The first day of the
Worlds 2026 Swiss Stage ended with a result few expected. All four LPL representatives lost their opening matches, leaving China at 0-4 without a single win in the main event. Anyone’s Legend, the LPL’s first seed, fell to Karmine Corp, Bilibili Gaming lost to Movistar KOI, Top Esports were beaten by Hanwha Life Esports and Invictus Gaming lost to Gen.G.
Elsewhere, Dplus Kia beat G2 Esports, T1 took down LOS, CFO won against Team Liquid and LYON defeated TSW. All 16 teams now enter Round 2 with either a 1-0 or a 0-1 record.
Format reminder
As a reminder, teams that earn three wins will qualify for the Knockout Stage, while those that suffer three losses will be eliminated. Round 2 matches will still be played as best-of-ones, with best-of-three series starting from Round 3 for teams one win away from qualification or one loss away from elimination.
From this round onward, there is no regional protection, and teams are matched based solely on their records. Matches are set to be played on October 24rd.
The Round 2 matchups
Here are the eight matchups of Round 2 of the Worlds 2026 Swiss Stage:
1-0 matches
- [LCK #1] vs. [LCK #2]
- [LCP #2] vs. [LEC #2]
- [LEC #3] vs. [LCS #2]
- [LCK #4] vs. [LCK #3]
0-1 matches
- [CBLOL #1] vs. [LEC #1]
- [LPL #4] vs. [LCP #1]
- [LPL #1] vs. [LPL #3]
- [LPL #2] vs. [LCS #1]
Day 2 match order
- Match 1: Top Esports vs. Anyone’s Legend
- Match 2: CTBC Flying Oyster vs. Movistar KOI
- Match 3: G2 Esports vs. LØS
- Match 4: LYON vs. Karmine Corp
- Match 5: Invictus Gaming vs. Team Secret Whales
- Match 6: Hanwha Life Esports vs. Gen.G
- Match 7: Dplus KIA vs. T1
- Match 8: Bilibili Gaming vs. Team Liquid Alienware
The draw did not spare the LCK, with two Korean derbies among the 1-0 matches. Gen.G vs. Hanwha Life Esports puts the region’s top two seeds against each other in the second round, and Dplus KIA vs. T1 guarantees that two of the four Korean teams will drop to 1-1.
The West will also have its moment in the upper half of the bracket, with Karmine Corp, who beat the LPL’s first seed on day one, facing LYON, and CTBC Flying Oyster taking on Movistar KOI in a meeting between two teams that both started with an upset.
An LPL derby to stop the bleeding
The draw brought both good and bad news for China. With Anyone’s Legend and Top Esports facing each other, the LPL is guaranteed to get its first win of the main event. At the same time, one of them is certain to drop to 0-2, putting the region’s first or third seed one loss away from elimination.
The other two Chinese teams face very different tests. Invictus Gaming take on Team Secret Whales, who lost to LYON after promising revenge for their MSI defeat, while Bilibili Gaming face Team Liquid Alienware. In the worst-case scenario, China could end Round 2 with three teams at 0-2.
