The First Stand came to an end this Sunday, with Hanwha Life Esports claiming the expected victory. Riot Games' new international competition has now concluded, marking the time to reflect on its key takeaways—the real sporting stakes of the tournament, its impact on the international calendar, the added value of the Fearless Draft, and the shifting balance of power between regions.

An entertaining international event despite average viewership

As the first international tournament to feature the Fearless Draft format, it brought a fresh strategic dimension to the game. After just 13 games of First Stand, it was already evident that 62 different champions had been played—more than the 61 champions picked throughout the entire Winter Split in the LEC. By the end of the tournament, that number had risen to 82 champions played over the competition week. For comparison, the 2024 MSI saw 86 unique champions played in 78 games while First Stand only had 35 games played.

The conclusion, therefore, is that Fearless Draft does not necessarily lead to a higher total number of champions being played but rather ensures a higher frequency of appearances for champions that were previously considered more "off-meta." Top of mind, we can think about Choi "Zeus" Woo-je's Quinn against Team Liquid, Kim "Zeka" Geon-woo's Zed against CFO, the three Vladimir picks throughout the tournament, the two Pyke as a support, or even the return of Gankplank on the toplane as an answer to Jax.

The community had also expressed a strong desire for more international matchups between teams. While this new competition is less prestigious and shorter in duration, it at least provides both the audience and the teams with more rare and unique clashes between clubs that would otherwise only face each other in such events. This was reflected in the viewership as well. Although slightly underwhelming—lacking the T1 effect that usually boosts numbers—the tournament still managed to break the one-million-viewer mark worldwide, thanks to Karmine Corp’s run to the finals, where they faced the titans of HLE in their first-ever BO5 against an LCK team.

This tournament delivered a historic first: the first-ever international final between Europe and Korea. Adding to the moment, KC’s victory in Game 1 marked another milestone—becoming the first European team to take a game off an Asian team in a final. Previously, the only EU vs. Asia finals saw Fnatic and G2 Esports suffer 3-0 defeats against Invictus Gaming and FunPlus Phoenix at Worlds 2018 and 2019.

Beyond the competitive and viewership aspects, Riot Games used this internationally broadcasted event to introduce its new HUD, refreshing the way the game is visually presented. More modern and flexible, it initially faced some resistance from the public in its early days but already seems to have been widely adopted. It will be rolled out globally in all regions starting from the second split of the year.

Long-term constraints for the teams

The First Stand event, while offering a fresh competitive experience, introduces several constraints and challenges that impact the teams involved. One of the most significant downsides is the global format change of the esports calendar that involves a three-split structure across all global leagues. This shift places a heavy burden on teams, who now have to adapt to a new competitive calendar, leading to increased fatigue and less preparation time between splits. For the champion teams, this change becomes even more taxing. They are required to participate in an intense, shortened calendar, leaving little time for rest and recovery, which can affect their overall performance and readiness for subsequent competitions. Although, indeed, the League of Legends circuit has always left a short time for the best teams to rest.

Moreover, the travel demands associated with the event are another considerable downside. Teams are sometimes required to travel vast distances, such as from their home regions here to South Korea, for short periods. These lengthy trips involve significant changes in time zones and routines, which can be disruptive to players and staff alike. The physical and mental strain of these rapid transitions adds another layer of complexity, making it harder for teams to perform at their best, especially when adjusting to the local time and environment on a tight schedule. If a team gets to be champions on all three splits, this means organizations should get their rosters to go through this whole process three times a year at least.

Additionally, the tournament's format, while innovative, also proves to be quite permissive, raising questions about its competitive integrity. For instance, teams like Karmine Corp and Top Esports advanced to the semifinals with only one win in the group stage, whereas Team Liquid, in a similar situation, was eliminated. This inconsistency in progression points to the potential flaws in the format, where some teams could benefit from favorable matchups or weak group stages, while others are prematurely knocked out despite similar performances.

Put respect on LCP, not on lane swap

In Karmine Corp’s case, their journey to the finals saw them face CFO, who was initially perceived as one of the weakest teams in the tournament—before surprising everyone by proving they were much stronger than anticipated. This dynamic undermines the perceived value of the tournament trophy, as the final matchup felt less like a true reflection of the best teams and more like a product of the unpredictable nature of the format.

We could also discuss the real impact of making significant structural changes to the game, such as the patch on the lane swap, which completely affects the level of play for teams—some of which became regional champions thanks to this game mechanic. This has a huge impact on the competition, which only lasts a week and leaves little time for practice, as matches are played every day.

Despite these limitations, the First Stand event does offer an attractive cash prize, with a total pool of $1 million, and $300,000 allocated to the first-place team. While this financial incentive is appealing and adds some excitement, it doesn’t fully mitigate the operational challenges faced by teams.