Asia Invitational Brings Mid-Tier LCK, LPL, and LCP Teams Together
A brand-new League of Legends tournament has just been announced, and it’s already creating buzz across the esports scene. The Asia Invitational, also called ASI, will debut this October, right before Worlds 2025 kicks off in China. What makes this competition unique is that it won’t feature the biggest names like Gen.G, Bilibili Gaming, or Hanwha Life Esports. Instead, it’s designed to spotlight mid-table teams from the top Asian leagues—LCK, LPL, and LCP—that fell just short of making Worlds.
The event is scheduled for October 6 through October 12, giving fans an exciting warm-up ahead of the World Championship, which starts just two days later on October 14. A total of eight teams will be invited: the 5th through 7th place finishers from Korea’s LCK and China’s LPL, plus the 4th and 5th place teams from the Pacific league, the LCP.
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Here’s how it’s going to play out. The tournament will begin with a group stage, spread over four days, where each group of four teams will battle it out in best-of-three matches. Group A will feature two LPL teams, one LCK team, and one LCP squad. Group B will flip that balance, including two Korean sides, one Chinese, and one Pacific team. The top two from each group will move forward into the playoff bracket. Once there, a double-elimination format will be used, still in best-of-threes, leading up to a best-of-five grand final.
As for who might show up, some likely names are already floating around. From Korea, BNK FearX and Nongshim RedForce are expected, along with the loser of the T1 vs. Dplus KIA series that decides a final Worlds spot. Over in China, EDward Gaming and Ninjas in Pyjamas are in the mix, depending on the outcome of their regional finals. From the Pacific side, GAM Esports and MGN Vikings Esports are lined up after both teams fell just short in their own league playoffs.
The prize pool for this new competition is nothing to overlook either. Roughly 1.5 million yuan, or about 178,000 euros, will be up for grabs, with the winners pocketing more than 70,000 euros. Hosting duties will be shared by major streaming platforms like Huya, Douyu, and Bilibili, although it’s important to note that the entire tournament is expected to be played online rather than on a live stage.
Now, while some might see this as a “secondary” event, the level of competition shouldn’t be underestimated. Mid-table teams from regions like Korea and China still feature world-class players—some of whom, like Faker or ShowMaker, could appear depending on their teams’ results. It’s being compared to football’s Europa League, a stage where strong teams outside the Champions League spotlight still get to shine.
In short, the Asia Invitational is giving us more high-level League of Legends right before Worlds, showcasing teams and players who aren’t ready to fade into the offseason just yet. For fans, that means even more thrilling international matchups to enjoy this October.
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