By Sagar V. Mankar 
The world of competitive League of Legends is undergoing significant transformation, as Riot Games introduces major changes for the 2025 season and reveals an ambitious roadmap extending into 2027.
New Season, New Beginnings
The 2025 season kicks off across major regions, beginning with China’s LPL on January 12, followed by Korea’s LCK (January 15), the new Pacific League LCP (January 17), Europe’s LEC (January 18), and the Americas’ LTA (January 25).
Fearless Draft in Split 1
Perhaps the most anticipated change is the introduction of the “Fearless Draft” system in Split 1. This innovative format adds a fascinating twist to champion selection: once a champion is picked in a series, it becomes unavailable for both teams in subsequent games. The system creates an escalating number of banned champions throughout a series:
- Game 1: Standard 10 bans
- Game 2: 20 total bans (10 standard + 10 from previous game)
- Game 3: 30 total bans
- Game 4: 40 total bans
- Game 5: 50 total bans
First Stand Tournament: A New International Tournament
Scheduled for March 10–16 in Seoul, South Korea, the First Stand Tournament brings together the top-performing teams from Split 1. It offers high stakes, as the winning team secures an additional bye for their region at MSI 2025, entering directly into the Bracket Stage.
The tournament features two phases:
- A best-of-three Round Robin Stage where all teams face each other
- A best-of-five Knockout Stage featuring the top four teams
Global Events Calendar 2025: From Vancouver to China
MSI 2025 marks League’s return to Canada, specifically Vancouver, from June 27 to July 12. The tournament introduces an all-best-of-five format throughout the event, raising the stakes for every match. Two teams from each of the five major regions will compete for the title and additional Worlds slots for their regions.
The 2025 World Championship (Worlds 2025) will journey across China, with Play-Ins and Swiss Stage in Beijing, Quarter and Semifinals in Shanghai, and the Grand Finals in Chengdu. The event will feature 17 teams, including three from each region, with additional slots for the MSI 2025 Champion’s region and the second-best performing region at MSI. Notably, the traditional break between Quarters and Semifinals has been removed to maintain tournament momentum.
Looking Ahead: 2026 and 2027
Riot Games has already mapped out the locations for major events through 2027:
2026:
- First Stand: Brazil
- MSI: South Korea
- Worlds: North America
2027:
- First Stand: Southeast Asia
- MSI: Europe
- Worlds: South Korea
Sources: LoL Esports Official Announcements