Next week, the eyes of the League of Legends community will be on Seoul as five champions from the Winter competition clash in the eagerly anticipated First Stand 2025. In this comprehensive guide, we'll dive into the essential details of this exciting event.
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 features the champions of 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 a prize pool of $1 million, with a well-distributed split: the champion team will claim 30% of the total, while even the last-place team will receive $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-three (Bo3) match against every other team. The team with the lowest record will be eliminated, leaving the remaining four to advance to a single-elimination playoff, where matches are played to the first to win three games.
The Fearless Draft system will be in play for all games, meaning once a champion is selected in a series, they cannot be used again. This rule has stirred some debate among fans and players. While it adds variety and excitement, it can prevent players from performing at their peak with their signature champions. However, as the first international event of the season, it's an ideal opportunity for teams to experiment and adapt.
Why is First Stand 2025 important?
Though it may appear as a friendly warm-up at first glance, First Stand 2025 holds significant implications. A strong showing here can set the tone for the rest of the season, potentially influencing performances at the World Championship.
The winner of First Stand 2025 will secure their region's second seed an automatic slot in the group stage at the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI). Furthermore, the top two performing regions at MSI will earn an additional slot for the World Championship. This makes First Stand 2025 not just a battle for individual team glory and Riot's prize money, but a crucial event for regional competitiveness and future tournament seeding.
What is the First Stand 2025 schedule?
The tournament will feature two matches per day (all times in CET), except for the final day:
- 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 ensures fans have ample opportunities to catch the action, including a variety of co-streamers. Head over to lolesports.com to find the viewing option that suits you best and enjoy the thrill of First Stand 2025 from the comfort of your home.
