The KeSPA Cup 2025 is set to break new ground with the inclusion of two North American LCS teams, Team Liquid and Cloud9, who will participate in this off-season Korean League of Legends tournament for the first time. Organized by Korea’s esports governing body, the event promises an exciting lineup and heightened competition, running from December 6th to December 14th.
The 2025 KeSPA Cup’s Revamped Format
The tournament will showcase a total of 14 teams, including all 10 teams from the LCK and two all-star teams from Japan and Vietnam. Competing for a prize pool of 100 million KRW (~£51,900), the teams will face off in a newly structured format. The teams are divided into three groups, playing single-game round-robin matches, with the top performers advancing to further stages. The Group and Breakout stages will take place online from December 6th to December 9th, with the Knockout stage transitioning to an offline format at the Sangam Forest Colosseum from December 11th to December 14th.
Team Liquid and Cloud9 To Test Out New Rosters
Both Team Liquid and Cloud9 are entering the tournament with rosters still under transformation for the upcoming 2026 season. Notable changes include the departure of Korean mid laner Lee ‘Loki’ Sang-min from Cloud9 and Team Liquid parting ways with Eain ‘APA’ Stearns and Jeong ‘Impact’ Eon-young. During this transition, the teams might feature altered lineups as the event coincides with the free agency transfer period. The participation of Team Liquid and Cloud9 adds an international flair to the KeSPA Cup, providing fans with thrilling early looks at their evolving rosters.
Cloud9’s General Manager, David Han, expressed his enthusiasm for participating in the tournament, sharing, “Last year, I was watching the KeSPA Cup and thought, ‘wow, it would be so cool if we could attend and give our fans something to watch during the offseason.'” Both teams have successfully navigated logistical challenges to secure their spots, promising an exciting showdown in Korea.