The first-ever World Star Challenger Invitational (WSCI), essentially Worlds for tier-two League of Legends teams, has almost reached its conclusion.
The new WSCI 2026 tournament will crown its first-ever tier-two world champion on Friday, October 2nd.
But before that, the finalists need to be decided with just four of the original 16 teams remaining.
The semi-finals will see two France vs Korea match-ups as Solary take on DN SOOPers Challengers and Galions face T1 Esports Academy.
WSCI 2026 Semi-Finals
While the team fell out of the LFL Summer Playoffs early, EMEA Masters Winter champions Solary are looking like the team to beat.
Solary has only lost one of its nine WSCI matches, defeating Movistar KOI Fénix 3-1 in the quarter-finals to maintain their undefeated record.
They also beat reigning LFL and EMEA Masters champions Galions twice in the Group Stage best-of-ones, making Solary the current WSCI favourites according to Polymarket users.
Meanwhile, their semifinal opponents DNS Challengers have had a few surprising hiccups at WSCI already.
The LCK academy team qualified by winning the Asia Masters 2026, a tournament between Korea, China, and APAC’s top academies.
There, DNS defeated T1 Academy 3-1, yet lost to them twice in the Group Stages and also gave North American team Fuego their only win of WSCI.
Yet, DNS Challengers recovered by defeating fellow Korean team Dplus Kia Challengers 3-2 in a tense quarter-final.
Meanwhile, Galions got back to winning ways in the quarters with a dominant 3-0 sweep versus KT Rolster Challengers.
However, T1 Academy could prove to be difficult opponents.
As the second-tier team of T1, the reigning World Champions and most successful LoL team in history, the academy draws in the brightest prospects.
T1 breezed past North America’s Cupid Esports, a team featuring former LCS midlaner Nicholas ‘Ablazeolive’ Abbott, 3-1.
Who do you expect to win WSCI 2026? Share your predictions with us on the Insider Gaming Discord.
Meanwhile, French support Paul ‘Stend’ Lardin has announced his retirement after spending most of the year in the LEC. 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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