Starting the
2026 LEC Summer Split on hostile ground,
could hardly have asked for a worse opening weekend. At the LEC Roadtrip hosted by
, the Spanish side emerged as the biggest losers, suffering three defeats in as many matches, including their sixth consecutive loss to their French rivals.
What was expected to become one of the defining rivalries of the LEC has indeed increasingly tilted in Karmine Corp's favour. Movistar KOI's last victory over the French organization dates back to the 2025 LEC Spring Split playoffs, when they edged out KC 3-2 to deny them a place at MSI. Aside from a regular-season best-of-one victory during the LEC Versus, every series has gone Karmine Corp's way.
A rivalry becoming increasingly one-sided
Despite the recent results, this year's meetings had at least delivered on entertainment. The memorable 3-2 series in Barcelona, which secured Karmine Corp a place in the LEC Versus Grand Final, immediately comes to mind, as does the electric atmosphere in Madrid during Movistar KOI's own Roadtrip event, where
silenced the home crowd with his first pentakill with KC.
In recent months, however, the rivalry has become increasingly lopsided. Karmine Corp first swept Movistar KOI 3-0 in the Spring Split playoffs to qualify for MSI, and this weekend once again highlighted the gap that has opened between the two teams. MKOI looked unable to challenge the Esports World Cup finalists, with little indication that the disparity is beginning to close.
Even beyond this rivalry, Movistar KOI are currently enduring a difficult spell. Across all competitions, the team has now lost seven consecutive matches. Their last victory came more than two months ago, when they defeated Team Vitality in the LEC playoffs. Those results fall well short of the standards expected from a team with championship ambitions, and Movistar KOI will now need to fight over the coming weeks both to revive their title hopes and to retain their place among the LEC's top three.
