LoL First Stand 2025: The Importance of the Tournament

Next week, the spotlight of the League of Legends community will shine brightly on Seoul, South Korea, as the champions from the Winter competition gear up for an electrifying showdown at First Stand 2025. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the crucial aspects of this eagerly anticipated event, ensuring you're fully equipped with all the essential information.

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 tournament will feature the champions from the five major regions, showcasing the best of the best in League of Legends esports:

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

Riot Games has sweetened the pot with a $1 million prize pool, distributed with a thoughtful balance. The champion team will claim 30% of the total, while even the team finishing last will take home a respectable $130,000.

What is the format of First Stand 2025?

First Stand 2025 kicks off with an exciting round-robin stage, where each team will compete in a Best of 3 (Bo3) match against every other team. The team with the lowest record will be eliminated, and the remaining four will advance to a thrilling single-elimination playoff, where matches are played to first to 3 wins.

The tournament employs the innovative Fearless Draft system, ensuring that once a champion is selected in a series, they cannot be picked again. This rule has stirred debate among fans and players alike. While it introduces variety and forces teams to adapt, it also prevents players from showcasing their prowess with their signature champions. Given that this is the first international event of the season, it's an ideal platform for teams to experiment and showcase their adaptability.

Why is First Stand 2025 important?

While First Stand 2025 might initially seem like a friendly warm-up, its significance cannot be overstated. It serves as a crucial stepping stone that could set the tone for the entire season. A strong showing here can have a butterfly effect, paving the way for success at the World Championships.

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 two regions that perform best at MSI will earn an additional slot for the World Championships, making this event pivotal not just for individual teams, but for the competitive strength of entire regions. Teams are thus battling not only for personal glory and Riot's prize money but also for the future prospects of their regions.

What is the First Stand 2025 schedule?

The tournament will unfold over seven days, with each day, except the final, hosting two matches. All times are listed in Central European Time (CET):

March 10
- 9:00 — Team Liquid vs. Karmine Corp
- 12:00 — Hanwha Life Esports vs. Top Esports
March 11
- 9:00 — CTBC Flying Oyster vs. Karmine Corp
- 12:00 — Team Liquid vs. Top Esports
March 12
- 9:00 — CTBC Flying Oyster vs. Hanwha Life Esports
- 12:00 — Karmine Corp vs. Top Esports
March 13
- 9:00 — Team Liquid vs. CTBC Flying Oyster
- 12:00 — Hanwha Life Esports vs. Karmine Corp
March 14
- 9:00 — CTBC Flying Oyster vs. Top Esports
- 12:00 — Hanwha Life Esports vs. Team Liquid
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 that fans have ample options to catch all the action of First Stand 2025. Head over to lolesports.com where you can choose from a variety of viewing options, including official streams and a multitude of co-streamers, ensuring you can enjoy the event in the most comfortable and engaging way possible.