Top Esports Defeat IG and Qualify for LoL Worlds 2026
Top Esports (TES) secured their spot at the 2026 League of Legends World Championship after defeating Invictus Gaming (IG) 3-1 in the LPL Regional Finals. The victory marks TES as the 12th team to qualify for this year’s tournament and the third Chinese representative, joining Bilibili Gaming (BLG) and LPL champions Anyone’s Legend.
The qualification is bittersweet for TES fans, as the organization carries a concerning international track record. TES has failed to win a single series against LCK teams across their last three international appearances, losing all nine matchups. This historical struggle against Korean opponents raises questions about TES’s competitiveness at the global stage.
Invictus Gaming’s World Championship hopes are not entirely extinguished. IG and player Kang ‘TheShy’ Seung-lok will receive another opportunity to qualify through a loser’s bracket matchup, facing the winner of the JD Gaming versus Team WE series. With 20 teams competing at Worlds 2026 and 12 spots now claimed, the remaining regional qualification spots remain fiercely contested.