Three of the four Chinese Worlds teams have now been confirmed.
Top Esports are going to Worlds 2026. In the first decisive match of the LPL Regional Finals, TES defeated Invictus Gaming 3-1 to secure China’s third seed. At the same time, it is the perfect revenge for their loss in the Split 3 Playoffs, while iG are now left with only one final chance to reach Worlds.
TES Turn the Series Around After a Difficult Start
The night actually began perfectly for Invictus Gaming. iG won Game 1 and immediately put TES under pressure. Top Esports responded by winning three consecutive games, never allowing the series to slip away again.
That turnaround gives the 3-1 victory extra weight. TES had only recently lost 2-3 to iG in the Split 3 Playoffs, which knocked them out of the title race early. Now came the rematch in an even more critical moment, and this time Top Esports proved to be the more stable roster.
The difference became especially visible in Games 3 and 4. Lin “Creme” Jian completely took over the third game on Locke, finishing 13/2/8. In the deciding fourth game, Gao “Tian” Tian-Peng set the pace on Pantheon with an 8/1/11 scoreline. His ultimates constantly created pressure around mid lane, objectives, and teamfights.
Even though Yu “JackeyLove” Wen-Bo was named Player of the Match, TES received decisive contributions across several positions when it mattered most.
The Revenge Comes at the Perfect Time
For Top Esports, the timing could hardly be better. During the Split 3 Playoffs, iG eliminated TES from the tournament. Before the Regional Finals, the two teams were separated by only 15 Championship Points: TES entered in third place with 105, while iG sat directly behind them on 90.
With the win, TES bypassed an extra best-of-five elimination match and locked in China’s third seed at Worlds 2026.
For a team carrying high international expectations, that efficiency matters. TES reached the semifinals at Worlds 2025 before T1 ended their run with a 3-0 sweep. The core of this roster understands how deep an international tournament run can go, but also how quickly it can slip away against elite competition.
In 2026, TES return to the global stage without the pressure of being the regional titleholder. Anyone’s Legend and Bilibili Gaming sit ahead of them as seeds one and two. That dynamic relieves some regional expectations, yet TES remain a dangerous Swiss Stage opponent for any contender.
China Now Has Three Worlds Teams Locked In
With this result, most of China’s Worlds lineup is set. Anyone’s Legend will attend as LPL champions and seed one, Bilibili Gaming take seed two, and Top Esports secure seed three directly into the Swiss Stage.
That leaves only one Chinese seed up for grabs. Team WE and JD Gaming will first play for tournament survival in the Lower Bracket. The winner faces Invictus Gaming, and that final best-of-five will award the fourth LPL slot.
For iG, the defeat is a major blow, but not an absolute elimination. Given their recent win over TES, the 1-3 result stings, but their Worlds ambitions now depend entirely on surviving the final qualification match.
TES Get Their Chance at Redemption
For Top Esports, the narrative is reversed. Following a disappointing conclusion to the Split 3 Playoffs, the roster answered under pressure. Creme and Tian delivered standout performances, JackeyLove anchored the squad, and TES showed superior composure across the final three games.
Securing the third seed does not make them automatic favorites against top-tier LCK rosters or their fellow regional qualifiers. However, the hardest hurdle of their domestic run is behind them.
Top Esports have secured their Swiss Stage berth, ensuring that their playoff defeat to iG would not be their last word this season.