The First Stand 2025, the latest installment of the competitive League of Legends scene, is set to capture the attention of esports fans around the world as it takes place from March 10 to March 16, 2025, in Seoul, South Korea, marking the beginning of the international League of Legends competitive season.
Organized by Riot Games, this highly anticipated tournament will feature five of the premier teams across major global regions: Hanwha Life Esports from Korea, Top Esports from China, Karmine Corp from Europe, Team Liquid from the Americas, and CTBC Flying Oyster from the Asia-Pacific. Each team earned its spot by demonstrating exceptional skill and performance throughout its respective regional leagues, vying for the honor of competing on this international stage.
The structure of the First Stand 2025 is set to include several innovative formats, prominent among them being the Fearless Draft mechanic. This new drafting style will see teams adapt their champion selections dynamically throughout the tournament, where champions picked for one match become unavailable for subsequent contests. This serves to deepen strategic play and encourage teams to diversify their champion pools, adding layers of complexity to matchups.
During the tournament's initial group stage, teams will face off against one another in a round-robin format, each match played as best-of-three (BO3) series. Following this phase, the top four teams will advance to the playoff rounds, culminating in the best-of-five (BO5) semifinals and finals. It's also notable for fans, as the eventual champion will secure direct qualification for the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) 2025 scheduled for May.
Karmine Corp’s participation is particularly historic as they are the first French team to qualify for such a prestigious international competition following their recent victory at the LEC Winter 2025 segment—an achievement long awaited and celebrated by French esports fans. They will kick off their campaign against Team Liquid on March 10, 2025, at 9:00 AM French time, and later face CTBC Flying Oyster. Coach Rehareha "Reha" Ramanana expressed optimism about the tournament, stating, "It's just the beginning for us, so we will go with the mindset to surprise and learn something from every match." This philosophy could serve them well as they face teams renowned for their ability to perform under pressure.
Each team arriving at the First Stand will bring its legacy and recent successes to the forefront. For example, Hanwha Life Esports emerged as the champions of the LCK Cup, where they showcased their prowess by defeating major opponents like T1 and Gen.G, the latter considered to be among the top teams globally. Similarly, Top Esports clinched the LPL Split 1 2025 championship and have showcased remarkable tenacity, consistently overcoming formidable opposition.
Meanwhile, the Fearless Draft system promises to redefine the competitive edge, as teams will need to make strategic decisions not only on champion selection but also on how best to counter their opponents as the tournament progresses. The first match of the tournament will witness highly anticipated clashes like Hanwha Life Esports vs. Top Esports, which sees two titans of the scene battle it out early on. Historically, Korean and Chinese teams have dominated international finals, leading many to speculate if this trend will continue with the outcomes of the First Stand.
The event will also be bolstered by the increased viewer engagement through various mechanisms, like interactive viewing experiences, Drops for engaged fans, and co-streaming with renowned esports personalities. These offerings are expected to make the competitive experience more thrilling, both for online viewers and those attending the event live.
This tournament marks not only the beginning of the League of Legends international calendar but is set to redefine the competitive structure within the game, emphasizing strategic ingenuity with its updated mechanics. From March 10 to March 16, 2025, esports fans are encouraged to tune in and witness the best of the best, as teams from across the globe contend for supremacy.