The streak is broken: Bilibili Gaming (BLG) defeated T1 3-1 in the semifinals of the League of Legends World Championship 2026. The match took place on Sunday, November 8, US time, in Allen, Texas. This concludes Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok’s streak of 13 consecutive Best-of-5 duels against teams from China’s LPL.
How did the BLG vs. T1 semifinal play out?
BLG won the series 3-1. According to Insider Gaming, the Chinese team's top lane was particularly dominant: Chen “Bin” Ze-Bin consistently outplayed T1’s Doran in the lane, forcing T1 to sacrifice resources to stabilize their top side. BLG turned games 3 and 4 with well-timed engages. Luo “ON” Wen-Jun’s Seraphine ultimate in game 4, already considered a historic moment in the region, stands out.
Faker himself was T1’s strongest player in the series, according to Insider Gaming. However, it wasn't enough: the LPL had struggled against Faker for years, including in the Worlds 2025 quarterfinals against Anyone’s Legend. This also follows the 2024 final, where T1 came back from a 1-2 deficit to secure Faker's fifth title. BLG ending this streak now is a true liberation for the region.
When and against whom will BLG play in the Worlds final?
In the Grand Final, BLG will face Gen.G. The match will be played on Saturday, November 14, at the Barclays Center in New York. A lot is at stake for BLG: a title would be the first LPL victory since EDG's triumph in 2021. Additionally, Zhuo “Knight” Ding would become the first Chinese mid-laner to win Worlds. The titles for IG, FPX, and EDG all went to China with imported Korean mid-laners.
Trophy-less: What's next for T1?
For T1, the season ends without a title, for the first time since 2021. While the team reached the semifinals in 2026 and only fell below 4th place at the year's MSI tournament, the Worlds magic that covered up weak phases in the past was absent this time.
The debate about roster changes is already underway. According to Insider Gaming, top-laner Doran and jungler Oner are in focus, with Oner often engaging too early in teamfights during the series and having been benched temporarily in August. Simultaneously, Korean media report that Choi “Zeus” Woo-je has rejected a contract extension with Hanwha Life Esports and is exploring the market. Whether a return to T1 is possible also depends on new salary caps expected to apply in the LCK from 2027.
Our assessment: Why this series is more than a semifinal
From a purely sporting perspective, it's a 3-1 in the round of the last four. Historically, it's more: Faker's T1 was for years the hurdle that Chinese teams failed to overcome in knockout stages. The fact that BLG, of all teams, cleared it is also a revenge, as T1 had stopped BLG in the 2024 final. In the final against Gen.G, BLG is now likely not the clear underdog. Those who want to watch the final should keep Saturday evening free; Riot Games will announce the exact start times in advance.
Source: Insider Gaming, Inven Global (Semifinal date)
Who will take the title: BLG or Gen.G, and what's your prediction for the final?
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