The official LoL Esports website has unveiled the format for MSI and Worlds 2025, confirming that neither tournament will feature the Fearless Draft. Additionally, the World Championship will not include a loser bracket in the playoffs.
A Landmark Year for League of Legends Esports
2025 marks a historic year for League of Legends esports with the introduction of the First Stand tournament in March. This event will feature the Fearless Draft for the first time on an international stage and will bring together the five champions from major leagues in a six-day championship.
Following First Stand, the Spring Splits will lead into MSI 2025, one of the year’s most significant tournaments. According to LoL Esports, the format for MSI 2025 has now been officially confirmed.
MSI 2025: Format and Key Details
- Dates: June 27 – July 12, 2025
- Location: Canada
- Number of Teams: 10 (2 teams from each major league)
- Tournament Structure:
- Play-In Stage
- Main Bracket
Qualification Process:
- The top two teams from each international league qualify.
- The MSI champion secures a direct spot at Worlds 2025.
- The runner-up earns an additional fourth seed for their region at Worlds 2025.
- The first-place teams from each region and the second-place team from the winning region of First Stand advance directly to the Group Stage.
- The remaining four teams must compete in the Play-In Stage.
- Play-In matches are played in a Best-of-5 (Bo5) format, with two teams advancing.
- The Main Bracket is also Bo5.
- Fearless Draft will not be implemented.
Worlds 2025: Format Overview
Although the official dates for Worlds 2025 have not been confirmed, Riot Games has outlined the tournament structure, sparking some disappointment within the community due to the absence of the Fearless Draft and a loser bracket.
Tournament Structure:
- Play-In Stage:
- The fourth-seeded teams from regions that earned an additional Worlds slot via MSI will start in this stage.
- A single-elimination Best-of-5 (Bo5) match will determine qualification for the Swiss Stage.
- Swiss Stage:
- 16 teams will compete.
- Five rounds of Best-of-3 (Bo3) matches.
- Qualification and elimination matches will be played as Best-of-5 (Bo5).
- The top eight teams advance to the Playoffs.
- Playoffs:
- Single-elimination bracket (no loser bracket).
- Fearless Draft will not be used.
Potential Changes?
While Riot Games could still adjust the format before Worlds 2025, as of now, the Fearless Draft will only be featured in First Stand. This decision has been met with mixed reactions from the community, with some hoping for last-minute revisions to introduce the highly anticipated draft format into MSI or Worlds.
Conclusion
With MSI 2025 set to take place in Canada and Worlds 2025 shaping up to be another high-stakes event, Riot Games continues to refine the competitive landscape of League of Legends. However, the exclusion of the Fearless Draft and the lack of a loser bracket in the Worlds Playoffs remain controversial topics among fans.
Whether these formats will evolve before the tournaments remain to be seen, but for now, teams and fans alike must prepare for a year of intense, single-elimination competition.