LoL First Stand 2025: The Importance of the Tournament

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 are set to compete:

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

Riot Games has prepared a prize pool of $1 million, with a fairly even split: the champion will take 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 all teams will compete in a Best-of-3 (Bo3) match against each other. The team with the worst record will be eliminated, and the remaining four will advance to a single-elimination playoff, where matches are played as first to 3 wins.

All games will utilize the Fearless Draft system, where once a champion is picked in a series, they cannot be used again. This format has sparked debate among fans and players. While fans appreciate the variety it brings to the games, players sometimes feel restricted from showcasing their best performance on their signature champions. However, since this is the first international tournament of the season, it offers a unique opportunity for experimentation.

Why is First Stand 2025 important?

At first glance, the tournament might seem like a friendly warm-up, but its impact could be substantial. A strong performance here can set the stage for success at the World Championships, much like the butterfly effect.

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). Moreover, the two best-performing regions at MSI will gain an additional slot for Worlds, making this event crucial for the future of regional competition. Teams are not just playing for their own success and Riot's prize money, but also for the future of their entire region.

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?

Riot Games ensures fans have numerous ways to watch the matches, including through a variety of co-streamers. You can find all the options and choose the most convenient way to watch at lolesports.com.