The League of Legends World Championship 2025 is the biggest esports event of the year, taking place in China from October 14 to November 9. The tournament, also known as Worlds 2025, will gather the planet’s strongest teams, millions of online viewers, and tens of thousands of fans at arenas in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu. According to Newzoo analysts, esports could attract over 640 million viewers worldwide in 2025, with Worlds being the main driver of this audience.

Cities and Tournament Venues

Riot Games organizers have chosen three Chinese metropolises for the stages:

• Beijing — Play-In and Swiss Stage (October 14-27). Games will be held at Capital Indoor Stadium, which seats over 17,000 spectators.

• Shanghai — Quarterfinals and Semifinals (November 1–2 and 8–9). Major arenas, including the Mercedes-Benz Arena, will be used.

• Chengdu — Final (November 15). Key event of the tournament will take place in Chengdu Phoenix Mountain Sports Park with a capacity of 60,000 people.

The choice of China is no accident: according to Statista, the country ranks first in the world in the number of League of Legends players — over 100 million active accounts.

Participants and Format

22 teams from various regions will participate in Worlds 2025:

• LPL (China) — 4 slots

• LCK (South Korea) — 4 slots

• LEC (Europe) — 3 slots

• LCS (North America) — 3 slots

• PCS (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asia) — 2 slots

• VCS (Vietnam) — 2 slots

• Latin America, Brazil, Japan, and other regions share 4 slots.

Tournament format:

1. Play-In Stage — teams from “minor regions” + the weakest from the top leagues.

2. Swiss Stage — main group stage with a “Swiss” system.

3. Playoffs — quarterfinals, semifinals, and final in a best-of-5 format.

Prize Pool and Economy

The Worlds prize pool traditionally consists of a base amount from Riot Games (about 2 million dollars) and a share from in-game item sales. In 2024, the total pool was 6.25 million dollars, and experts predict that in 2025 it could exceed 7 million dollars.

Esports in China is actively supported at the governmental level. According to the Ministry of Sports of the PRC, the market size exceeded 30 billion yuan (about 4.2 billion dollars) in 2024, and growth in 2025 is projected at 15–18%.

Viewers and Broadcasts

In 2024, the Worlds final was watched online by over 6.4 million simultaneous viewers (according to Esports Charts). In 2025, considering the popularity of League of Legends in Asia, organizers expect a record — up to 10 million simultaneous viewers.

Broadcasts will be available on Twitch, YouTube, and Chinese platforms Bilibili, Huya, and Douyu.

Significance of the Tournament for Esports

Worlds 2025 is of immense importance not only for players but for the entire industry. The tournament sets marketing trends, attracts brands and investors. According to PwC, the global esports market will exceed 2.1 billion dollars in 2025, and the League of Legends World Championship will become one of the key growth points.

FAQ Frequently Asked Questions

When will the League of Legends World Championship 2025 take place?
From October 14 to November 15, 2025.

In which Chinese cities will the Worlds 2025 matches take place?
Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu.

How many teams will participate?
22 teams from different regions.

What is the expected prize pool?
Over 7 million dollars.

Where can I watch the broadcasts?
Twitch, YouTube, Bilibili, Huya, Douyu.