THE FINALS Korea National League Circuit 2 Launches July 2025 with $5,000 Prize Pool
Korean esports scene heats up as Nexon announces second tournament circuit leading to DreamHack Stockholm Global Major
Nexon has announced the second circuit of THE FINALS Korea National League, set to begin July 12, 2025. The month-long tournament features eight elite teams competing for 7 million Korean won (approximately $5,100 USD) in prize money.
Circuit 2 follows a weekly online format culminating in an offline final on August 16. The eight qualifying teams are:
- Sparkle Esports (Circuit 1 champions)
- Honey Badger (벌꿀오소리)
- OTCS
- TFD
- BPM
- Cardol Garden (카돌가든)
- LUNA_KR
- ÖRF
The tournament uses THE FINALS' signature "Cashout Final Round" format with 3v3 teams competing in best-of-seven series. Prize distribution includes 4 million won for first place, 2 million won for second, and 1 million won for third.
Circuit 2 serves as qualification for THE FINALS' inaugural Global Major 2025 at DreamHack Stockholm, November 28-29. The event features a $100,000 prize pool with 16 teams worldwide competing for the first world championship title.
Korean representation will be determined through a playoff between Circuit 1 winner Sparkle Esports and the Circuit 2 champion on August 24. Teams also accumulate Circuit Points throughout the year for the Korea National League Grand Final in December.
THE FINALS is a free-to-play first-person shooter developed by Embark Studios and published by Nexon, featuring team-based matches on destructible environments. The game launched worldwide on December 7, 2023, and attracted over 10 million players within two weeks.
The game has exceeded Nexon's internal projections and helped boost North American and European revenue by 78 percent, establishing it as one of the publisher's major franchise pillars alongside MapleStory and Dungeon & Fighter.
Matches will stream live on THE FINALS' official YouTube channel, Chzzk, and SOOP platforms. Viewers can earn Naver Pay points for watching live broadcasts, while Chzzk users creating highlight clips receive exclusive merchandise including eco-bags and patches.
DreamHack Stockholm Global Major qualifiers begin in September across North America, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific regions. DreamHack Stockholm 2024 attracted over 52,000 visitors from 59 countries, making it an ideal venue for THE FINALS' first major international tournament.
The Korea National League represents THE FINALS' commitment to developing regional esports ecosystems while providing pathways to global competition. With the game's emphasis on environmental destruction and tactical innovation, Korean teams are positioned to showcase unique strategies on the international stage.