LCK Road to MSI 2025: Schedule, Format, Predictions, and More

After winning the first international tournament of the year at First Stand, the LCK will want to make sure it sends its best teams to MSI to continue its reign of terror. Now that Rounds 1-2 of the LCK 2025 Season have drawn to a close, the top six teams in the league will compete at 'Road to MSI', where only two teams will be able to secure their spots for both MSI 2025 and the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025.

Let's go over everything we can expect from the LCK's Road to MSI, as well as take a look at our predictions for the two teams that will head to MSI.

Teams and Format

The top six teams in the standings after the first half of the 2025 LCK Season will be eligible to compete at Road to MSI. These teams are: Gen.G, Hanwha Life Esports, T1, Nongshim RedForce, Dplus KIA and KT Rolster.

Credit: LCK

The format for the coming stage of the competition, meanwhile, will look as follows:

• The top two seeded teams will play a match in the Upper Bracket:
  • The winner qualifies to MSI 2025
  • The loser drops to the Lower Bracket
• The Lower Bracket will feature a gauntlet run, starting with a match between the bottom two seeded teams
• The last team standing at the Lower Bracket qualifies to MSI 2025
• All matches are Bo5
• Fearless Draft throughout

Schedule and Qualifying Matches

The LCK's Road to MSI kicks off on Saturday, June 7th, and will run until the final team claims its spot as MSI on Sunday, June 15th. Here's a breakdown of the schedule:

• Matches are played on the 7th, 8th, 13th, 14th and 15th of June
• Only one match per day
• Matches start at 10 am CET / 5 pm KST, except for the last two matches of the Lower Bracket, which start at 8 am CET / 3 pm KST

The match that will decide the first LCK representatives at MSI promises to be a clash of titans as Gen.G and Hanwha Life battle on June 13th to get to the international stage. The final qualifying match at Road to MSI will take place on June 15th when the loser of Gen.G vs Hanwha Life takes on the final team remaining in the Lower Bracket for a chance at the final ticket.

In a rematch of the LCK Cup 2025 Finals, Gen.G and Hanwha Life Esports will clash for the first ticket to MSI. (Credit: LCK/Riot Games)

Prediction: Who Makes It to MSI?

Hot off their historic undefeated season, Gen.G come into Road to MSI as overwhelming favorites to secure one of the two LCK tickets to MSI 2025. No team in the league has been able to stand up to this star-studded roster's clean and methodical style of play. After winning the tournament last year, Gen.G will be hungry to get to MSI 2025 for a chance to transform their stellar run of form into back-to-back trophies.

As for the final ticket to MSI... it wouldn't be an international tournament without T1, would it? Well, it just might have to be, as Hanwha Life Esports currently stand as the second strongest team in the LCK by a considerable margin. While the reigning Worlds Champions of T1 struggle with consistency and synergy issues, Hanwha Life have looked flashy and dangerous all season. After winning First Stand at the start of the year, Hanwha Life look poised to head to the international stage once more.

Where to Watch

To find out which teams will represent the region at MSI 2025, don't miss a second of the coming LCK action. Catch the Road to MSI games live on the official LCK channels on Twitch or YouTube starting Saturday, June 7th, at 5 pm CET.

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

Featured image credit: LCK/Riot Games

Read more:

LTA Championship 2025 Heads to Texas: Venue, Tickets, and More

Fnatic Fail to Qualify for MSI 2025 after Crushing Loss to Karmine Corp

Los Ratones Sweep the Finals to Become Back-to-Back NLC Champions