First Stand 2025 Semifinals: Preview and Predictions

After a chaotic and widely entertaining Group Stage which included a three-way tie for last place, First Stand 2025 is now heading towards the Playoffs, where the four teams that qualified will compete to lift the first international trophy of the year.

First stop: Semifinals. On Saturday, March 15th, the tournament's Semifinals will deliver two thrilling matches to decide who our First Stand 2025 Grand Finalists will be. Can Karmine Corp continue their magical surge at First Stand? Are Hanwha Life Esports simply too good for the competition? Let's take a look at what we can expect from the first set of matches coming our way during these playoffs.

CTBC Flying Oyster vs Karmine Corp [Saturday, March 15th - 5 am CET]

It was only a few days ago that CTBC Flying Oyster (CFO) dealt Karmine Corp (KC) a rough and unexpected blow by conquering the LEC Champions during the Group Stage.

Though KC looked poised for greatness after sweeping G2 Esports during the LEC Finals, the team's run through the first few days of First Stand 2025 was a wake up call. Luckily for KC, their loss to CFO meant a turning point for the squad, and the team managed to turn things around just in the nick of time.

To many people's surprise, CFO have looked like the second strongest team at First Stand. Their second place finish aside, the team have looked methodical and aggressive in their approach to the game, losing only a single series throughout the Group Stage.

If Karmine Corp were ever going to live up to their potential, the time is now. (Credit: Christina Oh/Riot Games)

Flipping the script

If KC want any chance of making it to the Finals, the team will need to reassess CFO's strengths and weakness before measuring up to the LCP Champions for the second time in mere days.

During their last encounter, Yike had an uncharacteristically horrid series for KC, often getting caught out of position or simply being out of sync with the rest of his team. If Yike and Vladi can find a way to work in tandem to hold down the rising star that is HongQ in the CFO mid lane, then this might just give Canna and Caliste room to let their mechanics do the talking in the early-to-mid-game skirmishes.

CFO have looked fantastic at the tournament so far, that much is true. And yet, Karmine Corp showed enough during their LEC Winter Playoffs run to expect the squad to be able to beat CFO on a good day. Now, it all comes down to keeping those stage nerves in check.

Prediction: Karmine Corp will figure their opponents out over the course of an extended series, coming away with the 3-2 victory in the end.

Despite CTBC Flying Oyster's dominance at First Stand 2025, 67% of the Strafe fan votes still believe Karmine Corp will come away with the win in the end.

Hanwha Life Esports vs Top Esports [Saturday, March 15th - 10 am CET]

There is little to be said about Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) that hasn't been said already. The team boasts one of the most stacked rosters in the game when it comes to sheer amounts of talent.

This squad was able to prove their worth by winning five consecutive with a 3-2 scoreline at the LCK Cup Playoffs to win what is perhaps the most competitive league on the planet. Now, they're proving their strength again at First Stand 2025, where HLE have won all of their Group Stage series against other champions from around the globe to finish atop of the standings.

On the other side of the matchup we have a Top Esports (TES) squad that has failed to live up to the standards of its region at First Stand so far. Despite winning the LPL Split 1 over teams like the Worlds 2024 finalists of BLG, TES managed to win only a single series during the Group Stage, qualifying for the playoffs as the last placed team.

Hanwha Life dominated Top Esports when the two teams met in the Group Stage of First Stand 2025. (Credit: Christina Oh/Riot Games)

There is no running from Hanwha Life

Hanwha Life simply never looked in any real danger during the course of the Group Stage, and their Semifinal matchup against Top Esports should be no different. The LCK Cup Champions have far better laners, particularly in the top and mid lane, where Zeus and Zeka make outclassing the opposition on the international stage look like just another day at the office.

Meanwhile, over in the support role, TES' Crisp will have a hell of a time trying to keep up with Peanut and Delight's precise map movement and playmaking capabilities. Current form in mind, it's tough seeing a scenario in which TES can take down HLE across a Bo5 series.

Prediction: Hanwha Life Esports will continue to dominate, coming away with the 3-0 victory. If HLE sit comfortably in the lead, though, expect the team to do a bit of showboating before they close the series out.

An overwhelming 95% of the Strafe fan votes have chosen Hanwha Life Esports to win the match, further showcasing the team's superiority in this Semifinal bout.

Where to watch

The closing stages of First Stand 2025 will soon be underway, and you won't want to miss any of the action. To catch the Semifinals live, tune in to the official Twitch and YouTube for First Stand, starting this Saturday, March 15th, at 5 am CET.

Follow Strafe Esports for all the latest League news and our X account for the latest content and coverages. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Featured image credit: Moon Suwon/Riot Games

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