Worlds 2025: Schedule, Teams & What to Watch

The annual flagship for League of Legends esports, Worlds 2025, is now underway, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most intense editions yet.

Event details

• Host country: China.
  
• Dates: October 14 to November 9, 2025.
  
• Format: The tournament features 17 teams from regions including Korea, China, the Americas, EMEA, and the Pacific.
  
• Locations: The later knockout rounds will take place at the iconic Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, with the finals at Dong’an Lake Sports Park Multifunctional Gymnasium in Chengdu.
  

Key phases & schedule highlights

Play-Ins / Knockouts

• The tournament begins with the Play-Ins and knockout rounds. For example:
  
  • Oct 14: T1 3-1 Invictus Gaming, Invictus Gaming eliminated.
    
• From there, teams will advance into the main Swiss Stage.
  

Swiss Stage

• Format: Best-of-one matches for opening rounds, leading to best-of-three deciders.
  
• Highlights:
  
  • Oct 15: Vivo Keyd Stars 0-1 Team Secret Whales.
    
  • Oct 16: CTBC Flying Oyster 1-0 Fnatic.
  • Oct 17: KT Rolster 2-0 Top Esports.
    
  • …and multiple other match-ups as teams fight to stay alive.
    

Knockout Stage

• The knockout phase shifts to a single-elimination, best-of-five format, lose once and you’re out.
  
• Quarterfinals:
  
  • Oct 28: Hanwha Life Esports 1-3 Gen.G.
    
  • Oct 29: KT Rolster 3-0 CTBC Flying Oyster.
    
  • Oct 30: G2 Esports 1-3 Top Esports.
    
  • Oct 31: Anyone’s Legend 2-3 T1.
    
• Semifinals:
  
  • Nov 1: Gen.G vs KT Rolster. 
  • Nov 2: Top Esports vs T1.
    
• Final: Nov 9 (2am CT), the champion will be crowned at the finals in Chengdu.
  

Why this edition stands out

• The global competition is tighter than ever: 17 teams, multiple regions, and the Swiss + knockout format means fewer “easy” games and more high-stakes matches.
  
• Major regions like Korea and China remain powerhouses expect them to dominate again.
  
• The switch to single-elimination best-of-five in the knockouts amplifies the pressure: teams have no margin for error at the end stages.
  
• Fan interest is surging: many regional fans view Worlds not just as a tournament, but as the pinnacle of esports theatrics and performance.
  

What to watch

• Upsets & underdogs: With so many teams and regions represented, keep an eye out for surprises.
  
• West vs East storylines: Will Western teams break through, or will Asian teams continue their dominance?
  
• Big-stage veterans: Players and orgs with prior worlds experience often perform under pressure, look for them to make their mark.
  
• Meta & gameplay shifts: Major tournaments often bring new strategies, high-tempo games, and fresh champion picks.
  
• Finals matchup: By Nov 9, when the two finalists face off, expect a massive global viewership and huge stakes.
  

Final thought

Worlds 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark event, globally, competitively rich, and filled with storylines. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or casual viewer, now is the time to pay attention.