League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational 2025 is almost here, kicking off June 27 in Vancouver, Canada. It’s the year’s second global event after March’s First Stand and will feature 10 teams from five competitive regions—LCK, LPL, LEC, LTA, and LCP. Each region sends two squads, creating one of the most diverse international lineups yet. The event will wrap up with the Grand Final on July 12.
MSI 2025 Format
The tournament comes in two main stages: the Play-In Stage and the Bracket Stage. Both follow a best-of-five format and use double-elimination rules, which means teams gotta fight hard even after a loss. The Play-In round starts first with four teams, only two of them can make it to the main Bracket.
Here’s the Play-In lineup:
- Bilibili Gaming – 2nd place from LPL Split 2
- G2 Esports – LEC Spring runner-up
- GAM Esports – 2nd place LCP Mid-Season
- FURIA – Champion of LTA South Split 2
Meanwhile, six other teams have already gotten their direct ticket into the Bracket Stage. Winners from most regions qualified directly, but Korea’s LCK has two teams this year because Hanwha Life Esports’ First Stand win gave them one more slot.
Image Credits: LOL Esports
These six teams will play straight into the main bracket:
- Gen.G Esports – Champions of LCK Road to MSI
- T1 – LCK runners-up
- Anyone’s Legend – LPL Split 2 champions
- KOI – LEC Spring winners
- CTBC Flying Oyster – LCP Mid-Season title winners
- FlyQuest – Top seed from LTA North Split 2
Regional Highlights and Qualifications
In Korea, Gen.G had a flawless 18-0 run in the regular season, but they still had to prove it in the playoffs. On June 13, they finally beat Hanwha Life in a 5-game banger to lock in their spot. T1 followed from the lower bracket and claimed the second LCK ticket.
For China’s LPL, it was the two Split 2 finalists that made it through. Anyone’s Legend surprised many by winning the upper bracket final against BLG, securing their MSI spot. BLG didn’t fall too far, though, as they bounced back with a win over Invictus Gaming and head to the Play-In.
In Europe, KOI lifted their first-ever LEC trophy with clean performances across the board. Their strong early control and late-game fights helped them beat G2, who, despite losing, still qualified for MSI. KOI advances directly to the Bracket Stage, while G2 takes the Play-In route. KOI’s mid laner Jojopyun, who now holds titles in both North America and Europe, will be competing in front of home fans in Canada, a historic note for the scene.
Over in the Americas, FlyQuest rose to the top of LTA North and will enter straight into the Bracket Stage. FURIA, who came out on top in LTA South, secured the final Play-In spot. Their qualifications were settled by June 15.
The Asia-Pacific region, under the LCP banner, will be sending CTBC Flying Oyster and GAM Esports. CFO took the title through calm, methodical macro play. But GAM had the more talked-about run, upsetting PSG Talon with bold early moves and sharp jungle presence from Levi, the team’s longtime captain.
Besides the trophy, the MSI winner will earn a direct qualification into Worlds 2025—assuming they reach their region’s summer playoffs. Not only that, but the region placing second overall will gain one more spot at Worlds, raising the stakes across the board.
This year, MSI could bring something different. With regional format updates and everyone still adapting to Fearless Draft, things might not go as they used to. It may just be the first time in years that a champion comes from outside the LCK or LPL—or it might just prove that the power gap is still standing strong. Either way, fans worldwide will be watching closely.
