All next week, League of Legends fans will be focused on Seoul, where five champions of the Winter competition will face each other during the First Stand 2025. In this article, we’ll cover all the key details of the 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 champions of the five major regions will battle it out at First Stand 2025:
- CTBC Flying Oyster (LCP)
- Hanwha Life Esports (LCK)
- Karmine Corp (LEC)
- Team Liquid (LTA)
- Top Esports (LPL)
Riot Games has set a prize pool of $1 million, with a well-distributed split: the champion will claim 30% of the total, while even the team finishing last will take home $130,000.
What is the format of First Stand 2025?
First Stand 2025 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 games will utilize the Fearless Draft system, where a champion picked in a series cannot be used again. This format has sparked debate among fans and players. While it introduces variety, it also prevents players from showcasing their best performances on their signature champions. However, as the first international tournament of the season, it's an excellent opportunity for teams to experiment and adapt.
Why is First Stand 2025 important?
At first glance, First Stand 2025 might appear to be just a friendly warm-up, but its impact could be significant. Think of it as the butterfly effect: a strong performance here could set the stage for success at Worlds.
The winner of First Stand 2025 will earn their region’s second seed an automatic group stage slot at the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI). Additionally, the two best-performing regions at MSI will gain an extra slot for Worlds, making this event critical for regional strength. In short, teams are not only playing for their own success and Riot’s prize money but also for their entire region’s future.
What is the First Stand 2025 schedule?
Each day, except for the final, will feature two matches (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?
As always, Riot Games offers multiple ways to watch the games, including a variety of co-streamers. Visit lolesports.com to find the best and most comfortable viewing option for you.
