Get PremiumThe bracket for the MSI 2026 Play-Ins Stage is now confirmed, with T1
- News
- MSI
- MSI 2026
MSI 2026 Seedings Locked In: KC vs DCG, T1 vs TL Headline the Play-Ins
The bracket for the MSI 2026 Play-Ins Stage is now confirmed, with T1
K/DA release FIRESTARTER EP, set to perform at Worlds 2026 Opening Ceremony
Tian on 369’s return for Worlds: “You can feel he still has a lot of passion for the game”
T1 Oner : "As Long as You Win in the End, Everything Just Disappears"
Evil Geniuses to shut down all operations on November 2
GIANTX names iTero founder Jack Joseph Williams CTO as its consumer bet pays off
Worlds 2026: inside the LCK’s bootcamp solo queue
Sofm after play-ins exit: “We had absolutely no laning advantage against KC”Worlds 2026 Play-Ins: Our Team of the StagePer the official rulebook, the two best-performing regions at First Stand present at the Play-Ins — excluding the First Stand champion, whose region (the LPL) sends its second seed directly to the Main Stage — are matched against the two regions that posted the weakest performances at First Stand. This year, the LCP, having delivered the worst showing, was drawn against the LEC, the strongest Play-Ins performer after reaching the final. Meanwhile, the LCK (semifinalist) and the LCS (one series win) were drawn against each other.
The rulebook has also confirmed how the Bracket Stage (Main Event) draw show will operate: the pools are split into four tiers, also based on First Stand performances. Pool 1 holds the Spring champions of the two First Stand finalist regions — BLG and G2, who were ironically also the two First Stand finalists. Pool 2 holds the champions of the two second-place First Stand regions, LYON and HLE.
Pool 3 features the champions of the two weakest First Stand regions, FURIA
There's a further wrinkle: teams cannot be drawn against an opponent from their own region. Since Pool 4 is drawn against Pool 1, this already locks in the matchups for both Pool 1 teams.
As the LPL's second seed, Top Esports cannot face BLG (also LPL), meaning G2 will play Top Esports no matter what — a rematch of their Worlds 2025 quarterfinal. By elimination, whichever team emerges from the Play-Ins will face BLG in its opening Bracket Stage match.