10 December, 20 CLE. Summoner's Rift. The battle begins at 6:00 PM, Pacific Standard Time (9:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time).

Five summoners representing Ionia will meet five summoners representing Noxus in a single battle to determine the fate of Ionia.
The event will be livestreamed and shoutcast by the official League commentator, Phreak!

The League has approved ten champions for each side. Each team will have the opportunity to ban one champion from entry into the battle. Each side will then commence with a draft until each side has selected a team of five.

The fate of Ionia hangs in the balance.

Should the enlightened city-state of Ionia conquer their oppressors, Noxus has agreed to withdraw from the island. The provinces of Galrin, Navori, and Shon-Xan in southern Ionia will be liberated, a freedom they have not tasted in years.

Should the powerful city-state of Noxus emerge the victor, the three southern provinces currently being occupied by Noxus will become permanently governed under Noxian rule. As per the governance of Ionia, the provinces will be represented by selected dukes and duchesses, which hold court in the Convergence of Elders, Ionia's governmental assembly. All decisions made in the Convergence of Elders will thus include Noxian voices in the fray.

Deep inside the caverns under the Institute of War, the League of Legends keeps a vault of powerful items. Many of these items are esoteric in their origin, locked away from the greedy hands of summoners who might use them to harm Runeterra. The victors of the match will be able to choose one of two items from within the League's vault for entry onto the Fields of Justice.

The two items that the League has selected are a pair of boots and an item from the famed artificer Doran’s collection. Both items grant unique abilities compared to the existing boots and Doran’s items currently available. The item selected for sale will be dedicated in the winning city-state’s honor.

Riches will be bestowed upon the victor. 2800 RP and 6300 IP will be allocated to each summoner on the winning team. They will also be bestowed with a Trophy Ryze skin, a skin exclusive to winners of official matches.

The defeated summoners will also receive spoils to reward a well-fought battle. 1380 RP and 3150 IP will be allocated to each summoner on the defeated team.

All summoners can join in celebrating the victory for the winning side. From Friday, December 10th, through Monday, December 13th, select champions representing the winner of the Ionia versus Noxus Grudge Match will be available at 50% off.

If the Ionia Defenders win:
Amumu (regularly 585 RP) will be only 292 RP!
Shen (regularly 975 RP) will be only 487 RP!
Udyr (regularly 975 RP) will be only 487 RP!
If the Noxus Conquerors win:
Sion (regularly 585 RP) will be only 292 RP!
Rammus (regularly 975 RP) will be only 487 RP!
Vladimir (regularly 975 RP) will be only 487 RP!

Click here for more details!

The Noxian team will be represented by summoners Vorath, Edwy, Roku, Poisonidon, and Friend. Their team statement is as follows:

“Summoners, citizens, champions of the League. We gather here this day to adjudicate, by trial of arms, the Noxian expansion into the fertile Ionian provinces. It must not be that our hearts burgeon with treacherous emotion in these trying times. Rather, we must maintain a steely eye, an even demeanor, and argue the case with cool logic, and colder blades. Let not the wailings of the Ionian tenderhearts influence you overly-- Noxus has claimed these lands by lawful conquest on the Fields of Justice once, and all Runeterra shall stand witness as we do so again!”

The Ionian team will be represented by summoners Poruku, NeoIllusions, Eclipse, Frozt, and Guardsman Bob. Their team statement is as follows:

"We're determined to win, and we have our most advanced strategies prepared; losing is not an option. We will show them the power of Ionia, and we will have freedom as our reward. All of those who have shown support will not be let down. We have never stopped believing that the citizens of southern Ionia should have the freedom to live as they desire, without the heavy-handed oppression of another weighing down upon them. Without a doubt, balance shall be restored.”

Summoners who are not selected for the historic match are encouraged to stage Custom Games that pit Ionia versus Noxus, in accordance with each side's champion pool. The League invites image captures of the battle results to be posted in an official thread. It may shed light on the odds of victory for each side! Post your results here!.

Soon after Noxus and Demacia signed a treaty agreeing to settle their disputes through matches held by the young League of Legends, Noxus turned its expansionistic eye outward. Bolstered by the forces of Zaun and Bilgewater, Noxian soldiers invaded Ionia in what became the bloodiest engagement since the Rune Wars. Rallying its forces, Ionia managed to halt the progress of the invaders, but Noxian forces entrenched themselves in three of Ionia’s southern provinces: Galrin, Navori, and Shon-Xan. Seeking to avoid further bloodshed, Ionia joined the League of Legends and petitioned to have the Noxians removed from Ionian soil. The decision was made to settle the matter on the Fields of Justice.

The match was coined “The Trial for the Isle” and it captured the attention of all of Runeterra. Despite the best efforts of Ionian champions, Noxus prevailed, although rumors abound that foul play was involved. Noxus was granted the right to maintain its occupation of the Ionian provinces, and no appeal of the decision could be made for fifteen years.

Seven years later, on the twelfth of October, 20 CLE, a single Shojin monk shocked the world when he traveled to Ionia’s Lotus Gardens and set fire to himself in protest of the Noxian occupation. He channeled inner magic to preserve himself in a state of perpetual agony while ablaze in the garden, and he will remain there until the last leaf falls from the sacred bonsai resting next to him. Almost immediately, there was a public outcry for the League to reconsider its ruling. Moved to action, many of Ionia’s most notable figures spoke out, demanding an early rematch.

In uncharacteristic fashion, Noxus offered Ionia an early rematch, putting to rest concerns that Ionia might betray its agreement to abide by the League’s previous ruling.

Ionia accepted Noxus’ offer, and the two city-states entered negotiations to solidify the stakes of the match. It was ultimately determined that if Ionia wins, Noxus must withdraw its forces in full, and immediately halt any and all extraction of Ionian resources. However, should Noxus prevail, Ionia must completely surrender the southern provinces to the nation of Noxus, and furnish one Noxian designee with a seat amongst the Ionian Elders. This would give Noxus a voice and ear inside the government of Ionia.

Preliminary analyses indicate that this rematch may be the most highly anticipated event in all of League history.