Most common predictions for the 2026 Worlds Winner

The LoL Worlds 2026 is about to be underway, and with it, comes one of the more exciting esports tournaments of the year. The Worlds is widely considered to be the most prestigious tournament in the competitive eSports space, so we are sure you are scanning the prediction markets to see who the likely winner will be.

Well, this guide will cover everything you need to know. We will take a look at what the markets say are the most common predictions for winners, where these choices come from and why certain teams have a higher percentage than others. Let’s dive right into it.

Best League of Legends Worlds 2026 Prediction Markets

What Do Prediction Markets Say About the Worlds 2026 Winner?

The top prediction markets platforms provide valuable insights into who traders believe will lift the Summoner's Cup. By aggregating real-time trader sentiment, recent tournament form, and historical stats, prediction markets offer a dynamic look at team probabilities heading into the tournament.

Polymarket Probabilities for Worlds 2026

On Polymarket, market odds reflect implied probabilities driven by decentralized trading volume. Gen.G holds a decisive lead as the overall crowd favorite, with a significant gap separating the top four contenders from the rest of the field:

Kalshi Market Expectations

Kalshi shows a nearly identical narrative at the top, though subtle variations emerge deeper in the board due to platform-specific order book liquidity and regional trader perspectives:

As all regional leagues have concluded, Gen.G stands out across both platforms as the clear frontrunner at 32%.There is some slight variation between the prices and the percentages the two platforms display. But, we explain in our Kalshi review, this is because traders have different expectations of what will happen, and market liquidity often varies.

Leading Favorites to Win Worlds 2026

As you can see, based on both markets, there are four teams that are leading the charge to be the likely winners this year. There are a number of factors why both Kalshi and Polymarket have determined these four teams to be the favorites this year, so let’s break down exactly what those factors are.

Gen.G

Gen.G are without a doubt the overwhelming favorite to win this year's Worlds, because their performances are so strong and consistent. Currently ranked #2 in the Riot GPR rankings, Gen.G have a win percentage of .789%, as well as a win record of 33-9.

Gen.G have just shown a consistent dominance in every competition they have been in over the last year. They dominated the LCK, including defeating Hanwha Life Esports in a competitive final match, who are currently the #1 ranked team in the world right now. Nobody seems to be able to solve the Gen.G puzzle, as they keep picking up regional and international titles. The only title they have not won is the Worlds itself, so this year seems like the year it could happen.

Gen.G

Bilibili Gaming

Bilibili Gaming (BLG) may be the strongest Chinese contender to all the strong Korean teams, like Gen.G and Hanwha Life Esports, as they have had a strong year themselves. They are currently ranked #3 in the Riot GPR Rankings, and have one of the highest win percentages of any team, at .814%.

They started the year off strong with a win in the First Stand 2026 International, and made it to the finals of both the LPL and the Mid Season Invitational. The primary reason their probability is slightly lower than the Korean contenders is that they have failed to beat either Gen.G or Hanwha Life in major competition this year. But, in the Worlds tournament, anything can happen, and the esports prediction markets show that BLG are more than capable.

Bilibili Gaming

T1

Historically, T1 could be the most dominant team in Worlds history. They have won six Worlds titles in the past, a feat that no other team has achieved yet, and they continue their trail of dominance by qualifying again this year. T1 is undoubtedly a legendary team that should be taken seriously, and their ability to perform in these high pressure situations, particularly the knockout stages, is unmatched.

Their recent form is what may cause fans to hesitate to back them. They have not achieved the same flow state they once had in the past, with a record of 29-16 and a win percentage of .644% not quite being top tier. However, they are still a solid team in their own right, and if anyone can pull it together to win once more, T1 is that team.

T1

Hanwha Life Esports

Hanwha Life are currently considered to be the #1 ranked team in the world right now, according to the Riot GPR rankings, and you can certainly make a  case for that. They are a strong Korean side that have had a large number of international successes this year. Notably, they won the Mid Season Invitational (MSI), by defeating Bilibili Gaming in the finals.

The reason they are ranked lower in the market, as opposed to the Riot rankings, is their win-loss record against Gen.G. They lost multiple times to Gen.G multiple times this year, including in the finals of the LCK league. This does reduce their odds of winning, as they cannot seem to figure out how to beat their rivals. However, sometimes the Worlds depends on the brackets. If Hanwha Life gets a bracket that favors them, where they are never matched up against Gen.G in the knockout stage, they are certainly strong contenders to win the tournament still.

Hanwha Life Esports

Which Outsiders Could Win Worlds 2026?

So, these are the market favorites. Gen.G is the overwhelming favorite at 32%, and the top three contenders are all in the 15-20% range. If you look at Polymarket or Kalshi, you will see that all the other teams aren’t given a high probability: they are practically all under 10%. However, there are a few underdogs that players should consider, for a number of factors:

• Anyone’s Legend - Anyone’s Legend are a team known for scoring their upsets. This Chinese team scored the upset of the decade in the LPL finals, when they defeated the much more dominant team of Bilibili Gaming to win the league. The team are wildly inconsistent, which is why Kalshi and Polymarket have them at 7% and 5% respectively, but if anyone can do the impossible, it’s Anyone’s Legend.
• DPlus KIA - DPlus Kia were once a great team who failed to maintain momentum, who turned their fortunes around this year by winning the Esports World Cup 2026. Their performances have not indicated they have fully returned to form, but they have shown flashes of greatness this year.
• G2 Esports - G2 Esports are no slouches, considering their seeded number 1 in Europe, and have dominated their region in competitive LoL play. They are a team capable of stepping up, but the question is can they step up against much stronger Chinese and Korean teams?

Best LoL Worlds 2026 Prediction Platforms

What Could Influence the Worlds 2026 Winner?

The markets, at the moment, may seem telling, but the great thing about prediction markets is that they are always changing to reflect the current probability of a team winning. We speak about this in detail in our Polymarket review, but these prediction market platforms always have their finger on the pulse: they know when the factors are changing, and when a team becomes more likely to win. So, what are these factors that could influence the winner of the Worlds?

The grand finale of the 2026 LoL World Championship will take place at Barclays Stadium in New York.

Plenty of Factors Can Determine the Worlds Winner

So, the overwhelming favorite to win the Worlds this year is Gen.G. But, there are some other contenders players need to consider, such as Hanwha Life Esports T1 and BilibiliGaming. However, anything can happen once the Swiss stage starts, and momentum and form can play a big factor. Maybe, we will see a huge upset, and underdogs like Anyone’s Legend or G2 Esports pick up the victory this time around.

You cannot predict who will win the LoL Worlds, all you can do is look at the probabilities, and these video game prediction markets, like Kalshi and Polymarket, have the most accurate probabilities. So make sure you follow these markets as the tournament unfolds, and check back in here at Strafe for more updates about the Worlds 2026.