Next week, the eyes of the League of Legends community will be on Seoul, South Korea, as five champions from the Winter competition gear up for an electrifying showdown at First Stand 2025. In this article, we dive into all the essential details you need to know about 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 champions from 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 sweetened the pot with a $1 million prize pool, with a balanced distribution: the champion will take home 30% of the total, while even the last-place team will receive a substantial $130,000.

What is the format of First Stand 2025?

The tournament kicks off with a round-robin stage, where each team will battle it out 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 first to 3 wins.

All games will utilize the Fearless Draft system, which prohibits the reuse of a champion within a series. This format has stirred some debate among fans and players. While it introduces variety and excitement, it can sometimes prevent players from showcasing their best performance on their preferred champions. However, as the first international tournament of the season, it's an ideal setting for experimentation.

Why is First Stand 2025 important?

Though it might seem like a friendly warm-up at first glance, First Stand 2025 holds significant implications. It's akin to a butterfly effect; a strong performance here can lay the groundwork for success at the World Championship.

The winner of First Stand 2025 secures their region's second seed an automatic slot in the group stage at the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI). Moreover, the two top-performing regions at MSI will earn an additional slot for Worlds, making this event a pivotal moment for regional strength. Teams aren't just competing for their own glory and Riot's prize money; they're also fighting 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 listed 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 ample viewing options, including a variety of co-streamers. Head over to lolesports.com to find the best and most comfortable way to watch the action unfold.