League of Legends Worlds 2025 kicks off on October 14th and goes on until November 9th. Here’s all you need to know about the biggest global LoL tournament of the year and the qualified teams.
A total of 17 teams (16 after the play-ins) from around the world will be competing for the title of World Champion of League of Legends. The winning team will get to lift the Summoner’s Cup.
This year, Lol Worlds will be held in China, and there are three stages you should know about:
- The play-in starts in Beijing. Two teams will be facing each other – this year, T1 and Invictus Gaming – to determine who will be the 16th team to go on to the main event. The match is Bo5 (best-of-five).
- After that, the Swiss stage begins, still in Beijing and then in Shanghai. In this stage, all the teams are facing each other, and the system is roughly that a team winning 3 moves on, and one losing 3 is out.
- The playoffs, still in Shanghai, will see the top 8 teams that advanced. Here, all matches are Bo5, and once you lose, you’re out.
- Finally, the Grand Final will be held in Chengdu! Then the last two teams face off. This year, the Grand Final happens on November 9th.
As a beginner, you shouldn’t get too overwhelmed trying to keep up with all the action. Better to pick one of the leagues that interests you and learn about these themes. You could also just watch the later stages, the playoffs, and then the Grand Final, where the real masters will be facing off.
You could even bet on your favorite team to heighten the suspense and get even more invested. Betting with friends can be especially fun.
It’s not for everyone, as some people might find it increases the pressure too much, or makes it hard to focus on the action at the end. If you enjoy gambling with money but prefer a separate and more skill-based game like poker, or even a fully luck-based slot, you can also find this at any decent Canadian online casino.
Do what works for you, and keep in mind that being somewhat confused or overwhelmed initially is normal if you’re just getting into esports.
Let’s talk about the teams that have qualified for the LoL World Championships and will be facing off against each other this year. For beginners, it helps to understand that teams are divided into leagues from different regions of the world, similar to other sports, like soccer or hockey.
First, from League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK), we have three or four teams, depending on the play-ins: Gen.G, Hanwha Life, KT Rolster, and T1 (if they can defeat Invictus Gaming).
Of these themes, Gen.G is especially hyped up, having some great talent and just recently winning the Mid-Season Invitational 2025. KT Rolster qualifies for the first time.
From the League of Legends Pro League (LPL), which is the Chinese league, we have another three or four teams, again depending on the play-ins. Bilibili Gaming, Anyone's Legend, and Top Esports qualify, while Invictus Gaming will go on if they can beat LCK's T1. This year, Bilibili Gaming again became the champions of the LPL.
The League of Legends Championship of the Americas (LTA) also brings three teams: FlyQuest, Vivo Keyd Stars, and 100 Thieves. Out of these teams, FlyQuest is most notable, dominating the American league since 2024.
The League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) brings three teams. These are the German-based G2 Esports, Spanish Movistar KOI, and English FNATIC. We’ve seen lots of stars from EMEA, and EG Esports stand out as one of the most consistent and promising ones this year.
Finally, League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP) has three qualifying teams: CTBC Flying Oyster, Team Secret Whales, and PSG Talon.
Out of these, lots of people are paying special attention to the curiously named team, Taiwanese CTBC Flying Oyster. The young team was founded in 2022 and has claimed multiple domestic titles since then, as well as impressing on an international level by finishing 5th–6th at the MSI 2025.
Team Secret Whales (also with a notable name) is a Vietnamese team that people are keeping their eyes on. This team became the second to advance to the grand finals of the LCP.