MSI 2026 Match Review – Karmine Corp Versus Team Liquid: The LEC Slumps to A Disappointing Loss

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By:Devin Morris
The MSI 2026 Logo

Karmine Corp and Team Liquid battled each other for the final spot in the MSI Play-Ins Bracket Stage. There were also bragging rights on the line for Europe and North America. Ultimately, the LCS second seed dominated the series from start to finish. While KC had glimpses in the series, it always felt like TL was winning every game. TL will rematch T1 for the final Bracket Stage spot.

MSI 2026: Game One Review

Team Liquid beat KC 3-0 at MSI
Image of TL beating KC at MSI 2026, courtesy of LoL Esports

Draft

Team Liquid Alienware – Blue Side

  • Gnar
  • Nocturne
  • Orianna
  • Tristana
  • Rell

Karmine Corp – Second Pick

  • Vayne
  • Wukong
  • Ryze
  • Ziggs
  • Camille

Busio Kicks Off the Action

Before the minions arrive, Busio ganks Morgan to chunk half his health. As a result, Caliste has to give up farm in the bot lane. Despite Morgan needing to teleport early, he earns the solo kill on Canna.

Caliste Solo Kills

After Yeon dies and loses his Summoner Spells in the top side, Caliste solo kills him. The kill leads to him securing the First Tower. Both teams overextend in the mid lane and trade two for one in favor of TL.

A Realm Warp Mishap

After forcing Baron with two TL members in the bot lane, KC leaves the objective. Yike takes a Realm Warp to death as CoreJJ finds the engagement angle. Busio dies around the fourth Drake, and KC has to give up the objective. TL moves towards the Baron and turns when KC arrives. The turn is good as TL picks up three more kills.

Chaos Around the Baron

TL returns the Baron, but it is an ill-advised play. Kyeahoo’s Realm Warp sets him and Busio up for a flank. They wipe Josedeodo and Yeon off the map. KC takes their turn on the Baron, but it is also a mistake. CoreJJ’s engage punishes the decision. When the dust settles, TL reset and take the Baron. They kill Caliste during the siege of the top tower and end the game.

Player Ratings

Karmine Corp

  • Canna – 3
  • Yike – 4
  • Kyeahoo – 4
  • Caliste – 3
  • Busio – 4

Team Liquid Alienware

  • Morgan – 6
  • Josedeodo – 8
  • Quid – 7
  • Yeon – 6
  • CoreJJ – 9

MSI 2026: Game Two Review

Draft

Karmine Corp – Blue Side

  • Rumble
  • Jarvan IV
  • Anivia
  • Ezreal
  • Seraphine

Team Liquid Alienware – Second Pick

  • Ornn
  • Lee Sin
  • Yasuo
  • Mel
  • Pantheon

Losing in River Early

Yike and Josedeodo fight for the Scuttle Crab in the top river. Quid has the first move to kill Yike. Quid dies in the ensuing play, but so does Canna. Caliste gets his own lead with a 2v2 kill on CoreJJ.

Mid-Game Trades

After killing Busio in the top river, Josedeodo and Morgan dive Canna. The KC top laner dies, but Busio lands the Encore to get a return kill. Josedeodo arrives bot lane to kill Kyeahoo, but KC trades the kill back on Quid. TL gets their Soul Point after two consecutive fights with kills traded.

TL Finally Opens the Game

TL gets their first dominant fight win in the topside. Josedeodo picks up four kills, and they have a 3k gold lead. Quid goes too far on the Soul fight, and KC punishes him. TL does not have the follow-up and has to let Morgan and the Drake die. The gold is even once more.

One Kill for Infernal Soul

KC pulls the trigger on Yeon and CoreJJ, but Yike goes too far. After TL resets, they take the Infernal Soul. The teams scrap over the mid lane twice as Yike ults onto Yeon. The first fight is a trade; the second is comfortably in TL’s favor. TL win one more fight in the mid lane, and the game ends.

Player Ratings

Karmine Corp

  • Canna – 4
  • Yike – 2
  • Kyeahoo – 5
  • Caliste – 4
  • Busio – 4

Team Liquid Alienware

  • Morgan – 8
  • Josedeodo – 9
  • Quid – 5
  • Yeon – 4
  • CoreJJ – 7

Player of the Game – Josedeodo

MSI 2026: Game Three Review

Draft

Team Liquid Alienware – Blue Side

  • Renekton
  • Olaf
  • Ahri
  • Senna
  • Nautilus

Karmine Corp – Second Pick

  • Sion
  • Qiyana
  • Taliyah
  • Varus
  • Alistar

Slow Early Game Explodes

KC pulls a dive on Yeon for First Blood on Canna. Quid arrives to kill Canna. At the same time, Josedeodo and Morgan kill the KC bottom lane.

The TL Snowball Starts Rolling

CoreJJ hooks Caliste on the mid wave at the Rift Herald spawn. Busio and Yike die alongside him as they try to protect their AD carry. TL use their advantage to take the Rift Herald. Yike kills Quid before the Soul fight. It buys them the space to secure the Drake, but they lose their bot lane in the ensuing fight.

Denying Chemtech Soul

TL denies KC’s Chemtech Soul with a mid lane teamfight win. KC starts to lose control of the game as TL gets their second Drake in a row. TL’s second attempt at the Baron results in them securing the objective and killing Yike. Busio and Canna die towards the end of TL’s Baron siege. TL plays it slow and eventually ends the series.

Player Ratings

Karmine Corp

  • Canna – 4
  • Yike – 6
  • Kyeahoo – 6
  • Caliste – 3
  • Busio – 3

Team Liquid Alienware

  • Morgan – 7
  • Josedeodo – 8
  • Quid – 7
  • Yeon – 7
  • CoreJJ – 7

Player of the Game – Josedeodo

MSI 2026: Series Ratings

Josedeodo's game two KDA against KC at MSI 2026
Image of Josededo’s KDA versus KC, courtesy of LoL Esports

Karmine Corp

Canna – 3.7

Canna had an uncharacteristically poor performance in the series. He had a significant lead in game one, but blew it when he Tumbled into Morgan. There was little he could do in the Sion game.

Yike – 4.0

Yike’s only redeeming game was on Qiyana. He made a massive blunder in game two that snowballed the game. He overreached on many engages as well as Jarvan IV.

Kyeahoo – 5.0

The most stable member of the team today. He was the main reason why KC stayed close in the final game.

Caliste – 3.3

Another disappointing performance from the young AD carry. When he falls behind, he struggles to have any impact. He often forces plays as if he is ahead and dies for it.

Busio – 3.7

Busio started well with the Camille roam in the first game. But from that point, he struggled to find his footing in the series.

Team Liquid Alienware

Morgan – 7.0

Morgan was the better of the two former LCK top laners. He had a couple of mistakes on Gnar and Renekton, but overall he was solid.

Josedeodo – 8.3 (Total Apex Player of the Series)

Another dominant series performance from the Argentine Jungler. He was everywhere in the series and had a knockout performance on Lee Sin.

Quid – 6.3

Quid had an okay performance considering the rest of his team. He did not have much to do throughout the series to alter the result.

Yeon – 5.7

We have yet to see the Yeon of old in this tournament. He is often a passenger in his team’s wins. The top side, along with CoreJJ, set him up for success.

CoreJJ – 7.7

CoreJJ was magnificent once more for TL. It was his Rell engages that blew open the first game for the LCS second seed.

More MSI Content

Below is all the previous MSI content on Total Apex. You can expect more MSI articles in the following weeks.

Devin Morris is a Gaming Writer and Esports Editor for Total Apex Media. Devin is a gaming fanatic from little old South Africa. Devin has had a passion for gaming and writing from a young age. Devin's early favorites were Age of Empires, FIFA and Need for Speed games. As Devin grew older he moved into more competitive gaming, focusing on Overwatch, League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics. Devin also sinks way too many hours into Destiny 2!

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