I’ve been watching League of Legends since Season 3, back when the meta was all about bruisers top and mid was basically Syndra or bust. I’m 26 now, and Worlds has become one of those annual rituals—like checking out the new Call of Duty or pretending I’ll finally get into fitness in January. But this year’s Worlds? It feels different. Not just because it’s in China again, or because Riot’s throwing around new formats. It’s the vibe. The stakes. The weird sense that something big is about to shift.
So yeah, here’s my take on what’s coming up at Worlds 2025. No corporate jargon, no esports influencer hype—just one guy trying to make sense of the biggest tournament in League.
The Setup: Chengdu, China
Let’s start with the basics. Worlds 2025 is happening across three cities in China—Beijing for the Play-In and Swiss stages, Shanghai for quarters and semis, and Chengdu for the Grand Final. China’s hosted Worlds before (2017 and 2020), but this time it’s different. No COVID bubbles, no travel restrictions. Just full-on stadiums, roaring crowds, and probably a ton of fireworks.
Chengdu hosting the final is a big deal. It’s not the usual Shanghai or Seoul. It’s a city that’s been growing fast in esports, and Riot clearly wants to tap into that energy. I’m expecting a production level that rivals 2019 Paris or 2022 San Francisco—maybe even better.
The Format: Swiss Stage and Fearless Draft
Riot’s been messing with formats lately, and honestly? I’m here for it. The Swiss Stage is back, which means 16 teams play five rounds, and you need three wins to move on or three losses to get booted. It’s cleaner than the old group stage, and it gives us more matchups we wouldn’t normally see.
But the real twist is Fearless Draft. Basically, once a team picks a champ in a series, they can’t pick it again—even if the other team does. It forces deeper champion pools, more prep, and way less “run it back” nonsense. I love it. It rewards teams that actually innovate instead of just spamming comfort picks.
This format’s going to expose weak coaching staffs and shallow rosters. If your mid can’t play more than three champs, good luck making it past quarters.
The Teams: Old Kings, New Blood
We don’t have the full list of qualified teams yet, but we know the breakdown: 17 teams total, with Korea (LCK) and China (LPL) sending four each thanks to MSI results. The Americas (LTA), EMEA (LEC), and Asia-Pacific (LCP) each send three.
Gen.G already locked a spot by winning MSI 2025, and they’re looking scary. Chovy finally got his international trophy, and the team’s synergy is peaking. If they make it through LCK playoffs, they’ll be the first MSI winner to auto-qualify for Worlds under the new rule.
But it’s not just about Gen.G. China’s LPL is stacked this year. JDG, Top Esports, and Bilibili Gaming all look solid. And with the regional finals still ahead, we could see a dark horse sneak in.
From EMEA, G2 and Fnatic are always in the mix, but I’ve got my eye on Team Heretics. They’ve been quietly grinding and might surprise people. The Americas are a bit of a mess—NA and LATAM merged into LTA, and while it’s cool on paper, I’m not sure it’s made the teams any better.
The Meta: Jungle Diff or Draft Diff?
Worlds metas are always weird. Remember the Ardent Censer fiesta of 2017? Or the Yuumi + Sivir snoozefest in 2022? This year, I’m expecting a jungle-heavy meta with a side of midlane carry potential.
Champions like Maokai, Viego, and Kha’Zix are creeping back into relevance, and midlaners are flexing picks like Tristana, Azir, and even Corki. Bot lane feels stable—Jinx, Aphelios, Kai’Sa—but support might get spicy with engage picks like Rakan and Nautilus making a comeback.
Fearless Draft is going to shake things up. Teams won’t be able to rely on one-trick comps, and we might see off-meta picks like Swain, Nocturne, or even Zac mid if things get desperate.
The Storylines: What We’re Really Watching
Forget the patch notes. Worlds is about stories. And this year, there are a few that stand out:
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Can Gen.G go back-to-back? They won MSI, but Worlds is a different beast. If they pull it off, Chovy enters GOAT territory.
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Will China reclaim dominance? LPL teams have been inconsistent lately. This is their chance to shut down the LCK narrative.
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Can EMEA finally break through? G2 made semis in 2019, but it’s been downhill since. A deep run would reignite the region.
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Is the Americas region doomed? The LTA merger was supposed to fix things. If no team makes it past Swiss, it’s back to the drawing board.
And then there’s the wildcard factor. Every year, one team comes out of nowhere—think Albus Nox Luna in 2016 or DRX in 2022. I’m betting we get another Cinderella story this year.
The Vibe: Why This Worlds Feels Bigger
Maybe it’s the new format. Maybe it’s the Fearless Draft. Maybe it’s just me getting older and realizing how rare it is to see true innovation in esports. But Worlds 2025 feels like a turning point.
Riot’s finally listening to feedback. They’re experimenting. They’re giving us formats that reward depth and punish lazy prep. And with the global scene more unified than ever, we’re getting matchups that used to be impossible.
I’m hyped. Not just for the games, but for what this means long-term. If Worlds 2025 delivers, it could set the tone for the next five years of competitive League.
Final Thoughts
I’m not an analyst. I’m not a pro. I’m just a guy who’s been watching League for over a decade, yelling at his screen when his team throws Baron and pretending he could’ve played it better.
But I care about this game. And I care about Worlds. It’s the one time a year when everything comes together—players, fans, casters, memes, heartbreak, hype. It’s the Super Bowl of esports, and this year, it might actually live up to that title.
So yeah, grab your snacks, clear your schedule, and get ready. Worlds 2025 is coming. And it’s going to be wild.