2025 KeSPA Cup

🎮 Tournament Format & Progression

1. The Preliminary Round

• Group Distribution: The 14 participating teams are divided into 3 groups.

• Match Rules: Teams compete in a fast-paced Single Round-Robin format, where every single match is a high-stakes Best-of-1 (Bo1) showdown.

• Progression & Elimination:

  • 1st Place: The top team from each group advances directly to the Finals.

  • 2nd Place: The runner-up from each group drops into the Last Chance Qualifier.

  • Remaining Teams: All other teams are immediately eliminated from the tournament.

2. The Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ)

• Format: The 2nd-place teams from the preliminary round face off in a final Single Round-Robin bracket.

• Match Rules: The stakes increase as the series format scales up to a Best-of-3 (Bo3).

• Progression: Only the top single team from this bracket survives to claim the final spot in the Finals.

3. The Finals

• Bracket Structure: A brutal Double Elimination bracket consisting of the 4 qualifying teams, ensuring a second chance for teams that drop a series.

• Match Rules:

  • Early Rounds: Standard matches are played as Best-of-3 (Bo3) series.

  • Championship Series: The intensity peaks for the Upper Bracket Final, Lower Bracket Final, and the Grand Final, which are all upgraded to full Best-of-5 (Bo5) series.