November 02, 2024

League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational Heads to Canada in 2025

Riot Games has announced that the 2025 Mid-Season Invitational for League of Legends will be held in Canada. This marks the first time the event will take place in the country, bringing competitive LoL back to Canadian soil for the first time since the 2017 LCS Spring Finals. Riot's decision is part of a broader strategy to boost regional interest and engagement in North America, responding to calls from fans for more live esports events in Canada. The host city will be revealed in January 2025, and Canadian fans are already eager to watch the world’s top-tier teams up close.

LoL MSI 2025

The League of Legends Championship of the Americas

The Canadian MSI debut will also highlight Riot’s new League of Legends Championship of the Americas (LTA) structure, which merges North and South American teams into one region. Split into LTA North and South, the LTA introduces a regional format to increase competitive opportunities and strengthen representation across the Americas. This structure is designed to boost interest from major organizations in both regions, providing permanent, guest, and special partner teams with designated ranks and slots.

Historically, North American leagues like the LCS and CBLOL have struggled on the global stage. With the LTA, Riot hopes to provide better preparation for international events like MSI and Worlds by giving teams regular, high-level competition. The LTA’s inclusive approach is aimed at creating a stronger regional presence and more compelling matchups, ultimately benefiting both players and fans.

League of Legends LTA

First Stand Tournament and the Fearless Draft System

In addition to the MSI, Riot has unveiled a new tournament format called First Stand, which will run from March 10 to March 17, 2025. This tournament features the “Fearless Draft” system, a unique drafting format that prevents teams from reusing champions during a best-of-five series. In this system, once a champion has been selected by either team, it cannot be chosen again for the remainder matches.

The Fearless Draft will challenge teams to adapt dynamically, testing both their versatility and depth in champion mastery. By requiring teams to shift strategies mid-series, Riot aims to boost the games’ flexibility and broaden the strategic appeal for fans. With at least one team from each region competing, First Stand is also expected to reignite rivalries and emphasize regional skill variation, setting the stage for more intense competition.

Bringing Back LoL Esports to NA

Riot’s decision to bring MSI to Canada is part of its continued effort to make League of Legends accessible to a global audience and stimulate regional interest in esports. With Canada’s dedicated LoL community, the event aims to draw large crowds and increase awareness across North America. By hosting this high-stakes tournament, Riot seeks to build excitement for esports in Canada and potentially establish the country as a viable location for future international events.

The MSI and the First Stand tournament are a huge step in Riot’s commitment to strengthening League of Legends’ competitive scene through regional diversity, new formats, and heightened accessibility. 2025 will herald a new era for LoL Esports in the Americas, finally making the region a top contender in League of Legends esports.

 

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