Riot Games has locked in the opening matchups for the League of Legends World Championship 2025 Swiss Stage. The draw pairs 16 teams across eight best-of-one matches that will kick off the main event.
The headline pairing sends defending world champions T1 against North American champions FlyQuest. Europe’s G2 Esports will face China’s Top Esports in another cross-regional clash featuring tournament favorites.
The Swiss format runs until teams hit three wins or three losses. Three wins send you to knockouts. Three losses send you home. Round one uses best-of-ones, while later advancement and elimination matches switch to best-of-three series.
Winners face winners in Round two. Losers face losers. The system avoids rematches unless no other pairing works mathematically. Higher seeds get side selection in each matchup.
The full round one slate
Bilibili Gaming takes on 100 Thieves in a mismatch on paper. The LPL powerhouse enters as a tournament favorite while 100 Thieves qualified as North America’s second seed.
Gen.G draws PSG Talon. The Korean top seed should handle the PCS representatives comfortably, though best-of-ones leave room for chaos.
CTBC Flying Oyster meets Fnatic in a PCS versus LEC matchup. Both teams will look to start 1-0 before facing tougher competition.
KT Rolster goes up against MAD Lions KOI. The third LCK seed faces Europe’s third representative in a battle of regional depth. Hanwha Life Esports plays Anyone’s Legend in an LCK versus LPL showdown. Both teams can make noise if they start hot.
Vivo Keyd Stars faces TSW in the only emerging-region mirror match. One of these teams is guaranteed to reach 1-0, potentially creating an upset opportunity in Round two against a major region squad.
Why Bo1s hit different
Starting 1-0 makes the Swiss path easier. Drop to 0-1 and you’re immediately facing elimination pressure and tougher draws.
Best-of-ones create upset potential that best-of-threes minimize. A hot performance or single draft mistake can flip a matchup. That volatility makes Round one unpredictable despite clear seeding favorites.
Drawing elite teams early also has strategic value. Beat them in a Bo1 now and you can’t face them again until knockouts. The Swiss system’s rematch prevention turns early victories over favorites into path insurance.
