LoL First Stand 2025: The Importance of the Tournament

Next week, all eyes in the League of Legends community will be on Seoul as the champions of the Winter competition gather for the highly anticipated First Stand 2025. In this article, we'll dive into all the essential details of this thrilling 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 five major regions will be represented by their champions 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 up a prize pool of $1 million, with a fair distribution: the winner will claim 30% of the total, while even the last-placed 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 competes in a Best of 3 (Bo3) match against the others. The team with the worst record will be eliminated, and the remaining four will advance to a single-elimination playoff, where matches are played to the first team to win 3 games.

All games will employ the Fearless Draft system, which means once a champion is picked in a series, they cannot be used again. This format has sparked some debate among fans and players. While it adds variety to the games, it can also prevent players from showcasing their skills on their signature champions. However, being the first international event 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 seem like a friendly warm-up, but its implications are far-reaching. It can be likened to the butterfly effect, where a strong performance here could pave the way for success 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). Moreover, the two best-performing regions at MSI will earn an additional slot at Worlds. Therefore, this event is not just about individual team success or the prize money from Riot Games; it's also about bolstering the future prospects of entire regions.

What is the First Stand 2025 schedule?

The tournament schedule features two matches per day, except for the final day, with all times listed in Central European Time (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 multiple ways to enjoy the action, including a variety of co-streamers. Head over to lolesports.com to find the most suitable and comfortable viewing option for you.