To little surprise,
have punched their ticket to
Worlds 2026 following a 2-1 victory over
, securing a spot in the
LCK Playoffs and a top-four finish. Earlier this week,
also secured their place in playoffs, though they will still have to fight for a Worlds spot. For HLE, however, their Worlds qualification
comes as the result of winning the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational in Daejeon, which guaranteed them a spot at the tournament as long as they did not finish last in the LCK’s Legend Group.
Set to take place
in the United States from October 15 to November 14, Worlds 2026 is rapidly approaching, with the stakes continuing to rise. HLE will once again have to fight tooth and nail to maintain their status among the world’s elite and will
notably have to contend with recent MSI runner-ups
, who pushed them to five games at the event.
Ironing out the Kinks
Despite their qualification, now is not the time for HLE to rest on their laurels. Having started Round 3-4 with three consecutive losses, the team has struggled throughout the summer to reach the same level of performance it showed during the spring. While the squad continues to benefit from its results in the previous rounds, HLE now sits at 2-4 in series this summer, a record far below what would be expected from an MSI champion.
As such, the pressure is now on for HLE. Among those facing scrutiny is
, who has received criticism for performances that have at times been shaky, prompting the team to give 17-year-old rookie
a
chance to prove himself on stage in today’s Worlds-qualifying match.
This is
not the first time the young player has been called up this year, either. In spring, Bluffing played two series and has now returned in summer for his third series of the year with the team. While most expect Delight to retain his starting position, especially with Worlds just around the corner, Bluffing's recent match raises questions about what the future could look like for HLE and whether he could realistically develop into a long-term sixth member of the squad.
What’s Next for HLE?
With their Worlds 2026 spot now secured, Hanwha Life Esports can turn their attention back to the LCK Playoffs and finding their form before the international stage. The team still has time to iron out its recent issues, but with Worlds rapidly approaching, every remaining series will be an opportunity to build momentum and regain confidence.
For HLE, the goal is clear: finish the LCK season strongly, make a deep playoffs run, and arrive at Worlds ready to compete for another international title. Having already proven themselves at MSI, the pressure will be on the Korean champions to show that their recent struggles were only a bump in the road. With Bilibili Gaming and the world's best teams waiting in the United States, HLE will need to rediscover its spring form if it hopes to make another deep Worlds run.
