League of Legends Champions Korea to hold first-ever cup tournament

The world of League of Legends esports in Korea is set to evolve with the launch of the LCK Cup.

The event will be held at the LCK Arena in LoL Park, located in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, beginning Wednesday.

One of the most defining characteristics of the 2025 LCK Cup will be the “Fearless Draft” rule, which prevents players from selecting characters already used by the opposing team in the next match. This rule was previously implemented in the 2024 LCK Challengers League.

Under the new rule, in a best-of-three match, if all matches are played, both teams will be unable to use up to 20 characters. In a best-of-five match, the number of banned characters can rise to 50, encouraging teams to explore a broader range of characters and tactics, while enhancing the viewing experience for LoL fans.

The tournament will follow a group stage format.

LoL powerhouses Hanwha Life Esports and Gen.G will lead their respective groups, based on their performance in the 2024 LCK summer season. Hanwha Life Esports’ group includes T1, BNK Fearx, DN Freecs and OK Savings Bank Brion, while Gen.G’s group features Dplus Kia, KT Rolster, Nongshim RedForce and DRX.

In a twist from traditional competition formats, playoff qualification will depend on the collective performance of teams within each group, allowing fans to witness teams that typically compete against one another join forces.

The top three teams from the winning group will advance directly to the playoffs, while the remaining teams will compete in play-ins, or preliminary rounds, for a chance to secure a playoff spot.

The results of the LCK Cup will not directly impact a team’s record and statistics for the 2025 season. However, the team that wins the 2025 LCK Cup will earn the distinction of representing the LCK in the inaugural First Stand Tournament, Riot Games’ international event debuting later this year.

The 2025 LCK Cup kicks off Wednesday at 5 p.m. with a match between OK Savings Bank Brion and DRX. The group stage will run through Feb. 2, followed by play-ins from Feb. 7 to 9. The playoffs begin on Feb. 12, culminating in the championship match on Feb. 23.

The event will broadcast live through online platforms such as Soop, Naver Esports and the YouTube LCK channel. Tickets for on-site viewing can be purchased via Interpark Ticket starting 48 hours before each match. Ticket prices are 20,000 won on weekdays, 25,000 won on weekends and 30,000 won for the playoffs.