Unlike the two previous years, the EMEA Masters Summer final will not be held at the same time as the LEC finals. This time, the Paris Games Week will host the event on 2 November, causing many concerns.
While the event first made its on-stage debut in Montpellier during the 2023 Season Finals, the EMEA Masters are set to return to France in 2025 — but under very different circumstances. The 2023 edition was a huge success, drawing a sold-out crowd of nearly 12,000 fans as Karmine Corp claimed their fourth title. However, the follow-up in Munich failed to generate the same excitement, with BDS Academy lifting the trophy in front of a near-empty arena. The LEC has shifted gears this year, choosing to host the league’s final three matches in Madrid — with a Worlds spot on the line in the very first BO5.
As a result, the EMEA Masters will now have its own separate event, held during Paris Games Week, France’s annual gaming convention. But for many fans, the concern lies not just in the scaled-down venue or reduced visibility for Tier 2, it’s the timing that’s most troubling. The EMEA Masters final is scheduled for November 2, the same day as the second Worlds semifinal. In past years, this overlap was carefully avoided, with the Tier 2 calendar aligned to ensure its final wrapped up two days before the LEC’s, preserving maximum attention for both events.
We’ve seen your feedback and want to clarify a few things. There will be no overlap with Worlds.
The EMEA Masters Final will take place after the matches. After carefully considering the scheduling constraints, this was the best compromise to offer a meaningful experience to the… https://t.co/aLdRnTn77p
— EMEA Masters (@EMEAmasters) July 30, 2025
Los Ratones at a Crossroads
Concerns are mounting, especially among the massive Los Ratones fanbase. Team founder and head coach Marc “Caedrel” Lamont may be forced to choose between covering Worlds and defending the two EMEA Masters titles the Rats claimed earlier this year. The situation escalated to the point where team support Martin “Rekkles” Larsson addressed the issue directly in Caedrel’s stream chat, saying: “Just skip EUM no? And go Korea instead. I am serious”, hinting at a potential bootcamp in the birthplace of competitive League. Caedrel would’ve replied that it might be the way to go. It’s worth noting that, under current rules, an unapproved forfeit could result in both a fine and a four-year suspension from the league.
LR envisage de ne pas participer aux EMEA Masters
Rekkles propose de skip les EUM et partir en Corée car ceux-ci se déroulent pendant la demi-finale des Worlds 2025
Caedrel répond que c'est peut-être la direction à prendre pic.twitter.com/9vlpyxOTDi— Bruxelles (@itsBruxelles) July 30, 2025
For now, there’s little cause for alarm — the official tournament schedule has yet to be released. The real concern will emerge if the rest of EMEA Masters overlaps directly with Worlds. That said, it’s also possible that the bulk of EM will conclude way earlier, with only the final clashing with the biggest esports event of the year. But that opens up a different kind of issue: players might have to prepare on an totally different patch from the one used during most of the competition. Another scheduling headache, courtesy of Riot Games.
