The League of Legends World Championship 2025 will be a major highlight on the esports calendar, featuring a revamped format and 17 top teams. With China as the host and intense competition expected, fans can look forward to an unforgettable tournament.
The League of Legends World Championship (Worlds 2025) will be one of the most prestigious event on the global esports schedule,
In 2025, Worlds will again be the unforgettable spectacle it has grown used to delivering, with China hosting the tournament and the Grand Finals in Chengdu. The introduction of an entirely new Swiss stage format, combined with the addition of 17 top teams from Korea, China, Europe, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific region, guarantees a highly competitive tournament. The League of Legends Worlds 2025 is scheduled to take place between October and early November.
Predictions and Odds
Predicting the World's winner is a favorite pastime among League of Legends fans, with spectators analyzing team play, player health, and tactical trends. Audiences can find sites providing detailed guides to available wagers, such as winner outright bets, head-to-head encounters, and regional performance bets.
As of May 2025, there are no specialized odds for Worlds 2025 yet, although these websites should post full odds closer to the beginning of the tournament, which starts in September. This allows fans to make their educated guesses, adding an added layer of scrutiny to their watching.
Thanks to access to a variety of options through online sports betting Canada, players get to pick the best way of approaching this.
Tournament Format and Structure
The 2025 World Championship unveils a new format that aims to enhance competition and
make every match worthwhile. The competition has been divided into three different phases:
- Play-In Stage: It is the initial stage where two teams participate in a best-of-five series. The winner moves on to the Swiss stage, which gives underdog teams a chance to try their luck against top-level opponents.
- Swiss Stage: This is a new feature in Worlds with 16 teams—15 prequalified based on performance in regional leagues and one team from the Play-In stage. Five rounds elapse, with the teams competing in a Swiss system featuring no rematches. Teams with three wins qualify for the Knockout stage, and teams with three losses are knocked out. The majority of games are best-of-one, but the qualification and elimination matches are best-of-three, which adds strategic depth to the competition.
- Knockout Stage: The top eight teams from the Swiss stage move into a single- elimination bracket, where all matches are best-of-five series. The last round is the Grand Final between the last two teams for the title of the championship.
The format, as structured on Leaguepedia, ensures an exciting and fair competition, with consistency and adaptability rewarded, as well as potential for dramatic upsets.
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Teams to Watch
As the 2025 season continues, some teams have proven themselves to be top contenders for Worlds, based on their previous performance in other global tournaments, such as the First Stand 2025 tournament. There are some top-tier teams to watch out for:
● Hanwha Life Esports (LCK, Korea): Currently the world's top team, Hanwha Life Esports has performed exceptionally well with superlative players like Zeus and Viper. With their teamwork and strategic ability, they are a team to watch out for.
● Team Liquid (LTA, Americas): With a few regional titles and good showings on the international stage, Team Liquid is a team to be taken seriously. Their jungler Umti may struggle, however, against top competition.
● TOP Esports (LPL, China): Although inconsistent at times, TOP Esports features one of the strongest junglers in Kanavi, which enables it to overcome top teams.
● Karmine Corp (LEC, EMEA): A star in the making in Europe, Karmine Corp boasts potential players like Calliste and Vladi; however, it lacks global exposure, which may be a drawback.
● CTBC Flying Oyster (Pacific): Famous for good macro play within their region, they will have to pick up their game if they are to rival world giants.
These observations, as outlined in SI.com's First Stand 2025 Power Rankings, establish the competitive landscape. Regional leagues and Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) 2025 are already in progress, allowing other teams to emerge as actual contenders, particularly from dominant regions like Korea and China, each of which sends three teams to Worlds.
Game Meta and Strategic Considerations
The meta, shaped by the game’s strongest strategies, champions, and playstyles, will be a key factor at Worlds 2025. As of May, recent updates like Patch 25.11 have brought changes to champion balance and AP itemization, with buffs to picks like Annie, according to the official patch notes.
With more patches expected before the tournament, the meta could still shift, possibly rewarding early-game aggression or late-game scaling. The teams that adapt best, through flexible rosters and inventive game plans, will have the best shot at coming out on top.
Host Cities and Schedule
While most host cities for Worlds 2025 haven’t been officially announced, the tournament will be held in China, with the Grand Finals set for Chengdu. China has a strong track record of hosting major League of Legends events, including Worlds in 2017 and 2020.
The event is expected to follow the usual Worlds timeline, running from September to early November, with exact dates to be confirmed later. Fans in China can look forward to an electric atmosphere, as the country is known for its passionate crowds and top-tier event production. What is more, with China lifting restrictions on visa requirements and travel, it will be much easier than the past for hopeful travellers.
Viewing Options and Community Participation
Fans around the world will be able to watch Worlds 2025 through a variety of streaming platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, and the official Riot Games site, LoL Esports. These platforms will offer live coverage of every match, along with extra content like player interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.
Riot Games has also confirmed that viewers logged into lolesports.com will be eligible for Drops offering random in-game rewards such as emotes and icons during live matches, adding another layer to the viewing experience. Local watch parties and community meetups, often organized by esports groups, will also give fans a chance to come together and celebrate the event in person.
Worlds 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark moment in esports, thanks to its innovative format, elite competition, and the energetic setting of China. Whether you're rooting for your favorite team, breaking down the meta, or just enjoying the high-level gameplay,
this year’s tournament is set to create some unforgettable memories. As the road to Worlds continues, keep an eye on regional leagues and MSI 2025 to see which teams could rise to the top.
