Everything You Need to Know About the New Three-Stage Format and Fearless Draft System
I. Overview
The 2025 League of Legends World Championship (Worlds 2025) will take place from October 14 to November 9, 2025.
Hosted in China, the event will be held across three major cities:
- Beijing – Play-In and Swiss Stage
- Shanghai – Quarterfinals and Semifinals
- Chengdu – Grand Final
A total of 17 teams will compete this year, with the introduction of the Fearless Draft system, which prevents teams from re-selecting the same champions within a series.
This change is expected to bring deeper strategies and greater viewing variety to the competition.
II. Tournament Structure
Worlds 2025 is divided into three main stages:
1. Play-In Stage
2. Swiss Stage
3. Knockout
Each phase plays a crucial role in determining the world’s best team.
Below is a detailed explanation of each stage.
1. Play-In Stage
This stage serves as a direct qualification match to determine the 16th team for the Swiss Stage.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Participants | 2 teams – LPL 4th seed vs. LCK 4th seed |
| Match Format | Best-of-5 (Bo5) |
| Key Rule | Fearless Draft: no champion can be picked twice within the same series |
| Advancement | Winner moves to the Swiss Stage; loser is eliminated |
2. Swiss Stage
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Participants | 16 teams (including the Play-In winner) |
| Format | Up to 5 rounds using Swiss pairing |
| Advancement | – Teams with 3 wins advance – Teams with 3 losses are eliminated |
| Match Type | – Standard matches – Best-of-1 (Bo1) – Decider matches – Best-of-3 (Bo3) |
| Pairing Rules | Opponents are redrawn each round based on win-loss record; no rematches |
| Feature | All Bo3 matches use Fearless Draft rules |
The Swiss format ensures fairer matchups by pairing teams with similar results, progressively leading to balanced and high-stakes encounters.
3. Knockout Stage
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Participants | 8 teams (qualified from the Swiss Stage) |
| Format | Single elimination |
| Match Type | Best-of-5 (Bo5) |
| Rule | Fearless Draft applies throughout all series |
| Locations | – Quarterfinals & Semifinals – Shanghai Mercedes-Benz Arena – Grand Final – Chengdu |
The Knockout Stage returns to the classic single-elimination bracket, with every Bo5 series serving as a test of adaptability and depth under the Fearless Draft system.
III. The Fearless Draft System
The Fearless Draft is the most significant innovation of Worlds 2025.
Rule Summary:
Teams cannot pick the same champion twice within a Bo3 or Bo5 series.
This format encourages teams to prepare a wider champion pool and adapt strategies dynamically between games, reducing repetition and increasing unpredictability.
It’s designed to showcase true versatility and make each match feel unique.
IV. Regional Slot Allocation (2025)
| Region | Slots | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LPL (China) | 4 | 4th seed starts in Play-In |
| LCK (Korea) | 4 | 4th seed starts in Play-In |
| LEC (Europe) | 3 | All teams advance directly to Swiss Stage |
| LCS (North America) | 3 | All teams advance directly to Swiss Stage |
| PCS (Southeast Asia) | 2 | Direct entry to Swiss Stage |
| VCS (Vietnam) | 1 | Direct entry to Swiss Stage |
V. Schedule and Venues
| Stage | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Play-In | From October 14 | Beijing |
| Swiss Stage | Late October | Beijing |
| Quarterfinals & Semifinals | Early November | Shanghai Mercedes-Benz Arena |
| Grand Final | November 9 | Chengdu |
VI. Key Highlights of Worlds 2025
1. First-ever head-to-head Play-In showdown
Worlds 2025 opens with a single Bo5 clash between the LCK and LPL fourth seeds — a new format replacing traditional multi-team Play-Ins and spotlighting direct competition between the game’s strongest regions.
2. Fearless Draft reshapes series dynamics
Teams can no longer repeat champions within a series, demanding broader champion pools and on-the-fly adaptation. Coaching depth and preparation now matter more than ever.
3. Refined Swiss Stage for competitive balance
The five-round Swiss format retains its structure but features Bo3 elimination and advancement matches, addressing volatility concerns and ensuring more consistent outcomes.
4. Multi-city event across China
The 2025 World Championship will take place across Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, forming a three-city circuit that represents the largest logistical and production scale in Worlds history.
5. Strategy and endurance redefined
With tighter scheduling and increased preparation demands per match, Worlds 2025 emphasizes long-term planning and adaptability over mechanical execution alone.
VII. Conclusion
The 2025 League of Legends World Championship introduces a new Play-In showdown format, where the fourth seeds from the LCK and LPL face off directly—replacing the multi-team Play-In groups of previous years for a tighter, higher-stakes start.
At the same time, the introduction of the Fearless Draft adds another strategic dimension to champion selection and tempo control.
The teams that adapt quickest and anticipate the shifting meta are poised to set the tone for this new competitive era.
