Canada to host first international League of Legends event

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The League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational lands in Vancouver, from June 27 to July 12, with one of the game’s most recognizable voices, Kingston native Isaac “Azael” Cummings-Bentley, joining the action as a shoutcaster, giving live action game commentary during the tournament.

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The invitational is the 10th iteration of the Riot Games-organized tournament for League of Legends, a multiplayer online battle arena video game.

The 2025 event will be uniting the top teams from five major regions from around the world to compete for glory, pride, and a crucial advantage as they head into the world championships, according to Riot Games. As the second event on the LoL calendar, MSI features two representatives from each regional league in a high-stakes tournament that tests their strength at the midpoint of the season.

Cummings-Bentley said being part of the first international LoL event hosted in Canada “feels amazing.” He highlighted the significance of bringing MSI to Canada, calling it a rare chance for Canadian fans to engage with the esports world, and experience a majort live event, something he often missed out on in his early esports career due to U.S. focused events and limited sponsor support for qualified Canadian players.

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“Most North American events were in the U.S., so travel was costly, and sponsors were less willing to support Canadian players, Cummings-Bentley said in an email. “I’d qualify online and be on the best team, only to be deemed ineligible because I was Canadian. It was devastating to beat top teams and then watch them compete without you. On top of that, winnings were taxed twice — first in the U.S., then again in Canada as gambling income. Making a living was nearly impossible, even for the best. Casting or living in U.S. gaming houses also required work visas, which were expensive and hard to get. Things are better now, but the process is still tough,” he added.

Mark Zimmerman, commissioner of League Champion Series at Riot Games, said the company is excited to be back in Canada.

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“It’s great to be back in Canada. We [LoL] last did a North American event actually in 2017 and I think that was the last time we were in Vancouver, so now it’s a global event,” he said in an interview.

Zimmerman explained that fans can expect some exciting experiences this year at the event.

“For the final three days — when the tournament really heats up because final teams are getting knocked out — we have a lot planned for fans,” he said. “Starting at noon on the 10th, 11th and 12th (of July), fans can come early — even if they don’t have a ticket — and experience booths from sponsors and play games. There’s going to be meet-and-greets with players, broadcast talent, and some of the professional teams. You can buy your favourite team’s jerseys and have them signed,” Zimmerman said.

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To support local students and talent during these events, Zimmerman explains that it’s common practice for Riot Games to involve local collegiate players whenever they host an event, inviting them to test equipment and attend meet-and-greets with pro players. For the Vancouver event, several collegiate players from the area are invited to participate.

Reflecting on the coming MSI in Vancouver, Cummings-Bentley said the chance to host a global esports event in Canada feels especially meaningful. He explains growing up watching international competitions with his father and idolizing Canadian athletes like Sidney Crosby and Donovan Bailey — even Simon Whitfield, who grew up in Kingston and visited his school after winning Olympic gold as a triathlete.

Following the MSI, Cummings-Bently is set to cast the LTA North Split 3 in Los Angeles, right before heading to China for the world championships. He hopes to represent Canada in a meaningful way, one that shows both the passion within the esports community and his love for his country, while also looking forward to casting a variety of games in the years to come.

“I’m so excited for fans to finally get a taste of how incredible the atmosphere is at the large events,” he said. “To see love for something shared by so many others—there’s nothing like it.”

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