First Stand 2025 Teams

All regional League of Legends championships have come to an end, and the best teams from each region have qualified for the first-ever First Stand 2025 in the history of the competitive scene. The hype surrounding the tournament exceeds all expectations—its significance, historical impact, massive prize pool, and the increased chances of securing a spot at the main event of the year, Worlds. All of this has taken the level of intensity in regional championships to new heights.

The teams that have qualified for First Stand 2025 rightfully earned their place, as they fought through the strongest opponents in their region, defeating them all and proving that they are the best. But which region will emerge as the strongest at First Stand 2025? Let’s take a closer look at the teams and the tournament.

All Teams That Qualified for First Stand 2025

The top 5 teams and the champions of their regions have gathered in one place, ready to determine who is the strongest. LCP Split 1, LCK Cup, LEC Winter, LTA Cross-Conference, and LPL Split 1 have become significantly more exciting and spectacular thanks to the revamped format and, of course, First Stand.

All these players and teams have showcased a high level of play against the best teams in their regions. Very soon, they will face each other at the first-ever First Stand 2025. From March 10 to March 16, the teams will battle for the title of champions!

Hanwha Life Esports

Credit: Twitter LCK

This team has become the strongest in one of the most dominant regions in the world in terms of gameplay. Hanwha Life Esports emerged as the LCK Cup 2025 champions, completing an incredible journey to First Stand.

Hanwha Life Esports has always been a formidable opponent, both in their region and on the international stage. However, they became an even greater threat after signing Zeus, a two-time Worlds champion and multiple-time winner of other world-class tournaments, as well as a former teammate of Faker in the top lane.

Their first major victory on the path to establishing themselves as a dominant force was their triumph over T1 in the first round of the LCK Cup 2025 playoffs. This victory not only eliminated T1 from the tournament but also undoubtedly boosted Hanwha Life Esports' confidence. And they proved their strength—after grueling battles, the team made it to the final, where they faced a dangerous opponent in Gen.G. In an intense showdown, with a 3:2 scoreline, Hanwha Life Esports claimed the championship and secured their spot at First Stand.

Hanwha Life Esports is one of the tournament favorites. Their level of play is exceptionally high, and their players have extensive experience on the world stage. For any opponent, in any match, they will be a serious threat that cannot be ignored. The team is confident in their abilities and ready to win, so we can expect strong results from them.

CTBC Flying Oyster

Credit: Twitter LCP

CTBC Flying Oyster delivered an almost flawless and clean performance at LCP Split 1 2025. During the group stage, the team secured second place, narrowly falling behind TALON. Based on their Regular Season results, they started the playoffs from the second round. In the grand final, they once again faced TALON, who had been on par with CTBC Flying Oyster throughout the tournament.

The final was expected to be a tense showdown, as both teams were evenly matched—but things turned out a bit differently. CTBC Flying Oyster barely gave their opponents a chance and closed out the LCP Split 1 final with a 3:1 victory.

On a regional level, the team has proven to be the best. But can they bring the same intensity and resilience to First Stand? Looking at past regional champions, CTBC Flying Oyster has solid statistics and results. However, when it comes to high-level international tournaments, it's a different story. The team will most likely face a tough challenge—but tough doesn’t mean impossible. Soon, we’ll see just how competitive they are against the world's best teams.

Team Liquid

Credit: Twitter LTANorth

The first-ever champions of LTA 2025 Cross Conference, where the North and South regions were united for the first time. This tournament became a crucial step in improving the competitive level of the region and increasing the popularity of League of Legends there.

Team Liquid qualified for the Cross Conference through the lower bracket of LTA North 2025 Split 1, where every match was do-or-die, and a single mistake meant elimination. However, the team played flawlessly, defeating all their opponents and securing a spot among the top four teams in LTA North 2025 Split 1.

At LTA 2025 Cross Conference, they faced teams from both the North and South splits. Demonstrating confident gameplay, Team Liquid advanced to the grand final, where they met 100 Thieves. This was a highly anticipated rematch, as 100 Thieves had previously defeated them 2:1 in LTA North 2025 Split 1, forcing them into the lower bracket. The match was expected to be intense and highly competitive—but Team Liquid had no interest in delivering drama or suspense. Playing with cold-blooded precision, they crushed 100 Thieves with a dominant 3:0 victory.

For years, Team Liquid has consistently delivered strong performances in their region, securing high placements in tournaments. However, international events have always been a tougher challenge for them. First Stand 2025 will be their ultimate test. It is highly possible that Team Liquid will be the dark horse of the tournament.

Top Esports

Credit: Twitter TOP_Esports

A representative of yet another powerhouse region in League of Legends. Countless players and teams from this region have left a significant mark on the history of LoL esports. The level of Chinese teams often puts even the most experienced and strongest opponents on edge.

Top Esports is undoubtedly one of the tournament favorites, having claimed the LPL Split 1 2025 championship. They have been through fire and water, battling against the strongest teams in China for the title of the best. This means Top Esports has likely undergone the toughest preparation and the most grueling qualification process among all teams heading into First Stand 2025.

After competing in the group stage, they finished in second place, falling short to Anyone's Legend. This result sent them into the lower bracket of the playoffs, where every match was a do-or-die scenario with enormous pressure weighing on every team. But Top Esports displayed incredible precision and flawless gameplay. Climbing from the lower bracket to the grand final, they played four matches against top-tier opponents, including Bilibili Gaming and JD Gaming. Top Esports dominated their way through, defeating every team 3:1.

In the final, they faced their group stage rivals, Anyone’s Legend, who had reached the grand final through the upper bracket, remaining undefeated throughout the tournament. Expectations for the final match were sky-high, but Top Esports had different plans. Showing true resilience and composure, almost as if by design, Top Esports defeated Anyone’s Legend 3:1, once again proving their dominance.

Karmine Corp

Credit: Twitter LEC

The LEC Winter 2025 champions, who secured their victory through an incredibly difficult path. The team fought through every stage of the tournament—Regular Season, upper bracket, and lower bracket—to claim their title.

Karmine Corp had a strong Regular Season, finishing in second place, and started their playoff run just as well. They faced no significant issues until the upper bracket final, where they encountered the tournament favorites, G2 Esports. Karmine Corp fell to G2 Esports with a 3:1 scoreline and dropped into the lower bracket.

Awaiting them in the lower bracket final was Fnatic, who had looked incredibly strong throughout the tournament, finishing the Regular Season in first place. The match turned into a tense battle, with both teams trading games back and forth, leading to a 2-2 scoreline and a decisive game five. In the end, Karmine Corp managed to edge out the victory, proving to be just a bit stronger.

The grand final against G2 Esports was expected to be just as intense and thrilling. G2 entered as the clear favorites, which was no surprise given their dominant performances in the previous year, where they won every regional tournament. On top of that, they had already defeated Karmine Corp in the upper bracket final, adding even more pressure.

However, the grand final played out completely differently. Whether it was Karmine Corp’s excellent preparation and hunger for victory or G2’s overconfidence and underestimation of their opponent, the result was shocking—Karmine Corp swept G2 Esports 3:0.

Karmine Corp could very well become another dark horse at First Stand 2025. The team has both the desire to win and the strategic ideas to succeed. And when a team like this gains momentum, they can take down even the biggest favorites—no matter who they are.

What to Expect at First Stand 2025?

A brand-new tournament with a massive $1 million prize pool, offering a direct qualification spot for MSI 2025. But more importantly, we are in for an incredible showdown and insane highlights, as the top teams will entertain us for six days, from March 10 to March 16. Additionally, we can look forward to Rewards for Watching First Stand, making the matches even more exciting with extra bonuses.

Whether you're a dedicated League of Legends fan or just someone who enjoys having something on in the background, First Stand 2025 is a must-watch. This tournament is set to become a landmark event in LoL esports, bringing new opportunities for teams and shaping the future of the competitive scene. The addition of a high-stakes tournament with a great prize pool and top-tier production always benefits the ecosystem—helping the game gain new players, while making the event more prestigious and desirable for teams and organizations.

And of course, for us fans, this is just as important. Higher stakes mean more motivation for players and teams, which leads to even better matches and more content for everyone.

Enjoy the tournament, and may your team rise to the top and make history!