The Road to the Summoner’s Cup: Who Will Rise at LoL Worlds 2025?

The Road to the Summoner’s Cup: Who Will Rise at LoL Worlds 2025?

The fans of MOBA games have a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks as the League of Legends World Championship 2025 is coming in quick and hot. Also known as LoL Worlds, or just Worlds, it is the crowning event of the popular game’s esports season. Each year, the best of the best come together in one tournament that will crown the world champions for that year. This year, the event will bring together 17 teams from all regions of the game in a months long race for the iconic Summoner’s Cup, arguably the most famous and prestigious trophy in competitive gaming. Chengdu, Shanghai, and Beijing, three Chinese cities, will host the offline tournament. The prize pool? A cool $5 million.

The Grand Final venue will be the Dong’an Lake Sports Park Multifunctional Gymnasium in Chengdu, with the Quarterfinals and Semifinals being played at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Beijing. The Play In and Swiss stages are held at the Beijing JD Esports Center. From October 14 to November 9, China will be the center of the gaming world as millions of fans tune in to live streams, with thousands placing their bets and making their picks for the winner. Join us as we analyze the competition and try to guess who can rise to the top. In addition, here is how to bet on League of Legends World Championship so that you can put your LoL expertise to good use!

Format Changes and Qualification Structure

Riot introduced a new format for both MSI and Worlds in 2025, one that is reshaping how teams qualify and how many slots each region receives. MSI now grants an automatic Worlds berth to the champion and gives an additional Worlds slot to the region with the second best MSI performance. Therefore, the Worlds 2025 will feature 17 teams.

Slot distribution is as follows. Korea (LCK) and China (LPL) each have four slots, while Europe (LEC), the Americas (combined North and South), and the Pacific region each receive three. One additional spot is reserved for the MSI winner if they have not already qualified. Before the main event begins, the fourth seeds of Korea and China will compete in a Play In best of five series to earn their place in the Swiss Stage, which consists of 16 teams. This Swiss Stage is followed by a single elimination knockout bracket featuring the top eight teams.

Teams Qualified and Their Paths

All 17 spots at Worlds 2025 are now filled, so here is a breakdown of the qualified teams by region and how they earned their places.

Korea (LCK)

The LCK secured four Worlds slots due to exceptional performance at MSI and during the regional season. The teams representing Korea are Gen.G, Hanwha Life Esports (HLE), KT Rolster, and T1. Gen.G was the first to qualify. They completed an undefeated run through the early part of the LCK regular season and lost only one series overall. After winning the LCK playoffs and the 2025 MSI, they entered Worlds as heavy favorites. Hanwha Life and KT Rolster earned their spots through playoff performance. T1, despite a turbulent year, qualified by winning a decisive series against Dplus KIA. They will face Invictus Gaming in the Play In match to determine entry into the Swiss Stage.

China (LPL)

Like Korea, China earned four Worlds spots in 2025. The LPL will send Bilibili Gaming (BLG), Anyone’s Legend (AL), Top Esports (TES), and Invictus Gaming (IG). Bilibili Gaming’s strong performance at MSI helped secure the region’s fourth slot. Top Esports locked their spot by defeating Invictus Gaming in the LPL regional finals. Invictus bounced back to beat JD Gaming in a decider, claiming the final seed and setting up their Play In showdown with T1. Anyone’s Legend qualified based on their standings and playoff run during the LPL summer split.

Europe (LEC)

The LEC remains with three slots. The European representatives are G2 Esports, Movistar KOI, and Fnatic. G2 qualified by winning the LEC Summer Playoffs, sweeping Movistar KOI in the finals. Movistar KOI secured second through their playoff run. Fnatic took the final slot by defeating Karmine Corp in a qualification match.

Americas

The Americas region has three combined slots across its North and South territories, meaning very heavy competition. The teams that will represent it are FlyQuest, 100 Thieves, and Vivo Keyd Stars. FlyQuest and 100 Thieves earned their places through the North American competition. 100 Thieves had a dramatic run, playing more best of five series than any other team during the summer. Vivo Keyd Stars qualified through the South American circuit.

Pacific (LCP)

The Pacific region will send three teams to Worlds 2025, and those teams include CTBC Flying Oyster (CFO), Team Secret Whales (TSW), and PSG Talon. CFO was among the earliest teams to lock in their qualification, having defeated Secret Whales in a key series. Team Secret Whales and PSG Talon earned their places via consistent top tier finishes in the regional playoffs.

Strengths, Weaknesses, and Title Contenders

Now that the playing field is set, it is time to assess which teams are best positioned to make a deep run, or even win it all. League of Legends World Championship betting odds can help you with that, too, but here is a more detailed breakdown nonetheless.

Gen.G as the Favorites of Korea’s Depth

Gen.G stands out as the most dominant team entering Worlds 2025. They were nearly flawless in the LCK regular season and playoffs and followed that up with a championship run at MSI. Their team synergy, adaptability, and depth make them the gold standard and the leading favorite among the bookies. Their current form suggests they are not only the favorites to win Worlds but could potentially do so in dominant fashion, unlike anybody before them. The roster has proven itself under pressure and has experience on the international stage.

Beyond Gen.G, Korea’s other teams are more than capable of challenging for the title. Hanwha Life Esports has quietly put together a consistent year, while T1’s experience and historical Worlds pedigree make them a perennial threat. Though their route was rocky, T1 tends to peak when it matters most. If Gen.G falters, T1 and HLE could be ready to step up, especially in best of five playoff series where individual brilliance and deep drafts play a bigger role. It would not be a surprise to anyone if a Korean organization takes home the trophy.

China’s Firepower and Risk

Chinese teams have long been known for their aggressive playstyle and mechanical prowess. Bilibili Gaming and Top Esports lead the LPL contingent, with BLG benefed from an MSI run that gave their region four spots. The challenge for LPL teams, however, is consistency. While they have the talent and the strategies to outplay any team, they are prone to underperforming when expectations are highest. Most importantly, that is what Korea has over China. That said, on the right day, a team like TES or BLG can beat anyone. Invictus Gaming remains a wildcard. Their fate will be decided in the Play In against T1, but they have already shown they can rebound under pressure.

Europe’s Potential for Upsets

Unlike many traditional sports and some other competitive video games, in LoL, Europe is not the heavy hitter it is used to being elsewhere. Europe’s top teams are not considered frontrunners, but they cannot be discounted. G2 Esports has rebuilt a solid roster and has international experience. Fnatic brings veteran leadership and confidence, while Movistar KOI is seen as an emerging squad capable of upsets. In the Swiss format, where early matchups and momentum matter, any of these teams could make it to the quarterfinals. However, going beyond that would require near perfect execution and smart adaptation to the evolving Worlds meta.

Americas and Pacific: Outsiders with Upset Potential

Similar to Europe, these two regions will bring together most of the underdogs with a slight chance for a dark horse. While teams from the Americas and Pacific regions are unlikely to win the tournament, they can still play spoiler roles. 100 Thieves, in particular, comes in battle hardened after a long summer filled with best of five matches. FlyQuest and Vivo Keyd Stars round out a mixed bag of promise and inconsistency. CTBC Flying Oyster and PSG Talon have limited expectations but are known for their ability to surprise unprepared teams, especially in best of one Swiss rounds. They will fight hard, and do hold potential for a few surprises or upsets.

Predictive Outlook

The most probable scenario has Gen.G lifting the Summoner’s Cup this year. They are the most complete team, with a nearly spotless 2025 campaign. They have been tested at MSI and dominated domestically, showing no clear weaknesses in any phase of the game. T1 and HLE will be looking to spoil that narrative. T1’s clutch history and ability to shift gears under pressure make them especially dangerous in the knockout stage. Hanwha Life, with a consistent and adaptable roster, also has potential for a deep run.

From China, Bilibili Gaming and Top Esports pose the strongest threat to Korea’s dominance. Their ability to force high tempo games and adapt on the fly makes them viable challengers, though they will need to show mental resilience. Outside of Korea and China, only G2 Esports has a credible path to the semifinals or beyond. Even that would require some favorable bracket matchups and draft wins.

Ultimately, this year’s Worlds is Gen.G’s to lose. However, the Swiss format is volatile, and Worlds has always been fertile ground for underdog stories. Whether a new team rises or Gen.G confirms their dominance, Worlds 2025 promises elite competition and unexpected drama. League of Legends fans will have a ton of exciting content to enjoy and wager on for weeks. Check back with Stake.com for more predictions and the most accurate odds as the tournament progresses.

Summoner’s Cup FAQs

1. What is the Summoner's Cup in League of Legends?
The Summoner's Cup is the iconic trophy awarded to the team that wins the annual League of Legends World Championship, essentially the highest honor in competitive LoL.
2. How much does the Summoner’s Cup weigh?
The original 2012 Summoner’s Cup weighed around 70 pounds (32 kg), which made it extremely heavy. It was made by Thomas Lyte, who created world famous sporting trophies like the FA Cup (Soccer/Football), Ryder Cup (Golf), and others.
3. Who designed the modern Summoner’s Cup?
A redesigned version in 2022 by Tiffany & Co. brought it down to a more manageable 44 pounds (20 kg). The luxury jeweler known for crafting iconic sports trophies like the NFL’s Vince Lombardi Trophy partnered with Riot Games to redesign the Summoner’s Cup.
4. What teams have won the Summoner’s Cup the most?
As of last season (2024), T1 (formerly SK Telecom T1) has won the most Summoner’s Cups, with four titles (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023). Other winners include Fnatic, Samsung White, Invictus Gaming, DWG KIA, EDward Gaming, DRX, and JDG.
5. Why is it called the "Summoner’s" Cup?
The name draws from LoL’s lore, where the players were originally referred to as “Summoners”, who summoned champions to battle. Though this concept has faded from the game’s lore, the name stuck and has become iconic.
6. When and where do the Worlds take place?
Worlds usually takes place between October and November, with the host region rotating yearly across major League regions like Korea, China, Europe, and North America.
7. What makes the opening ceremony at the Summoner’s Cup special?
Every year, Riot hosts an elaborate Opening Ceremony at Worlds Finals with AR/VR performances, live music, and sometimes virtual performances by groups like K/DA or True Damage.
8. How many people watch the Summoner’s Cup (Worlds)?
Viewership regularly breaks esports records. In 2023, Worlds hit over 6.4 million concurrent viewers, which made it one of the most watched esports events in history.
9. Can fans attend the Summoner’s Cup live?
Yes, Riot sells tickets to the Play In, Swiss, Knockout, and Finals stages. The Finals often take place in iconic stadiums like Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome or Paris' Accor Hotels Arena.
10. Is the Summoner’s Cup just for pros, or can players participate?
While the main event is for professional teams, Riot also runs Pick’ems, in game missions, and even community tournaments. These allow everyday players to get involved during the Worlds season.

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