Get hype, League of Legends (LoL) esports fans! The second big cross-continental tournament of the year, the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), is coming soon. Ten teams will face off in Vancouver, Canada, following a thrilling First Stand tournament and regional Split 2 events.
In our comprehensive guide to MSI, we delve into the tournament format, schedule, prize pool distribution, teams competing, and how you can watch the action live.
MSI 2025 Schedule & Format
This year’s MSI will be held on LAN in front of a massive crowd at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum. Developer Riot Games’ esports division will host the event from June 27 to July 12.
The fight begins with the Play-In Stage (June 27-29), featuring four teams and a GSL-style format. The top two teams (2-0 and 2-1 scores) will qualify for the Bracket Stage, while the bottom two teams (1-2 and 0-2 scores) will be eliminated. Next, we’ll see eight teams battle it out in a double-elimination Bracket Stage, which runs from July 1-12.
Both the Play-In Stage and the Bracket Stage feature the Fearless Draft system. All matches throughout the MSI 2025 event are best-of-five.
The LoL Esports website provides details like precise dates/times for all MSI 2025 matches. You can also check out our LoL betting section for more info.
Prize Pool Distribution
For MSI 2025, Riot Games has significantly increased the prize pool as part of the updated Tier 1 ecosystem. Teams will compete for their share of a whopping $2 million, a major increase from last year’s pool of $250,000. Here’s the prize pool split for MSI 2025.
| Place | Prize Money |
| 1st | $500,000 |
| 2nd | $300,000 |
| 3rd | $240,000 |
| 4th | $200,000 |
| 5th/6th | $160,000 |
| 7th/8th | $130,000 |
| 9th | $100,000 |
| 10th | $80,000 |
| Total | $2,000,000 |
The winner also gets the first of 17 slots at LoL Worlds 2025, and the runner-up also earns an additional slot.
How To Watch MSI 2025
Fans can watch all of MSI 2025 live on Thunderpick via our dedicated LoL section. Browse all the available matches on our site, select one you want to watch, and click the camera icon. An embedded live stream will automatically appear so you don’t miss a second, with our bet slip to the right-hand side if you want to place in-play wagers.
You can also catch the event live via the official Riot Games Twitch and LoL Esports YouTube channels.
Teams Competing In MSI 2025
The top two teams from each of the five LoL esports regions compete at MSI 2025. The 1st-place teams from each region are placed directly into the Bracket Stage, alongside the 2nd seed of the winning region from the First Stand, which this year is LCK, thanks to Hanwha Life winning the inaugural event.
Bracket Stage Teams:
- Gen.G Esports (LCK)
- T1 (LCK)
- CTBC Flying Oyster (LCP)
- KOI (LEC)
- Anyone’s Legend (LPL)
- FlyQuest (LTA North)
Play-In Stage Teams:
- Bilibili Gaming (LPL)
- G2 Esports (LEC)
- GAM Esports (LCP)
- FURIA (LTA South)
This year, the number of teams competing at MSI is down to ten (from 12) following the merger of the LCS, CBLOL, and LLA into the LTA.
Our Predictions For MSI 2025
To make our MSI 2025 predictions, we performed diligent research, considering past performances, current player/team form, Split 2 regional events results, and matchup histories on LAN. For the sake of posterity, we only chose teams that start in the Bracket Stage because that placement translates to a guaranteed top-eight finish.
Important: These predictions reflect the perceived strength of teams based on historical trends and the latest available odds. This analysis should not be interpreted as betting advice. Past performance does not guarantee future outcomes. Always gamble responsibly.
Gen.G Esports
Since losing in a dramatic best-of-five final at the LCK Cup back in February, Gen.G Esports has been unstoppable. The squad boasts a mind-blowing 18-0 record in Split 1, and pulled off an incredible 3-2 reverse-sweep against Hanwha Life at the LCK 2025 Road to MSI event.
Gen.G Esports is on fire, with midlaner Chovy picking up 11 MVPs thus far, claiming win after win on Summoner’s Rift. As the on-form defending champions, they are the clear favorites to win it all.
Gen.G Esports roster:
- Kim “Kiin” Ki-in (Top)
- Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon (Mid)
- Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu (Jungle)
- Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk (Bot)
- Joo “Duro” Min-kyu (Support)
- Kim “KIM” Jeong-soo (Coach)
T1
If one team can beat Gen.G Esports, it has to be T1. The legendary squad has proven time and time again that they thrive under the pressure of a roaring crowd. Boasting the GOAT of LoL, the “unkillable demon king,” Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok in the midlane, and the stalwart botlaner Gumayusi in unstoppable form, T1 might have what it takes to win.
When it counts the most, T1 always seems to find another gear. After all, they are the LoL Worlds 2023 and 2024 back-to-back champions, the EWC 2024 winners, and one of our top two picks to win MSI 2025.
T1 roster:
- Choi “Doran” Hyeon-jun (Top)
- Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok (Mid)
- Mun “Oner” Hyeon-jun (Jungle)
- Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyung (Bot)
- Sin “Smash” Guem-jae (Bot)
- Ryu “Keria” Min-seok (Support)
- Kim “KkOma” Jeong-gyun (Coach)
FlyQuest
Wouldn’t it be awesome if some North American players lifted the MSI trophy in front of their home crowd in Vancouver? Well, we could see it happening for FlyQuest. The team has two NA players, Busio and Massu, but they’re also playing lights out of late. They won the first-ever LTA North 2025 Split 2, beating Cloud9 3-2 in dramatic fashion to qualify for MSI and the EWC.
Consider FlyQuest scoring a podium finish as our bold prediction. After all, this team has shown they can go deep at the most significant cross-regional events, placing 5th-8th at LoL Worlds 2024.
FlyQuest roster:
- Gabriël “Bwipo” Rau (Top)
- Ibrahim “GaKGoS” Bulut (Top)
- Song “Quad” Soo-hyung (Mid)
- Kacper “Inspired” Słoma (Jungle)
- Fahad “Massu” Abdulmalek (Bot)
- Alan “Busio” Cwalina (Support)
- Erlend “Nukeduck” Våtevik (Coach)
CTBC Flying Oyster
Taiwanese squad CTBC Flying Oyster has shown consistent form at the LCP, winning the Season Kickoff event, placing third at the First Stand tournament, and winning the Mid-Season event.
CTBC Flying Oyster has barreled through their regional competition with the utmost vigor, showcasing solid plays, teamwork, and tactics. That’s why the squad has what it takes to go one step further, claiming a top-four finish at MSI.
CTBC Flying Oyster roster:
- Hsu “Rest” Shih-chieh (Top)
- Shen “Driver” Tsung-hua (Top)
- Tsai “hongQ” Ming-hong (Mid)
- Yu “JunJia” Chun-chia (Jungle)
- Chiu “Doggo” Tzu-chuan (Bot)
- Ling “Kaiwing” Kai-wing (Support)
- Wong “Chawy” Xing Lei (Coach)
Who’s Your Pick For MSI 2025?
Will Gen.G Esports defend their title to become back-to-back MSI champions? Will the legendary Faker become a three-time champion with T1, or will another squad emerge victorious? We can’t wait to find out, so we’ll be watching every single match to see if our predictions ring true.
For more ways to enjoy this year’s MSI, we recommend tuning in here at Thunderpick. Simply visit our LoL esports betting page to live stream the event and place wagers with your favorite cryptocurrency. Good luck!
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