MSI 2026 Match Review – T1 Versus Team Liquid: TL Can Not Break the T1 Brick Wall

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By:Devin Morris
The MSI 2026 Logo

Team Liquid Alienware defeated Karmine Corp to earn a rematch against T1. The winner of the series would advance to the MSI Bracket Stage to play against Bilibili Gaming. Once again, TL played T1 close, but could never find the angles to win the games. The series was bloody, with neither team willing to give up space. Ultimately, T1 picked up the 3-0 victory and advances to the Bracket Stage.

MSI 2026: Game One Review

T1 beating TL at MSI to advance to the Bracket Stage
Image of T1 beating TL at MSI, courtesy of LoL Esports

Draft

T1

  • Ambessa
  • Xin Zhao
  • Taliyah
  • Ezreal
  • Bard

Team Liquid Alienware

  • Gnar
  • Jarvan IV
  • Ryze
  • Kai’Sa
  • Rell

Early Dive from T1

Oner arrives in the bot lane to dive CoreJJ. Quid shows up in time to trade a kill back. Doran solo kills Morgan when he reaches level six. Morgan dies again as four members from T1 invade TL’s top side.

T1 Outmaneuvers on the Map

T1 never lets TL have the lanes that they want. Every time they try to match T1, they swap again. T1 also cancels TL bases. TL earns kills to keep the game from snowballing out of control. The gold lead remains around 1.5k gold for T1 for quite some time.

Mistake From Josedeodo

Josedeodo tries to outsmart Keria with the Rift Herald crash. However, he misses the tower and dies. CoreJJ can not escape either. TL thinks they have caught Faker around the Baron. He escapes for a brief moment, and T1 win the fight with four kills to one. On the reset, T1 forces the Baron. TL tries to contest, but they lose the 50/50, and Josedeodo and CoreJJ die. T1 uses the Baron to push for the end.

Player Ratings

T1

  • Doran – 8
  • Oner – 7
  • Faker – 7
  • Peyz – 7
  • Keria – 7

Team Liquid Alienware

  • Morgan – 3
  • Josedeodo – 4
  • Quid – 7
  • Yeon – 6
  • CoreJJ – 5

MSI 2026: Game Two Review

Draft

Team Liquid Alienware – Blue Side

  • Rumble
  • Nocturne
  • Sylas
  • Varus
  • Alistar

T1 – First Pick

  • Jayce
  • Lee Sin
  • Lissandra
  • Lucian
  • Milio

Early Game Struggles

Faker kills Quid under tower for the First Blood. Oner joins his bot lane for a dive that nets two kills. Oner resets after dying and helps Faker kill Quid again. TL fight back on the Drake. Josedeodo wins the Smite battle, and they earn three kills.

Fighting to the Death

T1 and TL fight over a Scuttle Crab in a four versus four. Yeon is the only surviving member. The action continues across the map, with teams earning kills and the gold stays even. A fight breaks out in T1’s Blue Side Jungle. TL wins with three kills to two.

CoreJJ’s Combo Finds 4

CoreJJ finds the four-player engagement on T1 to win the fourth Drake fight. They secure the objective and move over to the Baron. Doran’s teleport to earn two kills saves the mid lane fight for T1. Oner steals the Drake to deny TL’s Mountain Soul, but TL still wins the fight.

Fights on a Knife’s Edge

T1 pulls TL to the Baron without TL having ultimates. Three T1 members die, but TL can not kill Peyz or Doran. Doran lands two Shock Blasts for two exit kills, and T1 gets the Baron. CoreJJ sees his Unbreakable Will burnt on the mid wave. That allows T1 to take the Baron and arrive in time for the Mountain Soul. Peyz lives the fight and is the clutch member to end Game Two.

Player Ratings

T1

  • Doran – 8
  • Oner – 7
  • Faker – 5
  • Peyz – 8
  • Keria – 7

Team Liquid Alienware

  • Morgan – 5
  • Josedeodo – 6
  • Quid – 8
  • Yeon – 8
  • CoreJJ – 7

Player of the Game – Doran

MSI 2026: Game Three Review

Draft

Team Liquid Alienware – Blue Side

  • Renekton
  • Naafiri
  • Galio
  • Xayah
  • Rakan

T1 – First Pick

  • Zaahen
  • Vi
  • Cassiopeia
  • Zeri
  • Lulu

Oner Perfectly Timed Gank

CoreJJ goes in with a Flash engagement, but Peyz and Keria dodge it. Oner was in the area to pick up the First Blood kill. The topside of both teams fight around the Grubs. Oner dies, while Doran picks up two kills.

TL Fails the Desperation Dive

After the second Drake, TL overstays in the bot lane. Oner, Peyz, and Keria dodge everything to live long enough for Faker to arrive. Three kills go to Peyz and one for Faker. Morgan lives the 2v1 and earns two kills on Oner and Faker to bring back some hope. Oner dies after the Rift Herald take and T1 lose their Drake stacking.

Another Desperate Play Fails

With Peyz alone in the mid lane, TL pulls the trigger. Peyz survives, and the rest of T1 arrive to kill TL’s bot lane. T1 draws TL to the Baron. Peyz dodges the engagement, and T1 turn to kill. Peyz earns a pentakill, and the series ends.

Player Ratings

T1

  • Doran – 7
  • Oner – 8
  • Faker – 6
  • Peyz – 8
  • Keria – 8

Team Liquid Alienware

  • Morgan – 6
  • Josedeodo – 5
  • Quid – 5
  • Yeon – 4
  • CoreJJ – 4

Player of the Game – Peyz

MSI 2026: Series Ratings

Pety with the most career pentakills that get got against TL at MSI
Image of Peyz’ Career Pentakills, courtesy of LoL Esports

T1

Doran – 7.7 (Total Apex Player of the Series)

Doran took a massive step up in the series. It all started with the solo kill on Morgan. He was the point of difference alongside Peyz in game two. His Zaahen was also solid, living on the weak side and helping T1 win a skirmish.

Oner – 7.3

Oner was the secret carry in this series. He rarely had the flashy plays, but was positioned where he was needed. He covered Faker in game three to ensure he did not die without Flash.

Faker – 6.0

Faker had a weak overall performance this series. Despite the solo kill on Quid in game two, he died numerous times in bad positions.

Peyz – 7.7

Peyz plays on the edge in every fight. He dares teams to challenge him. TL matched him, but he almost always found the outplay. He ended the series with another pentakill.

Keria – 7.3

Keria was mostly on enchanter duty during the series. As a result, his impact was more on keeping Peyz alive in fights.

Team Liquid Alienware

Morgan – 4.7

After a strong showing in the first three series, Morgan fell off today. He lost out to Doran in lane, and had a low teamfight impact.

Josedeodo – 5.0

Josedeodo was kept quiet in the series after he was explosive against Karmine Corp. Oner got the better of him again in the Smite battles.

Quid – 6.7

Quid was the best player on TL today. He kept them relevant in game one with his Ryze roams. He also recovered well on Sylas after dying solo to Faker.

Yeon – 6.0

Yeon stepped up in the series. His Varus performance was exceptional. He delivered in teamfights and kept up with Peyz.

CoreJJ – 5.3

As with Josedeodo, CoreJJ was not afforded the same impact as the Karmine Corp series. He was impactful in game two, allowing TL to find leads. However, he was not consistent enough.

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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