The first international League of Legends championship of 2025, the First Stand, came to a close last Saturday, leaving fans with a slew of surprises – including an unexpected European team making it to the grand final against one of the world’s LoL powerhouses. This inaugural tournament, created by Riot Games, brought together the top teams from each region, with Hanwha Life, CTBC Flying Oyster, Karmine Corp, Top Esports, and Team Liquid all vying for the top spot.
The First Stand Grand Final
The grand final match between Hanwha Life (HLE) and Karmine Corp (KC) was a nail-biter, with the young and inexperienced KC team pulling off a stunning upset by making it to the final round despite starting the tournament with two losses. As the underdogs, KC managed to take the lead, winning against the Korean team after a intense 36-minute game. However, their luck didn’t hold out, and HLE, led by Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, quickly turned the tables, winning the next three games and securing their spot as the tournament’s first-ever champions.
The final game was a thrilling conclusion to the tournament, with HLE’s victory marking a major milestone in the LoL competitive scene. As LTA Sul tweeted, the crowd went wild as HLE took home the championship title, and the team’s win was met with excitement and praise from fans around the world.
Check out the game’s finale that crowned @HLEofficial as the #FST2025 CHAMPION! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/W5IODnmBaM
— LTA Sul (@LTASul) March 16, 2025
As the first-ever First Stand champions, HLE took home a prize of $300,000 – approximately R$ 1,726 million – and secured a second bye in the upcoming Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) for their region, South Korea. This win not only cements HLE’s position as a top contender in the LoL scene but also sets the stage for an exciting MSI tournament. With the First Stand coming to a close, fans are eagerly anticipating the next international LoL competition, and HLE is sure to be a team to watch.