For years, minor leagues have struggled to make their name known to the world as only a select few were able to compete for international glory. This year, things have changed: the LCP is ready to deal some serious damage at Worlds. With the merger of the minor regions and three competitive representatives, the LCP is stronger than ever

Worlds 2025: LCP Teams Preview – The Minor League Days are Over…

PSG Talon – They are Back!

Whenever we think of minor leagues, PSG Talon was probably one of the first names that came to mind. Having represented the PCS for years, PSG are back on the Worlds stage this year, led by the jungle veteran Karsa and the returning Maple, who came out of retirement mid-way through the split.

It’s kind of crazy to think that PSG was in such a struggling position for the majority of the season. As a team with experienced players like Betty and Woody, they were barely in the top half of the standings and even went 0-8 in the first part of the third split. Nonetheless, their resilience proved to be the key as the team fought its way back to a Worlds slot and showed why PSG is still worthy of the big stage.

The team is heavily reliant on the jungle-mid duo to make things happen on the map as Azhi continues to be the weakside player for the squad. If PSG is able to stick to their comfortable playstyle and find suitable team compositions that fit the meta, they could be on a good Swiss stage. Realistically speaking, however, their chances of getting into the top 8 are marginal, and considering how competitive the teams have looked this year, they could be one of the first squads to be eliminated.

Team Secret Whales – Vietnam’s best hope

TSW is the proof that League of Legends is bringing the new generation of players to the competitive scene. The Vietnamese team defied all expectations, taking down GAM and PSG through the lower bracket to become the #2 seed for the region.

Just like any Vietnamese squad, the team is characterized by a hyper-aggressive playstyle, which heavily relies on mechanical skills and early snowballing. While it may be effective against squads that share a similar playstyle, it will be much tougher to pull off against the best players in the world. Regardless, it will be invaluable experience for youngsters like Hizto and Dire. They are definitely not expected to be in the top eight, and if anything else, any win would probably be a major success for the youngest squad in the whole tournament.

CTBC Flying Oyster – The big shot at LCP’s best result

CFO has been the highlight reel of the LCP this season. Having represented the region at all international tournaments of the calendar and even getting to a five-game series against T1 is already more than anything most would’ve expected from the newly-formed region. Yet, it feels like CFO has more to show, based not only on their domestic dominance but also on the talents the team has.

Among them, the new baby star HongQ continues to be the talk of the moment. A mechanically gifted player who doesn’t back down from the challenges, even against the very best. Paired with a seasoned player like Junjia, a solid carry like Doggo, and a flexible top lane duo in Driver and Rest, CFO has all the needed tools to fight for a spot at the Knockout stage.

Coming in as the first seed, they should technically get a relatively easy matchup in the Round 1 Swiss stage: building momentum with a first win would likely decide the CFO’s run at Worlds. And if they are able to keep the same level shown at MSI, they could single-handedly carry the LCP to new heights.

What are the expectations for the LCP at Worlds 2025?

While no one expects the LCP to lift the Summoner’s Cup, none of these teams can be considered an “easy matchup”, especially for the West, which was previously knocked out by CFO at MSI. CFO reminds us of the Flash Wolves days, when the team made it to a top-eight finish in 2015. That result would be ideal, but anything close to that would still prove that the LCP is competitive and capable of shaping Worlds on its own terms.