Hanwha Life Esports and CBTC Flying Oysters dominate First Stand Group Stage, Liquid eliminated

Hanwha Life Esports go undefeated in First Stand’s Group Stage, while Team Liquid are eliminated. 

The inaugural League of Legends (LoL) First Stand has been a whirlwind of action, with five regional powerhouses clashing in high-stakes battles. Now, after five intense days on the Rift, only four teams remain ready to fight for a shot at the championship. With dominant performances, shocking upsets, and a heartbreaking elimination, the stage is set for an electrifying Knockout Stage.

Group Stage Standings

1st – Hanwha Life Esports (4-0)

The LoL Champions Korea (LCK) representatives, Hanwha Life Esports (HLE), set the pace with a dominant Group Stage performance, winning all four of their matches. They opened with a clean sweep against LoL Pro League's (LPL) Top Esports before dispatching CBTC Flying Oysters (CFO) 2-0 on Day 3. LoL European Championship (LEC) representatives Karmine Corp fell next on Day 4, and despite dropping a game to Liquid on the final day, HLE closed out the series 2-1, securing the top seed.

2nd – CTBC Flying Oyster (3-1)

LoL Championship Pacific (LCP) champions CFO secured second place with an impressive 3-1 record. Their only loss came at the hands of HLE in a 2-0 sweep, but they took convincing wins over Karmine Corp, LoL Championship of the Americas' (LTA) Team Liquid, and Top Esports.

Tied 3rd – Top Esports, Karmine Corp (1-3)

Top Esports endured a rough Group Stage, suffering consecutive 2-0 losses to HLE, CFO, and Karmine Corp. Their only victory came against Team Liquid in a tight 2-1 series. Meanwhile, Karmine Corp struggled early, losing 1-2 to Liquid on the opening day and falling to CFO in a sweep. However, they secured a crucial 2-0 win over Top Esports before ending their run with a 1-2 defeat to HLE.

5th – Team Liquid (1-3) – Eliminated

Despite a strong start with a 2-1 victory over Karmine Corp, Liquid faltered in the following matches. They suffered back-to-back sweeps against Top Esports and CFO before falling 2-1 to HLE. While Liquid, Top Esports, and Karmine Corp all finished with 1-3 records, Liquid’s lower Total Game Win Percentage (40%) placed them at the bottom, sealing their elimination. Top Esports (50%) edged them out to advance.

Knockout Stage matchups

The semifinals kick off on Saturday, 15 March, with the following matchups:

• Hanwha Life Esports vs. Top Esports
• CBTC Flying Oysters vs. Karmine Corp

The winners will advance to the Grand Final, where the first-ever First Stand champion will be crowned. With high-stakes matches ahead, only the best will remain standing. Meanwhile, Team Liquid are going home in 5th place, taking home US $130,000 in consolation.