The first international League of Legends tournament of 2025, First Stand, is set to debut at LoL Park in Seoul. This groundbreaking competition will feature the best teams from around the world, each representing their respective major leagues.
Here’s everything you need to know about the event, including the qualified teams, tournament format, and schedule.
A New Era for International LoL Esports
This year, fans won’t have to wait long for the first global showdown in League of Legends esports. First Stand 2025 kicks off in early March, marking the beginning of a new era in Riot Games’ competitive calendar.
First Stand is the first of three major international LoL tournaments in 2025, alongside the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) and the World Championship (Worlds). What makes it unique is its exclusive format: only five teams qualify—one from each of the top regional leagues.
Qualified Teams for First Stand 2025
With the conclusion of the first split playoffs across the major leagues, the teams securing their spots in First Stand 2025 are:
- Hanwha Life Esports – LCK champion (Korea)
- Top Esports – LPL champion (China)
- Team Liquid – LTA champion (Americas)
- CTBC Flying Oyster – LCP champion (Pacific)
- Karmine Corp – LEC champion (Europe)
Hanwha Life Esports, the reigning champion of the LCK Cup 2025 after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Gen.G, enters the tournament as the favorite.
Their status as the home team gives them a significant advantage, but they face fierce competition from LPL champion Top Esports, who recently conquered China’s most competitive league. Karmine Corp’s presence is also notable, as they make their debut on the Tier 1 international stage.
First Stand 2025 Schedule
First Stand 2025 runs from March 10 to March 16, packing all the action into one intense week featuring the best teams from each major region.
- Match times:
- Most matches will take place at 09:00 CET and 12:00 CET.
- Semifinal matches will have different timings: 05:00 CET and 10:00 CET.
First Stand 2025 Format
The defining feature of First Stand 2025 is the Hard Fearless Draft system. This rule prevents teams from picking the same champions more than once in a series, meaning the champion pool shrinks as the tournament progresses through Best-of-3 (Bo3) and Best-of-5 (Bo5) matches.
Group Stage (Bo3)
- The tournament opens with a group stage where all five teams face off in a round-robin Best-of-3 format.
- The bottom-ranked team is eliminated, while the top four teams move on to the playoffs.
Playoffs (Bo5)
- The four remaining teams are seeded into a single-elimination bracket.
- The 1st place team faces the 4th place team, and the 2nd place team faces the 3rd place team.
- All matches are Best-of-5.
- The winner of the Grand Final qualifies directly for MSI 2025.
A Historic First for LoL Esports
With its unique format and elite competition, First Stand 2025 is set to redefine international League of Legends esports. Fans can look forward to an exciting clash between the top teams from each region, as they battle not only for the inaugural First Stand title but also for a coveted spot at MSI 2025.
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