RIOT REVEALS NEW 2025 STRUCTURE FOR LOL APAC LEAGUE

LOL APAC LEAGUE 2025 – WORLDS QUALIFICATION AND PLAYOFF FORMAT EXPLAINED

Just like the four major regions are entering the summer playoffs to determine their Worlds 2024 qualification, the teams from the minor regions (VCS, PCS, LJL, and LCO) are also fighting for their spot at the biggest tournament of the year.

Riot Games, however, also announced that the teams will be competing for spots in the new LoL APAC league that will be created next year, following the merge of the four regions.

With the goal of introducing higher stakes matches and reward performing teams, the publisher has announced the qualification format that will be introduced in the new APAC League ecosystem.

PARTNER AND GUEST SLOTS – A HYBRID PARTNERSHIP WITH RELEGATION

A total of 8 slots will be given in the new league, with Riot announcing a hybrid partnership alongside a promotion/relegation model. In their latest announcement, the publisher went into more detail about how the league will be divided.

There will be a total of 4 Partner slots, which will be selected based on a “stringent process” set by Riot. These teams aim to bring more competition and sustainability, as they will be looking to be the front runners in growing the new APAC league as a whole.

The four remaining slots, on the other hand, are called the “Guest Slots”. Among these four, there is another distinction: Competitive Merit Guest Slots and Invited Guest Slots. The former are given to the highest-placed teams in the 2024 PCS and VCS Playoffs, outside of Partner teams, raising the importance of a high-place finish in the Summer playoffs.

The Invited Guest Slots, on the other hand, are chosen to ensure diverse representation and foster a more inclusive environment, showcasing talents from different regions. All four Guest Slots will be contested through the promotion/relegation tournament at the end of the 2025 season, meaning that these teams will move up and down depending on whether they can defend their slot. More details will be revealed at a later date.

Going into 2025, the LoL esports ecosystem is undergoing major changes. Aside from the merger of the APAC league, Riot also announced the unification of the LCS, CBLOL, and LLA into the new Americas League, reducing the total number of LoL leagues to five (LEC, LCK, and LPL being the remaining three).