24-Jan-2025, 02:39 PM
Riot Games has officially unveiled significant changes to the EMEA Masters format for 2025, introducing a three-split structure that aligns with the League of Legends European Championship (LEC). This new approach promises to enhance competition and visibility for teams across the European, Middle Eastern, and African regions.
New Tournament Structure
The 2025 EMEA Masters will consist of three distinct tournaments: Winter, Spring, and Summer. Each split will see an increase in the number of participating teams, starting with 16 in Winter, expanding to 32 in Spring, and culminating with 44 teams in Summer. This progressive increase is designed to create a more dynamic competitive environment and allow more teams from various European Regional Leagues (ERLs) to showcase their talents on an international stage.
Winter Split
The Winter Split kicks off on March 17, 2025. It will feature a total of 16 teams, including each ERL’s Winter champion and three second-seeded teams from historically strong leagues. A key innovation for this split is the Fearless Draft system, which prohibits the use of the same champion more than once in a match series. This rule is expected to encourage creative strategies and diverse champion pools among teams.
The tournament will begin with a GSL-style group stage, where teams are divided into four groups of four. Matches will be best-of-three, with regional protections in place to prevent same-region matchups early on. The top eight teams will advance to a single-elimination playoff bracket.
Spring Split
The Spring Split will double the number of teams to 32 while maintaining a similar format to Winter. However, the Fearless Draft will not be utilized during this split; standard drafting rules will apply instead. The playoffs will feature 16 teams competing in best-of-five matches within a single-elimination format.
Summer Split
The Summer Split serves as the climax of the EMEA Masters season, featuring an expanded pool of 44 teams. It will commence with a Last Chance Qualifier for 16 teams, followed by another GSL-style group stage. Teams that excel will move on to a Swiss Stage before entering the playoffs, where regional protections are lifted, allowing for intense matchups between top-performing teams from different regions.
Conclusion
These structural changes aim to elevate the EMEA Masters’ profile within the global esports landscape, providing more opportunities for emerging talent while fostering competitive integrity. With increased slots and innovative formats, Riot Games is setting the stage for an exciting year ahead in League of Legends esports.
