Next week, the eyes of the League of Legends community will be on Seoul as the champions of the Winter competition gather for the thrilling First Stand 2025 event. In this article, we dive deep into all the essential details you need to know about this exciting tournament.
Table of Contents
- Who is playing in First Stand 2025?
- What is the format of First Stand 2025?
- Why is First Stand 2025 important?
- What is the First Stand 2025 schedule?
- Where to watch First Stand 2025?
Who is playing in First Stand 2025?
The lineup for First Stand 2025 features the champions from the five major regions:
- CTBC Flying Oyster (LCP)
- Hanwha Life Esports (LCK)
- Karmine Corp (LEC)
- Team Liquid (LTA)
- Top Esports (LPL)
Riot Games has set up an impressive prize pool of $1 million, with a fair distribution: the winning team will take home 30% of the total, while even the team finishing last will receive $130,000.
What is the format of First Stand 2025?
First Stand 2025 kicks off with a round-robin stage where each team competes in a Best-of-3 (Bo3) match against every other team. The team with the poorest performance will be eliminated, and the remaining four will advance to a single-elimination playoff, where matches are played as first-to-3.
All games will utilize the Fearless Draft system, which prohibits the reuse of any champion once picked in a series. This unique format has stirred some controversy among fans and players alike. While it introduces variety and excitement, it can also prevent players from showcasing their skills with their signature champions. Nevertheless, as the first international tournament of the season, it's an ideal opportunity for teams to experiment and adapt.
Why is First Stand 2025 important?
At first glance, First Stand 2025 might seem like a casual warm-up, but its implications are far-reaching. A strong showing here can be the catalyst for a successful season, including at the World Championships.
The winner of First Stand 2025 secures their region’s second seed an automatic slot in the group stage at the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI). Moreover, the top two performing regions at MSI will earn an additional slot for the World Championships. This makes First Stand 2025 not just a competition for individual team glory and Riot’s prize money, but a crucial event for boosting their region's standing on the global stage.
What is the First Stand 2025 schedule?
The tournament spans several days, with two matches scheduled each day, except for the final day (all times in CET):
March 10
- 9:00 — TL vs. KC
- 12:00 — HLE vs. TES
March 11
- 9:00 — CFO vs. KC
- 12:00 — TL vs. TES
March 12
- 9:00 — CFO vs. HLE
- 12:00 — KC vs. TES
March 13
- 9:00 — TL vs. CFO
- 12:00 — HLE vs. KC
March 14
- 9:00 — CFO vs. TES
- 12:00 — HLE vs. TL
March 15
- 9:00 — Semifinal 1
- 12:00 — Semifinal 2
March 16
- 9:00 — Grand Final
Where to watch First Stand 2025?
Riot Games offers multiple ways to catch the action, including a variety of co-streams. Head over to lolesports.com to find the viewing option that suits you best.
