Here we go – the big one for the Americas. The LTA Championship 2025 runs September 13-28, and it’s the season closer that decides who heads to Worlds 2025. The six teams that made it here are:

• FlyQuest (North #1)
• 100 Thieves (North #2)
• Shopify Rebellion (North #3)
• Keyd Stars (South #1)
• RED Canids (South #2)
• paiN Gaming (South #3)

It’s all best-of-fives, double elimination. FlyQuest and Vivo Keyd Stars, as conference champs, are already waiting in the Upper Final and can’t finish lower than third – so they’ve technically punched their Worlds tickets already. On top of that, there’s a $205,000 prize pool, with $80k for the champ. Not bad for a two-week grind.

Let’s do a breakdown of the match-ups.

Lower Bracket Quarterfinal #1: 100 Thieves vs paiN Gaming

This is our opener on September 13. 100T are the clear favorite on paper – steadier early game, better late-game setups. paiN‘s best chance is turning this into chaos: scrappy fights, lane swaps, something to knock 100T off balance.

Prediction: I’m leaning 100 Thieves. They’ve got the stronger fundamentals and should handle the pressure, maybe 3-1. But if paiN’s bot lane shows up swinging, this could drag longer than expected.

Lower Bracket Quarterfinal #2: RED Canids vs Shopify Rebellion

Day two gives us RED Canids vs Shopify Rebellion on September 14. These squads are both streaky, but in different ways: RED like to gamble on early aggression, while Shopify rely on big pop-off games from their carries. If Shopify’s mid-jungle duo hits form, they’re nasty.

Prediction: I’ll give the edge to Shopify in a 3-2 scrap. RED will take games with sheer brawling, but I don’t see them closing a full series against Shopify’s better coordination.

Upper Bracket Final: FlyQuest vs Keyd Stars

Fast-forward a week to September 20 – FlyQuest vs Keyd Stars. This one’s already spicy because FlyQuest’s top laner Bwipo is suspended, with GaKGoS filling in. That could tip the balance if Keyd Stars attack top side. FlyQuest still feel like the more polished team overall, especially around objectives.

Prediction: FlyQuest in 3-2. Closer than it should be, but even with the sub, FLY’s map play is a notch above.

Wrapping It Up

Here’s how I see the bracket shaking out:

• 100T handle paiN in round one.
• Shopify edge out RED in a messy five-gamer.
• Losers of those QFs head home early.
• Upper Final: FlyQuest sneak past Keyd Stars despite the top-lane drama.
• Lower Semi: 100T vs Shopify – I’ll take 100T in another long one.
• Lower Final: Keyd Stars drop down, and I think they clean up 100T to lock their Worlds seed.
• Grand Final: FlyQuest vs Keyd Stars rematch. If FlyQuest adapt and GaKGoS finds his footing, they take it 3-1 and lift the trophy.

That’d leave FlyQuest, Keyd Stars, and 100T as the three Worlds reps.

The LTA Championship is the perfect storm – prize money, pride, and those last golden tickets to Worlds. FlyQuest and Keyd Stars already look set, but the real fun is watching which North squad claws out the final spot. If the early rounds deliver even half the chaos they promise, we’re in for a cracking finish to the 2025 season.