The first two teams have qualified for the Worlds 2026 Bracket Stage. Two LCK teams earned the spots. Dplus KIA and Gen.G Esports won their qualification series. Earlier in the day, the LPL had a reason to celebrate. Invictus Gaming and Top Esports beat Hanwha Life Esports and G2 Esports, respectively. Hope within the LPL is rising after a disastrous first day.
Worlds 2026: Hanwha Life Esports Versus Invictus Gaming
Draft and Player Ratings
Hanwha Life Esports
- Zeus – Olaf (7)
- Kanavi – Qiyana (3)
- Zeka – Lissandra (3)
- Gumayusi – Kalista (4)
- Delight – Renata Glasc (3)
Invictus Gaming
- TheShy – Kled (5)
- Wei – Nocturne (7)
- Rookie – Annie (8)
- JiaQi – Yunara (8 – Total Apex Player of the Game)
- Meiko – Lulu (6)
Summary
IG kicked off the game with early aggression. JiaQi and Meiko earned a 2v2 kill, while Wei invaded topside. The invade was shaky, but HLE picked up two kills. The teams traded sides. It became Zeus vs JiaQi; who could carry? Zeus kept killing JiaQi, but he was alone. The rest of HLE could not stand up to IG. By the time JiaQi died, his team had won. IG caught Zeus in the pivotal fight to end the game.
Worlds 2026: G2 Esports Versus Top Esports
G2 Esports
- BrokenBlade – Shen (5)
- SkewMond – Wukong (4)
- Caps – Akali (5)
- Hans Sama – Ezreal (4)
- Labrov – Karma (4)
Top Esports
- 369 – Ambessa (7)
- Tian – Nocturne (6)
- Creme – Orianna (7)
- JackeyLove – Varus (8)
- Zhuo – Nautilus (8 – Total Apex Player of the Game)
For the second game in a row, the LPL bot lane won the 2v2. Zhuo was incredible throughout. He set up the 2v2 kills, landed the important hooks, and had immaculate Depth Charges. G2 clawed their way into the game. But then it all fell apart around the Baron. G2 grew overzealous with their engages. They went too far, and TES punished them. Someone could always connect on the backline, but there was no follow-up.
Worlds 2026: Dplus KIA Versus Movistar KOI
Draft and Player Ratings
Dplus KIA
- Siwoo (5.0) – Ornn (7), Irelia (3)
- Lucid (6.5) – Lee Sin (7), Jarvan IV (6)
- ShowMaker (6.5) – Cassiopeia (6), Syndra (7)
- Smash (6) – Kai’Sa (6), Caitlyn (6)
- Career (7) – Total Apex Player of the Series) – Nautilus (7), Bard (7)
Movistar KOI
- Myrwn (3.5) – Jayce (3), Gnar (4)
- Elyoya (5) – Trundle (6), Vi (4)
- Jojopyun (4) – Anivia (5), Diana (3)
- Supa (4) – Ezreal (4), Yunara (4)
- Alvaro (4) – Karma (4), Lulu (4)
Summary
For the first time at Worlds, DK led throughout. Siwoo solo-killed Myrwn in the early laning phase. MKOI never found their footing. The only positive plays were DK mistakes. MKOI did a great job of punishing their overextensions. Elyoya was a part of that. However, once DK regained their composure, they dominated. Smash earned a pentakill at the end.
The second game was even worse for MKOI. Jojopyun’s Diana counterpick did not work against ShowMaker. He burned his Flash early, but that was it. Siwoo died a couple of times, but that was MKOI’s only play. DK ran away with it in the end.
Worlds 2026: Gen.G Esports Versus LYON
Draft and Player Ratings
Gen.G Esports
- Kiin (6.7) – Rumble (6), Ambessa (7), Camille (7)
- Canyon (7.0 – Total Apex Player of the Series) – Qiyana (6), Nocturne (7), Jayce (8)
- Chovy (6.0) – Anivia (5), Lissandra (6), Galio (7)
- Ruler (6.3) – Jhin (4), Ashe (8), Ezreal (7)
- Duro (6.3) – Alistar (5), Seraphine (8), Nautilus (6)
LYON
- Dhokla (4.3) – Olaf (6), Shen (3), K’Sante (4)
- Inspired (5.7) – Xin Zhao (8), Vi (4), Maokai (5)
- Saint (5.3) – Ahri (7), Akali (4), Tristana (5)
- Berserker (5.3) – Kalista (7), Yunara (5), Lucian (4)
- Isles (5.7) – Renata Glasc (7), Lulu (5), Milio (5)
Summary
Gen.G got Kiin ahead thanks to a bot lane swap. They maintained a small lead for a while. LYON battled back by sneaking Baron. They earned the objective twice, without Gen.G contesting. LYON kept pulling Gen.G into uncomfortable positions. Gen.G’s mid-game picks did not matter. They got attacked from every angle in fights and could not win.
LYON won the first fight despite losing the Drake. That is the positive play stopped. Gen.G crushed every fight. They won the side lanes. Kiin earned a kill despite being in a 1v3, giving Gen.G the Soul point. LYON almost turned a top-lane fight around. They used everything to kill Chovy. That meant Ruler was untouched. That fight was the catalyst.
Once again, LYON won the first fight. Saint pulled ahead in gold and became a big threat. However, the poke proved too relentless. LYON never fought on even footing. Canyon and Ruler made it impossible for them to be at full HP. Kiin finished off the kills. Duro had some shaky moments, but he locked in towards the end.
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