Riot Games unveiled its new international League of Legends tournament, First Stand, set to launch the 2025 season at LoL Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The seven-day event will feature top teams from five regions competing using the new Fearless Draft format, with the winning region earning an extra direct seed for the Mid-Season Invitational finals in July.

First Stand will serve as the season opener for global LoL esports, pitting the best teams from each region against one another in a bid to claim the title of inaugural champion. In the tournament’s Round Robin stage, running from March 10 to 14, teams will play a best-of-three series across four matches. Side selection will vary by match – predetermined randomly for one, chosen by the teams for two, and fixed for the remaining two. The last-place team after these contests will be eliminated, while the top four advance to the Knockout Stage.

The Knockout Stage, held on March 15 and 16, will follow a single-elimination, best-of-five format. The first-place team from the round-robin will face the fourth-place team, and the second-place team will match up with the third. Winners of the semifinals will clash in the final on March 16 to determine the tournament champion.

Under the Fearless Draft format, any champion used in an earlier set cannot be picked again later in the match. In a best-of-five series that reaches its final set, as many as 50 champions may be locked out. This rule is designed to push teams to display greater versatility while offering fans a broader range of gameplay strategies.

Riot Games is also trying to enhance the viewing experience for fans. Those watching live on LoLEsports.com with their Riot Games ID can earn in-game rewards, such as the 2025 Esports Capsule drop for pentakills or a successful Baron Nashor steal. Extra drops will be awarded in extended five-set matches, and viewers tuning into the final on March 16 will receive an exclusive “Shik-Shik” First Stand emote. In addition, a new Head-Up Display (HUD) is being introduced to simplify key in-game information and improve clarity for viewers across all devices.

A limited-edition First Stand 2025 Collection, featuring premium apparel and accessories such as the rare First Stand Basity Jacket, will be available at LoL Park and online beginning March 4 for a limited time. The event is part of the LCK season—a restructured, single-season tournament running from March to September—solidifying Korea’s role as a premier hub for League of Legends esports.