Riot doubles prize pool for 2025 Worlds, promising fierce competition

Riot Games has officially announced a $5 million prize pool for the 2025 League of Legends World Championship, more than doubling last year’s $2.225 million. This massive increase highlights Riot’s commitment to growing the esports scene. 

The tournament, set to take place in China, will feature format changes, reducing team slots from 20 to 17 to ensure higher competition quality. The ‘Fearless Draft’ system, tested in the First Stand Tournament, will be implemented, preventing teams from picking champions they’ve already used in a series. 

With last year’s final between T1 and Bilibili Gaming reaching a record-breaking 6.94 million viewers, expectations for 2025 are high. Merchandise revenue bonuses could push total winnings even higher. 

Before Worlds, the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) will take place in Vancouver from June 27 to July 12, featuring a $2 million prize pool.Chris Greeley, Riot’s Global Head of LoL Esports, reaffirmed the focus on sustainability over profit, aiming to build an ecosystem where teams, both professional and amateur, can thrive. With increased stakes and innovative changes, Worlds 2025 is set to be a defining moment for LoL Esports.