BLG, Karmine Corp and LYON win their 2-2 series to complete the Worlds 2026 playoff bracket.
The Worlds 2026 Swiss Stage is over. Bilibili Gaming, Karmine Corp and LYON won their decisive series in the 2-2 pool and complete the quarterfinal field. Hanwha Life Esports, Movistar KOI and LØS, meanwhile, see their tournament end just before the Knockout Stage. Starting November 3, only eight teams remain – and the draw immediately delivers several exciting best-of-five matchups.
BLG End HLE’s Surprisingly Difficult Run
Bilibili Gaming survived what was probably the highest-profile matchup of the 2-2 pool against Hanwha Life Esports. Before the tournament, few would have expected either team to even reach the fifth Swiss round: HLE arrived as MSI champions and the LCK’s second seed, while BLG were once again among China’s biggest hopes.
For HLE, Worlds end in unusually disappointing fashion. The team never found consistent momentum and suffered unexpected losses early in the tournament. After a convincing 2-0 over G2, it looked like the MSI champions had finally recovered, but BLG ultimately ended their run at 2-3.
BLG, meanwhile, survive after an equally inconsistent start. China’s second seed reaches the quarterfinals with a 3-2 record and will now face Dplus KIA. Interestingly, that is a rematch of the EWC quarterfinal, which DK won on their way to the title.
KC Win Europe’s Do-or-Die Battle
For Europe, one thing was already certain before Karmine Corp faced Movistar KOI: only one LEC team could survive.
KC came out on top and have now reached the quarterfinals in their first ever Worlds Main Event appearance. The road there has been anything but clean. They already needed five games against Cloud9 in the Play-In, then suffered Swiss losses to LYON and BLG before eliminating CFO and surviving into the 2-2 pool.
That is exactly what makes the run impressive. Karmine Corp have been one series away from elimination multiple times during these Worlds, but have survived every decisive best-of series so far.
For MKOI, the opposite story is particularly painful. Europe’s second seed started the Swiss Stage 2-0 and therefore had multiple opportunities to reach the quarterfinals. Losses to Dplus KIA, T1 and eventually KC turned that perfect start into a 2-3 exit.
KC now remain as one of only two Western teams left in the tournament. Their reward, however, could hardly be more difficult: defending champions T1 await in the quarterfinals.
LYON End LØS’ Surprise Worlds Run
The third 2-2 series also decided which American region would send a representative into the Knockout Stage.
LYON defeated LØS and complete an impressive Swiss run by reaching the quarterfinals. The LCS representative had already shown that its 2-0 start was not simply a fluke. Even Gen.G were pushed to three games, while LYON looked like one of the more consistent Western teams throughout much of the tournament.
For LØS, an impressive run comes to an end. The CBLOL champions started 0-2 after losses to T1 and G2, then eliminated Team Secret Whales and even knocked Team Liquid out of the tournament. Their comeback finally ended against LYON. LØS leave at 2-3 after Brazil and the LCS repeatedly crossed paths during these Worlds.
LYON’s reward for that run is the toughest possible opponent, though. Gen.G await in the quarterfinals. The LCK champions are one of only two teams to complete the Swiss Stage with a perfect 3-0 record.
The Playoff Bracket Is Set – And the West Faces Two Massive Challenges
With the Swiss Stage complete, the final eight are Gen.G, Dplus KIA, T1, Top Esports, Invictus Gaming, Bilibili Gaming, Karmine Corp and LYON. Three LCK teams, three LPL teams and one representative each from the LEC and LCS remain in contention for the Summoner’s Cup.
Every Knockout Stage match will be played as a best-of-five with Fearless Draft. Gen.G and DK entered the draw as the only undefeated 3-0 teams and were therefore placed on opposite sides of the bracket.
The quarterfinals are:
- Top Esports vs. Invictus Gaming – November 3
- Gen.G vs. LYON – November 4
- Dplus KIA vs. Bilibili Gaming – November 5
- Karmine Corp vs. T1 – November 6
At least one Chinese team is already guaranteed to reach the semifinals because TES and iG face each other directly. DK against BLG may be the most open LCK-versus-LPL matchup of the round and also serves as an EWC rematch.
The road is much tougher for the West. LYON face arguably the biggest tournament favorite in Gen.G, while KC meet the organization that has made a habit of going deep at Worlds regardless of its form entering the tournament. One best-of-five decides whether a team advances or its season ends – and on November 3, the real race for the Summoner’s Cup begins.