This Week in Esports - Post 2015 WC Group Stages

With the 2015 WC Group Stage finished, we're back with another edition of This Week in eSports!

[Warning: This post contains event spoilers!]

Continue reading for information and scheduling for the upcoming World Championship Knockout Stage, World Championship Group Stage results, various team/player news and more!

2015 World Championship

The 2015 World Championship Group Stages wrapped over the weekend - a total of 48 games were played between the 16 participating teams, and only the top two from each group will continue to the Knockout Stage starting on October 15th. Quarterfinal matches will be played in Best of 5 format and you can find the full schedule here.

Group Stage Results

The top two seeds from each group will be moving on to the Knockout Stage on October 15th.

Knockout Stage starts October 15th

Here's what the current bracket looks like for the upcoming Knockout Stage:

As usual, we'll have a full post up once the Knockout stage begins on October 15th!

Looking for more information on worlds or the teams?  Check out the 2015 WC site for more info!

Worlds Pick'em - Knockout Stage predictions open! 

With the group stages wrapped up, the Worlds Pick'em for  the Knockout Stage is now available! Head on over to the the Pick'em website site and lock in your picks by the 15th to participate!

Simply participating in the pick'em event will earn you the icon on the RIGHT in the image below, while obtaining a total of 34 points during the event will get yo the icon on the LEFT in the image below. More information on how to play can be found here.

As you may have heard, the grand prize for the very rare "Perfect Pick" - correctly predicting the out come of every group stage and the knock out stage - for this year is an unlock of the limited Championship Riven skin. As of the end of group stages, a mere 52 people are still in the running for a perfect Pick'em!

Team, Player, Event & Organization News

NA:

• Following comments from earlier this year, TSM's top laner Dyrus  will soon be retiring. Here's a link to his reddit AMA where he talks about his plans after stepping down.
• Xpecial will be stepping down as support for Team Liquid.
• Returning LCS team Team 8 has rebranded and changed their name to Immortals. 
• Maplestreet has left the Renegades. As they prepare for the 2016 LCS season, Renegades will be holding open tryouts for a new ADC. 

Riot:

• A slew of 2015 World Championship content, including the new Championship  Kalista, 2015 WC Ward skin, and summoner icons + returning Legacy content, is available through November 5th!