Team Liquid produced an impressive display to take Cloud9 down 3-1 in the LCS Playoffs upper bracket final, securing their spot in the League of Legends Worlds 2026 main event.
Team Liquid advance to Worlds main event as Cloud9 prepare for LYON rematch
Team Liquid outdrafted and out-macroed Liquid on their way to a 3-1 victory in the LCS playoffs, guaranteeing their spot in the LoL Worlds 2026 main event.
Top Laner, Park ‘Morgan’ Ru-han, earned Player of the Series in the victory, but the honor could have easily gone to other Liquid players, who largely individually gapped their opposition while playing more cohesively than C9 overall.
The victory secured Team Liquid a place in the main event of the competition, while Cloud9 will face LYON in the lower bracket final to decide who takes the last main event spot and who starts in Play-Ins.
Cloud9 took LYON down in emphatic fashion in the Upper Bracket, defeating Kacper ‘Inspired’ Słoma’s roster 3-1 to advance to the upper bracket final, but LYON will remain favorites for the contest after a dominant year in the LCS.
The Mexican organization has won every regional split so far this year, also finishing third at MSI to reinforce their potential as a roster.
So revenge will be a motivator for LYON, but the main motivation will be to avoid the Play-In stage where Karmine Corp and MVK Esports will start the competition. Only one team will qualify from Play-Ins, so it is imperative to avoid that particular gauntlet.
How the Worlds picture is shaping up after LCS and CBLOL weekends
LCS and CBLOL are, by far, the latest regional leagues to finish their summer splits, deciding the final five spots going to Worlds.
Actually, CBLOL Playoffs are ending so late, October 10, that they were forced to send their fourth-placed team to the Demacia Cup instead of their third-placed team, who will still be competing in Finals weekend.
As a result, Red Canids got the spot, with one of LOUD/FURIA set to miss out on both Worlds and the Demacia Cup as they contest the lower bracket final where the winner will face LOUD.
Teams that will start in the main event of LoL Worlds 2026:
- Gen.G
- Hanwha Life Esports
- T1
- Dplus KIA
- Anyone’s Legend
- BiliBili Gaming
- Top Esports
- Invictus Gaming
- G2 Esports
- Movistar KOI
- Secret Whales
- CTBC Flying Oysters
- Team Liquid
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
Teams that will start in the LoL Play-Ins:
- Karmine Corp
- MVK Esports
- TBD
- TBD
Teams that have qualified for Worlds but may start in Play-Ins or the main event*:
- Cloud9 (LCS)
- LYON (LCS)
- LOS (CBLOL)
Can Cloud9 recover to make the Worlds main event? Share your ideas for her new kit with us on the Insider Gaming Discord.
Meanwhile, Riot has confirmed the start times for LoL Worlds 2026. And for even more Insider Gaming delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.
Darragh is an Esports Journalist for Insider Gaming specialising in Counter-Strike. He loves to explore how esports teams work, or why they very often do not.
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