LoL Worlds 2025: Schedule, Format, Teams & Predictions
The League of Legends World Championship (Worlds 2025) returns to China with a three-city tour and a new Fearless Draft, raising the ceiling on strategy and champion depth. As the season’s pinnacle, this is where dynasties are defended, rivals collide across regions, and legacies are written under the brightest lights.
Here’s everything to know about Worlds 2025, from the schedule and format to the list of competing teams. We’ll also spotlight our predictions of the leading contenders for the championship crown.
Note: This page was last updated on October 29, 2025, and will be refreshed as new information becomes available.
When Is LoL Worlds 2025?
Worlds 2025 will run from October 14 to November 9, 2025. The Play-In will be hosted at the Beijing Smart Esports Center, with the Quarterfinals and Semifinals taking place at Shanghai’s Mercedes-Benz Arena. The Final is reserved for the Dong’an Lake Sports Park in Chengdu.
What Is The LoL Worlds 2025 Schedule And Format?
Worlds 2025 will unfold across three phases: Play-In, Swiss Stage, and Knockout. What’s more, all best-of-three and best-of-five matches will use Fearless Draft, meaning once a champion is picked in a series, it cannot be selected again by either team.
Here’s a quick overview of each stage:
- Play-In (Beijing): A one-day best-of-five clash between the fourth seeds from the two top MSI regions (LCK and LPL). The winner secures a spot in the Swiss Stage.
- Swiss Stage (October 15-25, Beijing): 16 teams battle across five rounds of best-of-one matches. Teams advance after three wins and are eliminated after three losses. Elimination deciders are played as a series.
- Knockout (October 28 to November 2, Shanghai; Final November 9, Chengdu): A single-elimination bracket, played entirely as best-of-fives. There are no rest days between the Quarterfinals and Semifinals this year.
Prize Pool Distribution
Riot confirmed that the total LoL Worlds 2025 prize pool is set at $5,000,000. This year’s tournament retains last year’s payout structure, with the champions taking 20% of the prize pool and each subsequent placement receiving a progressively smaller share.
| Place | Prize | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | $1,000,000 | TBD |
| 2nd | $800,000 | TBD |
| 3rd-4th | $400,000 | TBD TBD |
| 5th-8th | $300,000 | TBD TBD Hanwha Life Esports TBD |
| 9th-11th | $175,000 | FlyQuest KOI Bilibili Gaming |
| 12th-14th | $125,000 | Secret Whales 100 Thieves Keyd Stars |
| 15th-16th | $112,500 | Fnatic PSG Talon |
| 17th | $75,000 | Invictus Gaming |
Which Teams Are Competing at LoL Worlds?
All LoL Worlds 2025 teams have now been confirmed, completing the 17-squad lineup. Each earned its spot through strong regional performances and MSI results, finalizing the full list ahead of the championship.
| Region | Team |
|---|---|
| Korea – LCK | Gen.G (GEN) Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) KT Rolster (KT) T1 |
| China – LPL | Bilibili Gaming (BLG) Anyone’s Legend (AL) Top Esports (TES) Invictus Gaming (IG) |
| Americas – LTA | FlyQuest (FLY) Vivo Keyd Stars (VKS) 100 Thieves (100T) |
| EMEA – LEC | G2 Esports (G2) Movistar KOI (MKOI) Fnatic (FNC) |
| Asia Pacific – LCP | CTBC Flying Oyster (CFO) Team Secret Whales (TSW) PSG Talon (PSG) |
How To Watch LoL Worlds 2025
All Worlds 2025 matches will be streamed live on the official LoL Esports website, with synchronized drops and multilingual feeds. You can also watch on the official Twitch and YouTube channels. The tournament will also be available to watch through approved co-streamers for additional perspectives.
Who Are the Top Teams at LoL Worlds 2025?
A loaded field is arriving in China, but a familiar LCK trio dominates the power boards right now: Gen.G, T1, and Hanwha Life Esports.
Gen.G Esports
Gen.G enters Worlds 2025 with the most complete lineup. The roster brings lane pressure, late-game insurance, and elite map control. The team has the luxury of drafting for either side-lane or mid priority and letting Canyon (arguably LoL’s best all-time carry jungler) pace the map to suit the matchups.
Internationally, Gen.G has checked the two most relevant boxes in 2025: back-to-back MSI titles and the Esports World Cup crown. Beating T1 in a 3-2 Vancouver final and outlasting Anyone’s Legend 3-2 in Riyadh, Gen.G proved they can win different series styles against elite opponents when the pressure is highest.
At the current Worlds, Gen.G finished Swiss with a 3-1 run and defeated HLE in the Quarterfinals, becoming the first team into the Semifinals. The current Worlds meta fits their strengths: stable early setups, proactive mid-jungle windows, and drafts that project winning lanes without sacrificing their 5v5 teamfight potential.
Gen.G roster:
- Kim “Kiin” Gi-in
- Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu
- Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon
- Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk
- Joo “Duro” Min-kyu
T1
T1 have consistently been viewed among the favorites at major LoL events. After winning back-to-back Worlds titles in 2023 and 2024, it only served to strengthen that reputation. However, their bid for a third straight title will be tested after replacing their top laner Zeus, a cornerstone of previous championship runs.
Faker might not be the lane-dominant carry he was ten years ago, but the last two World Championships confirmed that he’s still one of the most clutch players on the scene. After all, when push comes to shove, you want the greatest League of Legends player of all time on your team.
At Worlds 2025, T1 advanced from the Swiss Stage with a 3-2 record, recovering from a 0-1 start. They’re now slated to play against LPL’s Anyone’s Legend in the Quarterfinals. Many fans hope that, even without Zeus, T1 could still activate their famous “Worlds buff” and improve their form.
T1 roster:
- Choi “Doran” Hyeon-joon
- Mun “Oner” Hyeon-jun
- Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok
- Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong
- Ryu “Keria” Min-seok
Hanwha Life Esports
HLE reached the 2025 LCK Final and finished in 2nd place after a strong split. The addition of the now-legendary top laner Zeus adds a high-ceiling threat that pairs perfectly with Peanut’s proactive reads from the jungle. Zeka and Viper remain the late-game closers, letting HLE draft for scaling without sacrificing early skirmish potential.
The team started 2025 with a bang, winning domestic silverware and the year’s first international trophy: First Stand. Beyond that, HLE’s high-risk, high-reward playstyle is at its best when Peanut has first move and Zeka leans into lane-priority champions.
An unfortunate knockout draw pitted HLE against Gen.G early, cutting their run short despite a form that positioned them among the top 3 strongest teams at Worlds. With Peanut starting mandatory military service in 2026, he already signaled that Worlds would likely be his last professional run, making this series a bittersweet send-off.
Hanwha Life Esports roster:
- Choi “Zeus” Woo-je
- Han “Peanut” Wang-ho
- Kim “Zeka” Geon-woo
- Park “Viper” Do-hyeon
- Yoo “Delight” Hwan-joong
LPL Contenders
Don’t sleep on China, especially considering their home advantage. Anyone’s Legend blasted through Swiss at 3-0 after posting a runner-up finish at the Esports World Cup, with Flandre, Tarzan, Shanks, Hope, and Kael showing late-game teamfights and clean macro that bite when it counts.
Bilibili Gaming is out after the Swiss Stage—a shock given their ceiling—and many fans expect a roster shake-up. While they didn’t shine in Swiss, Top Esports still reached the Knockout Stage and will face G2 next. We’re likely in for a tempo test that both teams will embrace.
FAQs
Where Is League of Legends Worlds 2025?
The LoL Worlds 2025 location has been officially confirmed. The tournament will take place across three major cities in China: Beijing (Play-In and Swiss), Shanghai (Quarterfinals & Semifinals), and Chengdu (Final).
Is T1 Going To Worlds 2025?
Yes, T1 qualified as a Play-In team and have already advanced to the Knockout Stage, where they will face Anyone’s Legend in the Quarterfinals.
How Many Worlds Has Faker Won?
As of October 29, 2025, Faker has won five World Championships (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, and 2024). He is the only five-time Worlds winner in LoL.
Who Are The Favorites to Win LoL Worlds 2025?
It’s hard to say, but the leading trio at the current stage on October 29 is Gen.G, T1, and AL. Recent international results and Fearless Draft depth point toward a tightly contested top tier.
When Does LoL Worlds 2025 start?
LoL Worlds 2025 kicks off with the Play-In Stage on October 14, followed by the Swiss Stage from October 15–25. The Knockouts will then run from October 28 to November 2, with the Final set for November 9.
References
- LoL Esports (Riot Games)
- Riot Games (Twitch)
- LoL Esports (YouTube)
