After the end of the group stage, where only one team was eliminated,
Hanwha Life Esports, the LCK Cup moved on to the Play-In stage, which saw three more teams knocked out:
KT Rolster, OKSavingsBank BRION, and Nongshim RedForce. That leaves six teams heading into the playoffs:
BNK FearX, DN SOOPers, Dplus KIA, DRX, T1, and Gen.G.
LCK Cup 2026 Playoffs Bracket. Credit: LCK
In the playoffs, the field consists of the top two teams from the Winners Group, the top team from the Losers Group, and the three qualifiers from the Play-In. All matches are best of five, with both finalist teams qualifying for the 2026 First Stand, unlike last year, when only one team advanced. As a result, two LCK teams will travel to São Paulo, Brazil, to defend the HLE title.
Gen.G rewarded
Gen.G and T1 both won all five of their best-of series in the group stage, but Gen.G did not drop a single Nexus, securing first place in the Winners Group. That gives them the privilege of choosing their opponent between the winners of BFX vs DNF and DK vs DRX, with the remaining team set to face T1.
The LCK Cup will feature a total of 16 best-of-fives, including those played during Super Week in the group stage, the final Play-In series, and the playoff matches. By comparison, the LEC will only play four BO5s, the CBLOL seven, while both the LCS and the LCP eight. Only the LPL surpasses the LCK, with a total of 20 best-of-fives in the first split of 2026.
The LCK announced that the final two days of the LCK Cup will take place
in Hong Kong at the Kai Tak Arena. The venue will host both the Lower Bracket Final and the Grand Final, where the second team qualifying for First Stand and the overall champion of this LCK Cup will be determined in front of a live Hong Kong audience. The Lower Bracket Final is set for February 28, followed by the Grand Final on March 1.