Where is msi 2025

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Last updated: April 8, 2026

Quick Answer: MSI 2025 refers to the 2025 Mid-Season Invitational, an international League of Legends esports tournament scheduled for May 2025. As of October 2024, the exact host city and venue have not been officially announced by Riot Games, though it will likely follow the pattern of previous MSI events held in major global cities like Chengdu (2024) and London (2023).

Key Facts

MSI 2025 is scheduled for May 2025, typically lasting 2-3 weeks
The tournament features 12 teams from 11 global regions competing for a prize pool of $250,000+
Previous MSI events have drawn over 2 million peak concurrent viewers (2023)
MSI 2024 was held in Chengdu, China at the Chengdu Financial City Performing Arts Center
The tournament format includes Play-In and Bracket stages with best-of-five series

Overview

The Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) is an annual international League of Legends esports tournament organized by Riot Games, typically held each May. First established in 2015, MSI serves as a mid-year championship between the Spring and Summer splits of regional leagues, bringing together the top teams from around the world. The tournament has grown significantly since its inception, evolving from a small 6-team competition to a major 12-team event that draws millions of viewers globally.

MSI 2025 represents the 11th edition of this prestigious tournament, continuing its role as a crucial competitive bridge between regional seasons. Historically, MSI locations have rotated across continents, with recent editions hosted in London (2023), Busan (2022), Reykjavík (2021), and Shanghai (2016, 2019). The tournament not only crowns a mid-season champion but also provides valuable competitive experience and regional seeding advantages for the World Championship later in the year.

How It Works

The MSI tournament follows a structured format designed to test teams across multiple competitive phases.

Qualification System: Teams qualify through their regional Spring Split performances, with 12 slots allocated across 11 global regions. The League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) and League of Legends Pro League (LPL) typically receive 2 slots each, while other major regions like LEC and LCS receive 1 slot, plus additional slots for emerging regions.
Tournament Structure: MSI features a two-stage format beginning with a Play-In stage where 8 teams compete in double-elimination brackets. The top 4 teams from Play-In advance to the Bracket Stage, joining the 4 directly qualified teams. All elimination matches in the Bracket Stage are best-of-five series, ensuring high-stakes competition.
Competitive Format: The tournament typically spans 2-3 weeks with matches scheduled daily during the group stages. Teams compete in a combination of best-of-one and best-of-three matches during Play-In, transitioning exclusively to best-of-five matches in the knockout rounds. The 2024 format featured 44 total matches across the entire tournament.
Prize Distribution: The total prize pool for MSI 2024 was $250,000, with the champion receiving $75,000 (30% of the pool). Additional rewards include Championship Points that contribute to World Championship qualification and regional seeding advantages for the Summer Split.

Key Comparisons

Feature	MSI 2024 (Chengdu)	MSI 2023 (London)
Host City	Chengdu, China	London, United Kingdom
Venue Capacity	12,000 seats at Chengdu Financial City Performing Arts Center	12,500 seats at Copper Box Arena
Total Teams	12 teams from 11 regions	13 teams from 11 regions
Tournament Duration	May 1-19, 2024 (19 days)	May 2-21, 2023 (20 days)
Peak Viewership	1.8 million concurrent viewers (estimated)	2.2 million concurrent viewers
Champion Team	Gen.G (LCK)	JD Gaming (LPL)

Why It Matters

Competitive Significance: MSI serves as the first major international test for teams each season, providing crucial data on regional strengths and meta developments. The tournament results directly influence regional seeding for the World Championship, with the winning region earning an additional slot at Worlds. In 2023, the LPL's victory at MSI secured China a 4th slot at Worlds 2023.
Economic Impact: Host cities benefit significantly from MSI events, with tourism boosts and local economic stimulation. The 2023 London event generated an estimated $15-20 million in economic activity for the city, while creating hundreds of temporary jobs. Merchandise sales during MSI 2023 exceeded $2 million globally.
Esports Development: MSI provides vital exposure for emerging regions and helps grow League of Legends esports globally. The tournament's global broadcast reaches over 100 countries and 30+ languages, with viewership growing 15% annually since 2020. It also serves as a testing ground for new competitive formats and broadcast innovations.

Looking ahead to MSI 2025, the tournament continues to evolve as a cornerstone of the League of Legends esports calendar. With potential format adjustments and continued global expansion, MSI 2025 will likely build upon the success of previous editions while introducing new competitive elements. The selection of the host city will be particularly significant, as Riot Games continues to balance competitive integrity with global accessibility and fan engagement across different time zones and regions.