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LCK Cup 2025 will showcase new rosters competing for a chance to represent LCK at the First Stand 2025 tournament.
The League of Legends Championship Korea (LCK) circuit has announced the exciting introduction of the LCK Cup 2025, the first official tournament to kick off the 2025 season featuring the Fearless Draft format. Scheduled to begin on Jan. 15, the tournament will see the winning team represent the LCK at the first international event of 2025 — First Stand.
What is LCK Cup 2025?
LCK Cup 2025 serves as a pre-season tournament aimed at determining which team will qualify for the upcoming First Stand tournament. This tournament also functions as a key training opportunity for LCK teams before the Regular Season, as well as offering fans a thrilling preview of the teams' new rosters and how they adapt to Fearless Draft.
LCK Cup 2025 teams and roster
A total of 10 LCK teams will be vying for victory in the LCK Cup 2025. The confirmed roster includes:
LCK Cup 2025 format
Commencing on Jan. 15, LCK Cup 2025 will feature a unique format compared to the LCK Regular Season. Below are the key details.
Group Stage (single round-robin)
The 10 LCK teams will be divided into two groups (Group Baron and Group Elder), with the top two teams from LCK Summer 2024, namely Hanwha Life Esports and Gen.G Esports, assigned to different groups. The results of the group draw will be revealed soon.
Each team will face off in a single round-robin format in best-of-three (Bo3) matches against teams from the opposing group. The first group to secure 13 wins will advance as the Winner Group, while the other group becomes the Loser Group. During this stage, only one team will be eliminated, which will be accordance to the scenario below:
Play-Ins (double elimination)
Comprising the bottom two teams from the Winner Group and the top four teams from the Loser Group, this stage will feature matches in a double-elimination format. Matches in the Upper Bracket Rounds 1 and 2 will be played as Bo3, while the Lower Bracket Finals will be best-of-five (Bo5). Only three teams will move on to the Playoffs from this stage.
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Playoffs (double elimination)
The Playoffs stage will bring together six teams: the top 3 teams from the Winner Group in the Group Stage and the top three teams from the Play-In Stage. Matches will be conducted in a double-elimination format with all games played as Bo5.
Similar to the LCK Season Split bracket, the top two teams from the Winner Group will progress directly to Round 2, with the top team receiving the privilege of selecting their opponent from the Round 1 winner. Ultimately, only one team will emerge victorious as the LCK representative for the first LoL Esports global tournament of the year called First Stand 2025.
Fearless Draft
In addition, LCK Cup 2025 will be the first LCK tournament to features a Fearless Draft. Champions picked from the previous game will be banned in the next game. So in the fifth game of a Bo5, a total of 50 Champions will be banned.
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