Karmine Corp falls with honors in the First Stand 2025 final
Thanks to its brilliant victory at the LEC Winter Split 2025, Karmine Corp secured its ticket for the First Stand, the first major international tournament of the year on League of Legends held in Seoul, South Korea, last week.
After an impressive run, the French team finally fell in the finals against Hanwha Life Esports (HLE), with a score of 3-1 in favor of the South Koreans.
A journey full of obstacles for Karmine Corp
The tournament was not easy for KC. After initial defeats against Team Liquid (1-2) and CTBC Flying Oyster (0-2), the team managed to bounce back by eliminating Top Esports (2-0), one of the best Chinese teams. This victory was followed by a close match against Hanwha Life Esports, where KC fell 1-2. Despite this defeat, Karmine Corp narrowly qualified and managed to take their revenge by beating CTBC Flying Oyster with a score of 3-2 during an intense BO5, thus securing a place in the finals.
A contested final but dominated by Hanwha Life Esports
In front of their home crowd, the Korean team confirmed their favorite status by beating Karmine Corp with a score of 3-1 and won the first international trophy of the season after a top-level final.
Despite the defeat, Karmine Corp's journey at the First Stand 2025 remains remarkable. For their first major international test, the French team proved they could compete with the world elite and reach the finals, a feat marking a new step in their rise.
For their part, Hanwha Life Esports leaves with the trophy and a check for $300,000, while also securing a second slot for the LCK directly qualified for the Main Event of MSI 2025.
