Hanwha Life Esports Qualify For LoL Esports World Cup 2026
Hanwha Life Esports has secured a spot at the 2026 Esports World Cup after sweeping DPlus Kia 3-0 in the Korean online qualifiers for the League of Legends competition. The $2 million tournament will take place later this summer.
HLE’s path to qualification was not straightforward. The team initially dropped into the lower bracket after losing 2-1 to DPlus Kia, with the loss partly attributed to strong performances from DPlus Kia player Jeon “Siwoo” Si-woo. However, HLE bounced back decisively, winning every subsequent match. The team swept HANJIN BRION and Nongshim RedForce before ultimately defeating DPlus Kia in the final qualifier match to secure their spot.
This qualification comes just one day after T1, another Korean LCK team, also qualified for the Esports World Cup 2026 by defeating DPlus Kia in their own qualifier match. Both teams are now confirmed for the summer tournament.
With their EWC qualification secured, HLE’s immediate focus shifts to the LCK Playoffs, where they will compete to qualify for the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational (MSI).