T1 has won the World Star Challengers Invitational (WSCI), its first League of Legends World Championship without Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok.
The inaugural WSCI saw academy and Tier 2 teams from across Korea, China, EMEA, North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Brazil compete.
T1’s future stars defeated former EMEA Masters and LFL champions Solary in an intense five-game final.
While Faker and Ryu ‘Keria’ Min-seok helped Korea win the Asia Games 2026 LoL tournament.
T1 Esports Academy Defeat Solary 3-2
Both WSCI semifinals and the final featured a French LFL team versus a Korean LCK CL team.
Solary had been tournament favourites according to Polymarket users, having dropped just one single game before the final.
The French team swept Asia Masters 2026 champions DN SOOPers Challengers in the semifinals.
They also defeated reigning LFL and EMEA Masters champions Galions in the Group Stages and Spain’s LES champions Movistar KOI Fénix in the quarters.
Meanwhile, T1 Academy defeated NA’s Cupid Esports and former LCS midlaner Nicholas ‘Ablazeolive’ Abbott before also besting Galions en route to the final.
In the grand final, it was Solary who held the advantage after taking a 2-1 lead.
However, spectacular performances from T1’s ADC Kim ‘Eclipse’ Min-jun in Games 4 and 5 saved the team and earned him the Finals MVP award.
Solary got an early kill on their Draven, but failed to snowball that lead and T1 punished quickly.
Solary, Galions, and MKOI Fénix will now compete in EMEA Masters Summer 2026, with the new format allowing the WSCI teams to face the bottom Swiss teams for a direct place into the Knockouts.
Should Riot continue to host WSCI as a tier 2 Worlds? Share your thoughts with us on the Insider Gaming Discord.
Meanwhile, the LoL Worlds 2026 schedule and start times have been revealed. And for even more Insider Gaming delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.
An esports journalist for nine years with a focus on LoL Jack has written for national newspapers, interviewed major names, and driven people mad with puns. He's most proud of…
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