LoL First Stand 2025: Importance Explained

Next week, all eyes in the League of Legends community will be on Seoul for the electrifying First Stand 2025 event. This tournament brings together the champions from the Winter competition across five major regions, promising a week filled with intense competition and high stakes. In this article, we’ll dive into the essential details of the event to keep you fully informed.

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 First Stand 2025 features top teams from five major regions:

• CTBC Flying Oyster (LCP)
• Hanwha Life Esports (LCK)
• Karmine Corp (LEC)
• Team Liquid (LTA)
• Top Esports (LPL)

Riot Games has set a substantial prize pool of $1 million for the event, with a fair distribution: the champion will receive 30% of the total, while even the last-place team will walk away with $130,000.

What is the format of First Stand 2025?

The tournament kicks off with a round-robin stage, where each team will compete in a Best of 3 (Bo3) match against every other team. The team with the worst record will be eliminated, and the remaining four will advance to a single-elimination playoff, playing first to 3 matches.

All matches will utilize the Fearless Draft system, where once a champion is selected in a series, it cannot be used again. This format has stirred debate among fans and players. While it introduces variety and excitement, it also means players may not always showcase their best performances on their signature champions. However, as the first international tournament of the season, it's an ideal setting for experimentation.

Why is First Stand 2025 important?

While First Stand 2025 might appear as a casual warm-up at first glance, its implications are significant. A strong showing here could set the tone for success at the World Championship. The winner of First Stand 2025 will secure an automatic group stage slot for their region's second seed at the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI). Furthermore, the two best-performing regions at MSI will earn an additional slot at Worlds, making this event crucial for regional competitiveness. Teams are not only playing for their own glory and Riot’s prize money but also for the future of their entire region.

What is the First Stand 2025 schedule?

The schedule for First Stand 2025 is as follows (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 viewing options for First Stand 2025, including official streams and a variety of co-streamers. Head over to lolesports.com to choose your preferred way to watch the action unfold.