LEC Winter 2025 Teams: Who Will Represent Europe at First Stand 2025?

The Regular Season of LEC Winter 2025 has come to an end. It delivered an incredible amount of emotions and spectacular matches. The new tournament format proved critical for many teams, leading to eliminations, while for others, it was triumphant, giving them a chance to shine in the Playoff stage. This tournament determines qualification for First Stand, and the stakes are high in this race for victory.

All teams that managed to qualify for the LEC Winter 2025 playoffs

The top 8 teams remain in the tournament and will continue their battle in the LEC Winter 2025 Playoffs. Unlike the Regular Season, which was played in a BO1 format, all matches in the first two weeks of the Playoffs will follow a BO3 format. Only after these two weeks will the remaining matches be played under BO5 rules.

Let’s take a closer look at the teams that made it to the Playoffs and their journey.

Here is the table of teams that advanced to the LEC Winter 2025 Playoffs, including their rosters and Regular Season results:

Fnatic

Fnatic had struggled in previous years, but in the Regular Season, they secured the top spot in the standings, losing only one match against KOI. This success may be linked to their roster changes in December when they strengthened their firepower by adding Mikyx and Upset to the bot lane. Or perhaps the new LEC Winter 2025 format suits them well. Either way, they delivered an impressive performance in the Regular Season and now face the challenge of the Playoffs, where their first match will be against Team Heretics.

Karmine Corp

A team that quickly rose to popularity in 2021, winning tournament after tournament and maintaining their dominance into early 2022. However, they experienced a decline afterward and failed to achieve any major successes. At the end of 2024, Karmine Corp decided to make significant roster changes. On December 14, 2024, they added Top Laner Canna, Jungler Yike, Mid Laner Vladi, and ADC Caliste to their lineup. Raphaël "Targamas" Crabbé remained with the team, continuing to play as Support.

With these changes, they made serious preparations for the 2025 season, and their Regular Season results prove it. Finishing in second place with six wins and three losses, they secured the opportunity to compete for the LEC Winter 2025 championship title and a spot at First Stand.

G2 Esports

G2 is one of the strongest and most consistent teams in the European region. Last year, they demonstrated total dominance in their league, winning everything they could. However, at Worlds 2024, they couldn't replicate the same success and finished the tournament in 9th-11th place. Following this result, the team decided to make roster changes.

They brought in SkewMond as their new Jungler and Labrov as their Support, both of whom previously played for Team BDS Academy and Team BDS. Compared to last year, it may seem like a slight decline in performance, but the tournament's new format is highly unusual, and the team might still be adapting to playing together. Despite this, G2 Esports remains one of the tournament favorites.

KOI

Last year, they delivered a solid performance. Although they didn’t secure any major victories, they proved to be a competitive team capable of growth and challenging top-tier opponents. They managed to finish the Regular Season with a respectable record, earning a spot in the Playoff stage. In the first round, they will face Team BDS, a team of approximately equal strength.

Team Vitality

A team that hasn't tasted victory in a long time. Their last significant achievement dates back to 2018, when they secured third place in the EU LCS Summer Split and qualified for the 2018 World Championship. The 2024 season was also far from successful, so they decided to strengthen their roster with key replacements. They added Top Laner Naak Nako and Mid Laner Czajek to their lineup. The team still struggles against the strongest opponents in their region, but despite this, they are far from being tournament underdogs.

GIANTX

A young team that is just beginning its journey to the top of esports. They started the first week strong, finishing with a 3-0 record. However, a series of losses followed, but they still managed to secure a few crucial victories, earning their spot in the LEC Winter 2025 Playoffs.

For such a young team, this is already a great achievement and a strong motivation to keep improving. They look promising with their fresh ideas, making them potential dark horses of the tournament.

Team BDS

Last year, the team delivered solid results in their region, securing several podium finishes, but unfortunately, they never managed to claim a championship title. Because of this, the organization decided to make major offseason changes, replacing most of the roster.

They brought in Top Laner Irrelevant, Jungler 113, and strengthened their lineup with Support Parus. Essentially, this team was built from scratch. Reaching the Playoffs is already a notable achievement, but everything can still change—BO1 and BO3 are very different formats, and the chance for a comeback is always there.

Team Heretics

And completing the list of LEC Winter 2025 participants is Team Heretics, who barely made it to the Playoffs with a 3-6 record. Like Team BDS, they underwent major offseason changes, replacing three players, and still need time to build synergy. This tournament could be a stepping stone for them on their path to a championship title.

Their first match will be against Fnatic, the Regular Season leaders—an extremely tough challenge. However, even if they lose, they will have a chance to fight through the lower bracket. Their games have shown that the team is determined to win, but they haven't quite found their rhythm yet. So, we can expect an exciting performance from Team Heretics.

You Can’t Miss the LEC Winter 2025 Playoffs

From the very first days of the tournament, teams have been delivering performances worthy of championship contenders. The new format has made the competition even more unpredictable, where every match could be a team's last. If the Regular Season was already intense and fiercely competitive, just imagine what’s coming in the Playoffs.

Don't miss a single match of LEC Winter 2025 and stay updated with us. I'm absolutely certain this tournament will bring unforgettable emotions, and the teams will fight until the very end. We are in for incredible games and unexpected outcomes.

Enjoy the tournament, and may your favorite team emerge victorious in LEC Winter 2025!