LoL MSI 2025 format explained: Stages, brackets & rules

The tenth version of the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) is almost upon us. MSI LoL 2025, a global League of Legends event organized by Riot Video games, will happen this 12 months in Vancouver, Canada. After robust suggestions from the group, Riot Video games has confirmed this would be the first iteration of the event that includes the Fearless Draft format. Count on a contemporary choice of champions throughout video games as gamers compete to construct the very best synergies and counters.

With ten groups gunning for glory, it may be robust to stand up to hurry on how the MSI’s levels work. Right here’s what you should learn about LoL MSI 2025, how its qualification works, and the place you may watch League of Legends professionals face off for its grand prize.

LoL MSI 2025 is Riot Video games’ second annual worldwide competitors, and it’ll happen between June 27 and July 12, 2025. 

The studio has additionally confirmed the ultimate LoL MSI 2025 location: the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada. It hosted the Finals of the 2017 North American League Championship Collection (NA LCS) Spring Cut up. 

Whereas common ticket gross sales went dwell in March 2025, you may nonetheless head here to seize some LoL MSI tickets. As an alternative, you can even watch the video games from Riot Video games’ website. Two groups are picked from 5 areas for MSI 2025, and these gamers will duke it out for the title of MSI Champion. 

This LoL event can be a possibility for the 2 best-performing areas to assert extra slots in Worlds 25, Riot Video games’ annual World Championship occasion. It’s the primary MSI occasion that options the LCP and LTA, new Asia-Pacific and American leagues that merge a number of collection. 

10 groups will probably be break up into two LoL MSI 2025 levels, the Play-In Stage and the Bracket Stage. Because of Hanwha Life Esports profitable the First Stand Event 2025, LoL Champions Korea (LCK) may have its two certified groups despatched to the Bracket Stage. The opposite 4 areas will every have one crew within the Play-In and one crew within the Bracket Stage.

The Play-Ins kicks off in a GSL (International StarCraft League) format stage, with the highest two groups qualifying for the Bracket Stage. All matches are within the Bo5 (finest of 5) format utilizing Fearless Draft. 

These are the Play-In groups in LoL MSI 2025: 

As soon as all of the Bracket Stage groups are determined, the eight groups will play in a double-elimination format. Try the latest standings; these video games are additionally within the Bo5 format with Fearless Draft. The profitable crew in a sport advances to the winner’s bracket, whereas the dropping crew goes to the loser’s bracket. 

Listed below are the Bracket Stage groups in LoL MSI 2025:

Exterior the standard Bo5 format, the largest change coming to the LoL MSI guidelines this 12 months is the adoption of Fearless Draft. This format ensures that any champions utilized in earlier LoL matches of a best-of-series develop into unavailable for each groups in subsequent video games. It retains crew compositions contemporary and ensures that groups don’t lean on a particular character’s strengths to win video games. 

Right here’s how Fearless Draft will work throughout all LoL MSI brackets:

Riot Video games has confirmed the LoL MSI 2025 prize pool to be a large $2,000,000. Whereas we all know how a lot the groups acquired to take dwelling from MSI 2024’s $250,000 prize pool, anticipate some distinction in how the prize pool is break up this 12 months. That’s as a result of 10 groups are competing this time, versus 12 groups from final 12 months.

If the prize pool is break up the identical method as MSI 2024, the profitable crew will be capable to take dwelling 20% of the prize cash, adopted by 16% for the runner-up. Third and fourth place groups will get 12% and 10% respectively. Whereas the remaining groups had their share lowered by 2% for each two spots they dropped on the ladder in 2024, this may change this 12 months. 

Whereas the earlier MSI tournaments may not have had a large $2,000,000 prize pool, they have been full of unforgettable LoL esports moments and exhilarating performs from gamers. Listed below are all of the previous LoL MSI winners from earlier tournaments:

Count on the League of Legends esports scene to warmth up as we close to LoL MSI 2025. With the largest prize pool within the historical past of the collection, anticipate these video games to interrupt viewership information and provides us some intense match-ups. With Fearless Draft in play, anticipate gamers to be on their toes as their champion pool shrinks with every sport towards an opponent. 

The 17,000-seat Pacific Coliseum “guarantees an unforgettable setting for the second worldwide event of the 12 months,” in response to Riot Games. When you’re a streamer who’s contemplating co-streaming the MSI, you’re in luck. Final 12 months, Riot unlocked all collaborating creators to co-stream each stage and each match of MSI ‘24. Regulate Esports Insider for extra on the LoL MSI schedule because the video games decide the winners who climb up the ladder.