Next week, all eyes in the League of Legends community will be on Seoul, where the champions of the Winter competition will clash in the highly anticipated First Stand 2025. In this article, we'll delve into all 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 event will feature the champions from 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 balanced distribution: the champion 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 3 (Bo3) match against every other team. The team with the poorest record will be eliminated, and the remaining four will advance to a single-elimination playoff, where matches are played to the first to win 3 games.
All games will utilize the Fearless Draft system, which prohibits the reuse of a champion once picked in a series. This format has stirred some controversy: while fans appreciate the diversity it brings, players may struggle to perform at their peak without their signature champions. However, as the first international tournament of the season, it's an ideal opportunity for experimentation.
Why is First Stand 2025 important?
At first glance, First Stand 2025 might appear to be just a friendly warm-up, but its implications could be far-reaching. It's akin to the butterfly effect: a strong showing here could pave the way for success at Worlds.
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 regions that perform best at MSI will earn an additional slot for Worlds, making this event crucial for regional competitiveness. In essence, teams are not only competing for their own glory and Riot's prize money but also for the future prospects 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 offers numerous ways to enjoy the matches, including a variety of co-streamers. Head over to lolesports.com to find the most suitable and comfortable viewing option for you.
