Following
the inaugural edition of the First Stand in South Korea last March, this year's MSI will kick off on June 27 on the opposite side of the Pacific, in Vancouver, Canada. Ten teams—two from each major region—will participate in the second international event of the season, all vying to succeed Gen.G, champions of the 2024 edition. The tournament will unfold in two phases. It begins with a four-team play-in, where only two teams will advance to the playoff stage. The playoffs will feature eight teams in a double-elimination bracket.
The LCK is the only region guaranteed to bypass the play-in stage: thanks to
Hanwha Life Esports' victory at the First Stand, both Korean representatives will enter directly into the final bracket. In the LEC, LPL, and LCP, the winner of the second split of the season earns direct entry into the playoffs, while the runner-up must compete in the play-in. For the LTA region, the winner of LTA North’s Split 2 secures the playoff spot. Since LTA North and South do not compete directly in this split, the top seed goes to the conference that won the previous split—Team Liquid, representing the North. The winner of LTA South’s Split 2 will therefore have to earn their place via the play-in.
Moreover, the MSI champion will qualify directly for Worlds, provided they reach the playoff stage of their region’s third split. The second-best performing region at MSI will also earn its league an additional—fourth—slot at the World Championship. This article will track the evolving list of qualified teams for MSI, culminating with the event's conclusion on July 12.
