T1 qualify for MSI 2026 after a hard-fought win over Gen.G

T1 are heading to MSI. In one of the most entertaining series of the year, the reigning World Champions defeated Gen.G 3-2 in the final match of the LCK Road to MSI, securing their place at the second LoL Esports international tournament to be held in front of a home crowd in Daejeon, South Korea.

The result marks the first time Gen.G will miss MSI since the tournament adopted its two-seed LCK qualification format in 2023 and it will have to wait for Summer Split before its next official match. The victory confirms T1 as the LCK's second seed for MSI, joining Hanwha Life Esports, who had already secured the region's first seed.

The last match of the LCK's Road to MSI delivered exactly what fans expected from two of the strongest teams in the world, with momentum swinging repeatedly across five fiercely contested games. And while T1 ultimately emerged victorious, the series was far from a dominant performance.

Gen.G controlled large stretches of play and frequently looked like the more polished team — as usual. Yet, whenever the pressure reached its highest point, T1 found a way to come out on top — as usual.

By pushing Gen.G to the limit and capitalizing on key opportunities, T1 once again demonstrated why they remain one of the teams thriving in high-pressure situations.

Gen.G entered the match with their usual reputation for clean macro play and disciplined decision-making, and for much of the contest they lived up to those expectations. Their teamfighting remained sharp, their setups around major objectives were often superior, and they repeatedly forced T1 into difficult positions. However, T1 consistently found answers when they mattered most.

And Doran was at the center of many of those moments, delivering some of his strongest performances of this Round of LCK. His impact in crucial fights repeatedly gave T1 a path back into games that seemed destined to go Gen.G's way. Whether creating space for his carries or finding the engage that kicked off the winning fight, Doran played a pivotal role in keeping T1 alive throughout the series — like in game 3.

Gen.G had established control and appeared to be closing in on the victory that would bring them to match point, but Doran refused to concede. Doran's Olaf charged forward without hesitation, creating the opening T1 needed to completely turn the game around and seize a critical lead in the series.

But the series' MVP went to Peyz, equally valuable as Doran as he also stepped up when his team needed him most. Throughout several tense late-game situations, he provided the damage output and composure necessary to keep T1 in the game. Even when Gen.G appeared to hold the advantage, Peyz was the pivotal damage output player that helped T1 convert narrow openings into game-winning teamfights.

For Gen.G, the defeat will be especially frustrating because they looked every bit like the elite contender fans have come to expect, controlling the pace and forcing T1 to react to it's own decisions. Yet a few crucial mistakes at the worst possible moments proved costly against a roster with T1's resilience.

This was just another series proving that writing off T1 is rarely a wise decision.

Time and time again, the reigning World Champions have shown an unmatched ability to rise when everything is on the line. The road to MSI was not easy, and there were moments when qualification seemed unlikely, but T1 found a way through. Now, as Korea's second seed, the reigning World Champpion will head to MSI with their sights set on adding another international trophy.