Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) and Karmine Corps (KC) battled in an intense First Stand 2025 Grand Final on Sunday, March 16. This major tournament is the first of three in the League of Legends (LoL) esports calendar, showcasing teams’ current strength early into the season. Let’s find out the results and breakdown of the HLE vs. KC Grand Final series.
First Stand 2025 Grand Final Details and Result
The First Stand Tournament (FST) 2025 is the first international LoL esports event of the year. Five top teams (one from each region) vied for the FST trophy. An extra spot at the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) Bracket Stage for their region is at stake as well. The LoL Park in Seoul, South Korea served as the event’s venue from March 10 until March 16.
The final contenders, HLE and KC, reached the First Stand 2025 Grand Final in different ways. HLE swept through both FST stages without losing a single series. They ended their dominant run with a 3-0 victory over Top Esports. Meanwhile, KC bounced back from early losses and eventually triumphed over CTBC Flying Oyster in a nail-biting 3-2 Semifinals.
When they finally faced each other at the Grand Final stage, HLE were heavy favorites over the KC underdogs. The four-game series had surprising twists and potential upsets. However, it was Hanwha Life Esports who emerged victorious in the end, making history as the first-ever champions of the First Stand Tournament.
Bo5 Series Breakdown
You wouldn’t say that Karmine Corps did not put up a fight against the monsters that were HLE in this series. The LEC team gave us a surprising opener and showed an impressive performance throughout the series. Yet, HLE were just too strong, refusing to lose this championship on their home soil. Here’s a summary of how the First Stand 2025 Grand Final series played out.
Game 1: KC
The opening game gave European fans hope as KC pulled off a surprising victory. Despite an even laning phase, KC’s scrappy plays and side lane skirmishes punished HLE’s mistakes. After 36 minutes of intense action and with a 22-17 kill score, KC destroyed HLE’s Nexus to take a 1-0 lead.
Game 2: HLE
It seemed like a mad HLE were stomping all over the Rift in Game 2. The team refused o relinquish any bit of control to their opponents. They changed their approach completely, slowing down the game’s pace and focusing on map objectives. Hanwha Life shut down KC’s attempts to gain momentum and racked up 10 kills over KC’s 2, evening the series in just 29 minutes.
Game 3: HLE
HLE followed up their Game 2 victory with another win. This time, KC were able to catch up slowly, only to be annihilated later on in the match. Zeka’s Sylas and Peanut’s Xin Zhao were an absolutely devastating duo, completely overwhelming KC’s lineup with exceptional plays. HLE secured a 2-1 series advantage after 26 minutes..
Game 4: HLE
KC did the best they could to bring the series to Silver Scrapes, punishing every overstep HLE committed during their attacks on KC’s base. Yet, the Korean team was insurmountable with a ridiculous gold lead, practically impossible to defeat even with three members down. After 35 minutes and a back-and-forth late game, Hanwha Life finally destroyed KC’s Nexus to seal the match 3-1 and win the First Stand 2025 Grand Final.
What’s Next For LoL Esports?
HLE’s victory secures a $300,000 USD prize and an additional MSI 2025 slot for the LCK region. A second Korean team will be able to skip the Play-In stage and advance directly to the Bracket Stage. This advantage could be everything in the MSI, where the stakes are higher.
For Karmine Corp, despite falling short in the First Stand 2025 Grand Final, their second-place finish marks an impressive international debut. The European squad takes home $225,000 and valuable experience against top-tier global competition heading into the LEC Spring 2025 season.
After First Stand 2025, Split 2 will begin for all regions. This marks the start of the regular season, and the preparation for the upcoming MSI 2025. Both HLE and KC are bound to face tough competition back home, with regional rivals seeking revenge and the opportunity for major upsets.
Conclusion
The inaugural First Stand tournament has successfully established itself as an exciting addition to the international League of Legends calendar. It showcased every region’s top teams and their forms early into the season, and gave us a glimpse of what to expect in the next international events. The First Stand 2025 Grand Final series may just be the appetizer for all the intense matches to come, setting the stage for even bigger clashes in the Rift.
