At the end of 2024, Riot Games announced major changes for the Esports of League of Legends. In particular, the game publisher has announced changes in the tournament system, organizing a new international event, First Stand.
The tournament will consist of 5 champions from South Korea (LCK), China (LPL), Europe – North Africa – Middle East (EMEA), America (LTA) and Asia – Pacific (LCP). First Stand 2025 Take Taking place at LCK Studio, Seoul, South Korea from March 10 to March 16, with 5 teams attending the HANWHA LIFE ESPORTS, LIQUID, LIQUID, LIQUID, LIQUID, LIQUID Team Esports, CTBC Flying Oyster and Karmine Corp.
In terms of formula, the tournament will be divided into two stages of the group stage and play-off. In the group stage, it will play a circle in a round, delineating the results with the Bo3 and the bottom team will be eliminated. Next, 4 teams in the Play-off will play the live type Bo5 to find the event champion.
First Stand 2025 is also the first international event that Riot Games applies the Fearless Draft. This format will cause the teams to use only once a champion, the generals who have chosen in the previous game will be banned in the next games of that match. All the leagues at the beginning of the year of the League of Legends have applied this formula and are receiving positive feedback from the community.
The total prize of the tournament will be 1 million USD, of which the champion receives USD 300,000, runner-up $ 225,000, ranked 3-4 172,500 USD and 5th rank received 130,000 USD. In addition, the area that won the First Stand title will receive more advantages when the team participating in the MSI 2025 will be in the group stage of the tournament without playing play-in.
