Updated on February 20, 9:48 p.m. (GMT+8): Updated schedule and results.
The LCK Cup 2025 playoffs are a crucial battleground for Korea’s top League of Legends teams.
The stakes are high: only one team rises victorious and earns the coveted spot to represent the region at First Stand 2025 — the first international LoL Esports event of the year.
Dplus KIA, Gen.G, and KT Rolster have already proven their mettle, securing the top three seeds and advancing directly to the initial stages of the LCK Cup 2025 playoffs.
Let’s take a look at the LCK Cup 2025 playoffs schedule, format, and where to watch the action unfold.
What is the LCK Cup 2025 playoffs?
The LCK Cup 2025 playoffs is the culminating tournament of the LCK Cup 2025, where teams fight for qualification for the First Stand 2025 tournament.
Format of the LCK Cup playoffs
In the LCK Cup 2025, only the top six out of the 10 franchised esports organizations qualify for the playoffs. The seeding for the playoffs depends on their placement in the group battle and play-ins.
The playoffs follow a double-elimination bracket format, beginning from round 2. The top two teams from the group battle, Dplus KIA and Gen.G, skip round 1 and directly enter round 2.
In round 1, KT Rolster, the third seed, faces the third seed of play-ins. The remaining teams, the first and second seeds of play-ins, face off against each other.
Round 2 sees Dplus KIA, the first seed, selecting their opponents from the winners of round 1. The winning teams from round 2 move to round 3, while the losing teams drop to the losers’ bracket.
The first match of round 3 determines the first finalist, while the losing team enters round 4 against the winner of the second match of round 3.
The winner of round 4 advances to the finals, where they compete against the winner of round 3 for the championship trophy.
The LCK Cup 2025 champion qualifies to represent the Korean region at First Stand 2025.
LCK Cup 2025 playoffs schedule and results
The playoffs takes place from February 12, 2025, to February 23, 2025.
Playoffs round 1
February 12, 2025 (Wednesday)
| TEAM | RESULTS | TEAM |
| KT Rolster | 0 — 3 | Nongshim Redforce |
February 13, 2025 (Thursday)
| TEAM | RESULTS | TEAM |
| T1 | 2 — 3 | Hanwha Life Esports |
Playoffs round 2
February 15, 2025 (Saturday)
| TEAM | RESULTS | TEAM |
| Dplus KIA | 3 — 1 | Nongshim Redforce |
February 16, 2025 (Sunday)
| TEAM | RESULTS | TEAM |
| Gen.G | 2 — 3 | Hanwha Life Esports |
Playoffs round 3
February 19, 2025 (Wednesday)
| TEAM | RESULTS | TEAM |
| Dplus KIA | 2 — 3 | Hanwha Life Esports |
Playoffs round 3
February 20, 2025 (Thursday)
| TEAM | RESULTS | TEAM |
| Nongshim Redforce | 2 — 3 | Gen.G |
Nongshim Redforce is eliminated.
Playoffs round 4
February 22, 2025 (Saturday)
| TEAM | SCHEDULE | TEAM |
| Dplus KIA | 2 p.m. GMT+8 | February 21, 10 p.m. PT | 7 a.m. CET | Gen.G |
Finals
February 23, 2025 (Sunday)
| TEAM | SCHEDULE | TEAM |
| Hanwha Life Esports | TBC | TBC |
Teams qualified for LCK Cup 2025 playoffs
| TEAMS QUALIFIED FOR LCK CUP 2025 PLAYOFFS | MATCH SCORE | BRACKET | QUALIFICATION PATH |
| Dplus KIA | 5 — 0 | Round 2 | Group Battle winner group 1st team |
| Gen.G | 3 — 2 | Round 2 | Group Battle winner group 2nd team |
| KT Rolster | 3 — 2 | Round 1 | Group Battle winner group 3rd team |
| TBC | TBC | Round 1 | Play-Ins Round 2 winner with higher seed |
| TBC | TBC | Round 1 | Play-Ins Round 2 winner with lower seed |
| TBC | TBC | Round 1 | Play-Ins final winner |
Where to watch the LCK Cup 2025 playoffs
Fans can watch the LCK Cup 2025 playoffs on the official LCK channels on Twitch and YouTube.
