League of Legends Esports: Major Changes and New Format for 2025
The League of Legends competitive landscape is undergoing significant transformation in 2025, with the introduction of new tournaments and regional restructuring promising to reshape the esports ecosystem.
Introduction of “The First Stand”
A major addition to the global tournament circuit is “The First Stand 2025,” a new competition scheduled between the first split and Mid-Season Invitational (MSI). This compact tournament will feature five teams, one from each region, competing in a round-robin format followed by playoffs among the top four teams. The tournament winner’s region gains an advantage at MSI 2025, earning a second bye directly to the Bracket Stage.
The First Stand introduces an innovative “fearless draft” system where champions cannot be reselected within a series, encouraging diverse team compositions and strategies.
Regional Restructuring
The most significant structural change is the merger of multiple regions into larger circuits:
- The League of Legends Championship of the Americas (LTA) combines the LCS, CBLOL, and LLA regions
- The North and South conferences will each host eight teams
- Each conference includes six partnered teams, one LLA team, and one guest spot
- The League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP) launches as a new regional entity
The 2025 season kickoff dates are:
- LPL: January 12
- LCK: January 15
- LCP: January 17
- LEC: January 18
- LTA: January 25
Tournament Structure and Qualification
The revised structure includes three major international events, with slots distributed as follows:
- The First Stand: One slot per region (5 total teams)
- MSI 2025: Two slots per region (10 total teams)
- Worlds: Three base slots per region, plus additional slots for the MSI champion’s region and the second-best performing region (17 total teams)
Notable Developments
Regional Changes
- The LPL implemented stricter salary caps entering 2025 to promote financial stability and competitive balance
- The Americas merger has already facilitated cross-regional player movement, with Denilson “Ceos” Oliveira Goncalves becoming the first Brazilian import to North America
- Traditional LLA teams Isurus and Estral have merged to compete in LTA South 2025
- Disguised, owned by Jeremy “Disguised Toast” Wang, enters the main league through the guest slot system
Competitive Landscape
- T1’s dynamics shift with Choi “Zeus” Woo-je’s departure to Hanwha Life Esports
- Invictus Gaming features a partial reunion of their 2018 Worlds championship roster
- The consolidation of regions presents both opportunities and challenges for teams and players in smaller circuits
Viewership Trends
The 2024 season saw significant viewership growth across major regions:
- The LCK maintained its position as the most-watched region
- CBLOL achieved remarkable growth, becoming the third most popular regional circuit
- Streamer-owned organizations like Karmine Corp, Movistar KOI, and Gentle Mates contributed to increased audience engagement
- Co-streaming continues to play a vital role in expanding viewership
The 2025 season represents a pivotal year for League of Legends esports, with these structural changes aimed at fostering competitive balance, financial stability, and continued growth in viewership. Success of these reforms will likely influence future developments in the competitive ecosystem.