Last updated: August 14, 2025
The 2025 League of Legends World Championship (LoL Worlds 2025) is set to begin on October 14 and conclude with the Grand Final on November 9, taking place across Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, China. Featuring 17 top-tier teams from five major competitive regions, this year’s tournament brings not only the highest-ever $5,000,000 USD prize pool in Worlds history but also a revamped structure focused on strategic depth, regional equity, and enhanced viewer experience.
Tournament Format & Structure
The 2025 edition introduces several changes to streamline competition and intensify the stakes. Riot Games has overhauled the traditional group stage format in favor of a Swiss-style system, and the newly implemented Fearless Draft rule aims to diversify champion usage in best-of-series play.
Play-In Stage – October 14 (Beijing)
- Venue: Beijing Smart Esports Center
- A single best-of-five showdown between the 4th-seeded teams from Korea (LCK) and China (LPL)
- The victor advances to the Swiss Stage; the loser is eliminated
Swiss Stage – October 15–25 (Beijing)
- Venue: Beijing Smart Esports Center
- 16 teams: 15 regionally qualified squads plus the Play-In winner
- Swiss system: all teams play five rounds; teams with 3 wins move to Knockouts, those with 3 losses are eliminated
- Most matchups are best-of-ones; however, elimination and advancement matches are best-of-three featuring the Fearless Draft rule
Knockout Stage – October 28 to November 2 (Shanghai)
- Venue: Mercedes-Benz Arena, Shanghai
- Single-elimination bracket featuring 8 teams
- All matches are best-of-five
- Quarterfinals and Semifinals take place on consecutive days, testing teams’ endurance and adaptability
World Final – November 9 (Chengdu)
- Venue: Dong’an Lake Sports Park Gymnasium, Chengdu
- The two finalists will compete in a best-of-five Grand Final
- The winner lifts the Summoner’s Cup and secures the largest share of the $5 million prize pool
Regional Team Allocation & Qualification
Seventeen teams secure their placements through performance in their respective 2025 regional circuits, as detailed below. The number of slots per region reflects outcomes at the 2025 Mid-Season Invitational, where Korea (LCK) and China (LPL) secured 4 slots each. The remaining three regions receive 3 slots apiece.
| Region | Worlds 2025 Slots | How Teams Qualify |
|---|---|---|
| Korea – LCK | 4 (3 to Swiss, 4th to Play-In) | – 2025 MSI Champion – LCK 2025 Season Playoffs 1st – LCK Season Playoffs 2nd – LCK 3rd place (to Play-In) |
| China – LPL | 4 (3 to Swiss, 4th to Play-In) | – LPL 2025 1st – Championship Points – Regional Finals 1st – Regional Finals 2nd (to Play-In) |
| Europe – LEC (EMEA) | 3 (all to Swiss) | – LEC Summer 1st – Summer 2nd – Summer 3rd |
| Americas – LTA | 3 (all to Swiss) | – LTA Championship 1st – 2nd – 3rd |
| Pacific – LCP | 3 (all to Swiss) | – LCP Season 1st – 2nd – 3rd |
Source: LoL.Fandom.com
Qualified Teams by Region
The following teams have qualified for Worlds 2025. Full rosters and seed placements will be finalized once all regional tournaments conclude.
Korea (LCK) – 4 Seeds
China (LPL) – 4 Seeds
Europe (EMEA – LEC) – 3 Seeds
Americas (LTA) – 3 Seeds
Pacific (LCP) – 3 Seeds
Prize Pool Distribution
The 2025 World Championship introduces a $5,000,000 USD prize purse, the largest in tournament history. The distribution will reward teams proportionally based on their final standings, from the championship team to those eliminated in the Swiss Stage.
| Place | Prize | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TBA | TBA |
| 2 | TBA | TBA |
| 3 | TBA | TBA |
| 4 | TBA | TBA |
| 5–8 | TBA | TBA |
| 9–11 | TBA | TBA |
| 12–14 | TBA | TBA |
| 15–16 | TBA | TBA |
| 17 | TBA | TBA |
Where to Watch Worlds 2025
- Official Streams: Twitch and YouTube
- Languages: Broadcasts in English, Mandarin, Korean, Spanish, and more
- VODs: Available shortly after matches on official platforms
LoL Worlds 2025 FAQ
When and where is Worlds 2025?
October 14–November 9 in China – Play-In and Swiss in Beijing, Knockouts in Shanghai, Finals in Chengdu.
How many teams are competing?
17 total from five competitive regions.
Why does this year only feature 17 teams?
Format and slot restructuring by Riot Games alongside a simplified Play-In determined the final total.
What’s new in the tournament format?
Group stages are replaced by a Swiss Stage, and the Fearless Draft adds new strategic depth.
How does the Play-In Stage work?
One best-of-five match between LCK and LPL 4th seeds decides the final Swiss slot.
How does the Swiss Stage function?
Teams with matching records face off each round. Three wins secure advancement; three losses mean elimination.
What is the Fearless Draft rule?
Teams cannot select champions already played in prior games of the same series, encouraging versatile drafts.
What is the Knockout format?
Eight teams in a single-elimination Bo5 bracket. Quarterfinals and semifinals take place on back-to-back days.
When is the Grand Final?
November 9, 2025, at Chengdu’s Dong’an Lake Sports Park Gymnasium.
Which regions received four slots?
Korea (LCK) and China (LPL) due to their MSI 2025 results.
How are teams selected per region?
Championship, playoff, and seasonal performances across each regional league.
What is the total prize pool?
$5,000,000 USD distributed by tournament placement.
Where can fans watch the matches?
Twitch and YouTube official streams, alongside regional co-streams and multilingual coverage.
For real-time news, match schedules, and finalized team lineups:
Stay tuned as regional playoffs finalize qualification and more updates are made available.
