As the 2024 League of Legends (LoL) World Championship nears its climax in Paris, Riot Games has confirmed that the tournament will be heading back to China for its 2025 edition. This marks the third time China will host the biggest event in LoL esports, following previous championships in 2017 and 2020.
2025 Location Announced by Riot Games
With this year’s semifinals featuring powerhouse teams like Weibo and BiliBili Gaming representing China’s LPL, Riot Games’ decision to return Worlds to China underscores the country’s influence in the competitive LoL scene. The tournament will once again bring world-class action to fans in China, with specific cities to be announced soon.
OPPO Partnership Renewal and Announcement
Riot Games revealed China as the location for Worlds 2025 during OPPO’s launch event for their new Find X8 series in Chengdu. OPPO, a major Chinese smartphone brand, extended its global partnership with LoL Esports, making it a prominent sponsor in one of the most-watched esports events worldwide.
Riot Games noted the significance of this partnership in elevating the global status of LoL esports and expanding its reach to millions of fans.
“Over the past five years, OPPO has been part of some of the most defining moments in LoL esports history. Celebrating the announcement of their global partnership extension with LoL Esports as part of the OPPO Find X8 launch event, OPPO and Riot Games mark yet another milestone, unveiling China as the home of Worlds 2025,” the official Riot statement shared.
Worlds 2024 Semifinals and LPL’s Impact
Currently, the 2024 Worlds semifinals are underway in Paris, where Weibo and BiliBili Gaming, as well as South Korea’s T1 and Gen.G, are competing for a chance to claim the Summoner’s Cup. With two Chinese teams in the semifinals, there’s a possibility that an LPL team could secure the championship on French soil—a momentous event for fans ahead of Worlds’ return to China.
Conclusion
As League of Legends Worlds 2024 draws to a close, the excitement only grows with the anticipation of Worlds 2025 in China.
With Riot Games’ partnership with OPPO and the forthcoming selection of cities, next year’s tournament promises to bring the intense competition and global fanfare that define the League of Legends World Championship.
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