League of Legends (LoL) is set on making history this year. Evident from the First Stand’s success, Riot Games plan to take the esports experience to the next level with their major events.
Vancouver, Canada will host the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) 2025 for the first time ever. On top of it, the competition will feature a record-breaking $2 million prize pool. Fans are hyped up, and so are pro teams preparing for this major tournament. Let’s look at the details revealed so far about League of Legends MSI 2025.
Tournament Dates and Venue
League of Legends MSI 2025 will run from June 27 to July 12 at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. The venue boasts 90,000 square feet of exhibition space and has previously hosted significant events. These include the 2010 Olympic Games’ Short Track Speed Skating and Figure Skating competitions. Notably, the Pacific Coliseum is no stranger to esports, having hosted the 2017 League of Legends Championship Series Spring Finals.
Format and Structure
This year’s tournament will welcome 10 teams – the top two from each of the five regional leagues:
- League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK)
- League of Legends Pro League (LPL) from China
- League of Legends European Championship (LEC)
- League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP)
- League of Legends Championship of The Americas (LTA)
League of Legends MSI 2025 will follow a two-stage format:
Play-In Stage
Four teams will compete in a GSL format, with only the top two advancing to the Bracket Stage. These teams include:
- LPL Split 2 runner-up
- LEC Spring Split runner-up
- LCP Split 2 runner-up
- LTA South Split 2 winner
Bracket Stage
Six teams will be seeded directly into the Bracket Stage and compete alongside Play-In qualifiers in a double-elimination bracket.
- Top 2 teams from LCK’s Road to MSI qualifier
- LPL Split 2 winner
- LEC Spring Split winner
- LCP Split 2 winner
- LTA North Split 2 winner
All matches will be best-of-five series. They will also use the Fearless Draft system, which Riot has confirmed will be implemented throughout the 2025 LoL esports season.
Prize Pool and Worlds 2025 Qualification
The prestige of winning the League of Legends MSI 2025 is already a high achievement in itself. However, beyond the title and the stunning prize pool, the competition winners have more to look forward to.
MSI rewards the tournament champion with a direct slot in the World Championship (Worlds). This significant advantage can be everything for a team competing in the biggest and most important LoL esports competition. Meanwhile, the two best-performing regions will earn additional slots for their teams, also boosting their chances in the tournament.
Where and How to Watch
Fans can watch the League of Legends MSI 2025 live at the Pacific Coliseum or follow the event online. If you’re planning to watch live, you can purchase tickets in two waves. They will be available through the official ticketing website, with Mastercard holders enjoying early access.
Wave 1
- Mastercard presale: March 26 at 10 AM PDT
- General ticket sales: March 27 at 10 AM PDT
Wave 2
- Mastercard presale: May 28 at 10 AM PDT
- General ticket sales: May 29 at 10 AM PDT
On the other hand, if you’ll be watching the matches at home, you can still subscribe to every match. MSI 2025 will be broadcast live in English on the official League of Legends esports Twitch and YouTube channels.
Conclusion
This tournament follows LoL First Stand 2025 as the second international tournament in the 2025 LoL esports calendar. South Korea’s Hanwha Life Esports won First Stand 2025, and will likely head into MSI as heavy favorites.
League of Legends MSI 2025 promises to deliver another thrilling chapter in competitive LoL history. The largest prize pool in the tournament’s history and crucial Worlds qualification opportunities are on the line. Who do you think will emerge victorious when the world’s best teams converge in Vancouver this summer?
