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The most prominent format changes for the League of Legends EMEA Championship are coming in the 2025 competitive season, after the introduction of some new tournament formats, such as First Stand.
After comments from fans and analysts alike, Riot Games is reworking the structure of competition in a bid to heighten regional competitiveness and present an even more enticing spectator product. Here's what you need to know.
Key Changes in the 2025 Format of LEC
There will be a total division into three clear-cut splits in the 2025 season: Winter, Spring, and Summer-entailing different qualification systems for the tournaments.
- Winter leads to First Stand, a new international tournament.
- Spring is a time when MSI qualification takes place.
- The summer determines the LEC's representative teams for Worlds.
Other major changes include:
- Championship Points Removal and Season Finals: The point-based system has been replaced in response to feedback that it was too complex.
- Current Live Patch Play: Events will be played on the most current patch in order to keep the matches fresh.
- Bo3 and Bo5 Focus: More Bo3s in Spring and Summer splits, and less reliance on Bo1s.
- New Venues: Spring split will be contests held in arenas, while a roadshow will be organized for the Summer split.
Winter Split: Fearless Draft Introduced
The new format for the Fearless Draft will be in the Winter Split, with the following setup that mirrors the one currently used for the new First Stand tournament:
Fearless Draft Mechanics: Once a champion is picked, it's off the boards for the remainder of the series. This adds another layer of strategy to the teams needing to have more champions in their pool, in order to be successful in Bo3s and Bo5s.
The format consists of a Bo1 round-robin over three weeks to decide the top eight teams that then go through to a single-elimination playoff bracket with best-of-three and best-of-five series.
Spring Split: Bo3 and Arena Atmosphere
LEC will cut Bo1s in Spring Split and build a greater focus on more competitive matchups:
- Format: A seven week regular season; min. nine Bo3 matches per team in a single round robin.
- Playoffs: Best-of-five series in a double-elimination bracket, top six teams; finals for MSI are determined.
- Venue Changes: Matches will be held in partnered arenas for a great viewing feel and experience for the fans. Summer Split: Group Format and Roadshow
This will feature an intense competition format with a traveling event for the Summer Split: Group Stage: Ten teams go into two groups, the top eight defined by Bo3.
Third and fourth place in each group will cross-play in a Bo3 decider, which only advances two to playoffs. Playoffs: top six teams through a double-elimination Bo5 bracket to decide the distributions of Worlds slots.
LEC Roadshow: The Summer Split will happen at various locations, adding to the excitement as fans go all out to support their favorite teams. The 2025 LEC season kicks off on 18 January 2025, during which the Winter Split and the first ever Fearless Draft take center stage.
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