A Quick Look at the LCK Cup 2025
As the LCK 2025 season commences on January 15th, let’s delve into the details of the LCK Cup 2025 and its significance in the Korean League of Legends esports realm.
LCK Cup 2025 Structure Explained
In a departure from previous years, the LCK Cup introduces a new format where teams are divided into two groups of five. Teams will not face opponents from their own group; instead, they will compete against all teams from the opposing group in a best-of-three (BO3) single round-robin format.
All matches will incorporate the Fearless Draft mode, ensuring that teams cannot reuse a champion already picked during the series.
Following the round-robin stage, the group with more series wins will form the Winners Group, while the other group becomes the Losers Group. The top three teams from the Winners Group will progress directly to the playoffs, with the two remaining teams battling against the top four teams from the Losers Group in the play-in stage.
The play-in stage will feature a double-elimination bracket to determine the final three playoff contenders, with all matches being BO3, except for the decisive series which will be a best-of-five (BO5).
Once the top six teams are determined, they will engage in a double-elimination bracket in playoffs, resembling previous LCK playoffs. The champion will represent the LCK at the First Stand tournament.
Schedule and Where to Watch LCK Cup 2025
Viewers can catch all the LCK action on official Twitch or YouTube channels, with both Korean and English commentary available. Alternatively, games can be watched on AfreecaTV.
The group stage kicks off on January 15th and wraps up on February 2nd, with matches scheduled from Wednesday to Sunday. The first match of each day begins at 8 AM GMT.
Play-ins will span three days from February 7th to February 9th, while the playoffs commence on February 12th, culminating in the finals on February 23rd.
Notable Teams to Keep an Eye On
The LCK stirred headlines during the off-season with significant roster changes, such as T1’s Choi ‘Zeus’ Woo-je departing after successive World Championships to join Hanwha Life Esports, leading to the arrival of Choi ‘Doran’ Hyeon-joon at T1.
Despite various roster alterations, top LCK teams like T1, Gen.G, and HLE are anticipated to maintain their dominance, with other teams vying for mid-tier positions. The introduction of the Fearless Draft mode is poised to alter team dynamics significantly, emphasizing the strategic prowess of coaches and other game aspects in 2025.