The Teamfight Tactics Esports World Cup kicked off on August 8 with a spectacular light show and a massive LAN stage. But it lacked everything that made the Riot Vegas Open so memorable.

Eight teams from around the world took to the EWC stage for the first of four days of competition in Riyadh, to avoid silence. Teams competed in the newly created 4v4 team format to determine the top two who would advance to the playoffs. Under the guise of unifying esports, many fans and players opposed the EWC due to it being a Saudi Arabian-backed event, while some players were unable to participate at all. But with the industry and teams strapped for cash, the money was too good to pass up. But despite all the fanfare and money poured into the TFT event, it still can’t compete with the Vegas Open.

The Vegas Open exemplified the launch of TFT Set 10 and the beginning of a new era of esports, with sets being released quarterly throughout the year. Many players were at a disadvantage going into the Vegas Open, as the set was released immediately after the launch of Set 10, much like the EWC which started a week after the launch of TFT Set 12.

Despite the players’ lack of preparation for the Vegas Open, spirits were high, smack talk was on S-tier and everyone was hyped up to be able to come together under one roof to play TFT. This was not the vibe I experienced when I watched the opening of the EWC.