji |
| Grupp FALKN | E-sports Benteji |
| N.A. | N.A. |
| N.A. | N.A. |
| N.A. | N.A. |
| 0 | 4 |
Results
| Place | Region | Team | Round robin | Tiebreakers | Eighths | Quarters | Semis | Finals | Prize (%) | Prize (Euclos) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Rahelia
|
E-sports Benteji | 5-4 | 2-0 | 3-4 | 4-0 | 4-1 | 4-0 | 26.25% | €2,625,000 |
| 2nd | Asteria Superior
|
Grupp FALKN | 5-4 | 2-0 | 4-3 | 4-2 | Bye | 0-4 | 20% | €2,000,000 |
| 3rd | Brown Sea
|
Green Ant Esports | 6-3 | Bye | Bye | 2-4 | 1-4 | 15% | €1,500,000 | |
| 4th | West Euclea
|
S5 Gaming | 5-4 | 1-2 | 4-3 | 0-4 | 11.25% | €1,125,000 | ||
| 5th | East Euclea
|
Les Amateurs | 5-4 | 1-1 | 3-4 | 8.75% | €875,000 | |||
| 6th | Asteria Inferior
|
Sainte-Chloé Monarchs | 5-4 | 0-3 | 6.25% | €625,000 | ||||
| 7th | Asteria Superior
|
Octagamers | 4-5 | 5% | €500,000 | |||||
| East Euclea
|
SilverknightS | 4-5 | ||||||||
| 9th | Asteria Superior
|
São José Vigilância | 3-6 | 2.5% | €250,000 | |||||
| East Euclea
|
Morwall Magpies | 3-6 |
Note that the higher amount was disbursed where there were draws (i.e. the teams drawn at 7th both received the prize for 7th place, and nobody received the lesser 8th place prize), so that the total amount disbursed was 102.5% of the originally planned prize pool.
Analysis
Analysts observed that a slower, more deliberate style of play prevailed than in the previous few world tournaments, reflecting trends around the world which had picked up pace especially after the introduction of Stane. This saw shifts in the relative strength of regions, including a rise in the fortunes of the Brown Sea (which typically played much more for the late game) and a fall in those of faster teams like those from Senria and Euclea.
Reception was generally positive towards the fact that games were less onesided, and were not decided from very early on as much.
Media
The 2023 Avatar World Championship broadcasts were streamed live online, shown live in some physical locations and on some television channels, as well as recorded and made available on the Internet. Different and independent official broadcasts existed for each of the languages of Estmerish, Gaullican, Luzelese, Rahelian, Senrian, Shangean, Soravian, Weranian and Ziba; casters, interviewers, analysts, writers and other staff were brought in from the regional leagues around the world to produce the broadcasts. 2023 was the first year Rahelian was an official broadcast language, while Vespasian was been removed since 2022, owing to adverse commercial conditions.
Glace maintains all relevant intellectual property rights in the broadcast; it does not allow unauthorised reproduction of the live broadcast, but does allow private recordings to be uploaded after the fact. Its justification for this policy is that its media strategy focuses on exclusive maintenance and editorial control of the narrative and image of the tournament while it is ongoing, but after the event, it promotes wider ongoing dissemination and presence in the community.