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Invictus Gaming Secures LPL's Final Spot at Worlds 2026
19 Sep, 2026, 14:21
|Last updated: 19 Sep, 2026, 14:21
Invictus Gaming (iG) claimed the LPL's final spot at Worlds 2026. On Saturday, September 19, the team defeated JD Gaming (JDG) 3-1 in the decisive series of the Regional Finals, securing China's fourth seed at the League of Legends world championship.
With iG's qualification, China's lineup is complete. Anyone's Legend (AL), Bilibili Gaming (BLG), Top Esports (TES), and Invictus Gaming will represent the LPL at the international tournament.
How Did the LPL Regional Finals Work?
The Regional Finals took place from September 17 to 19 in Shanghai and determined the LPL's final two qualifiers for Worlds. Top Esports, Invictus Gaming, Team WE, and JD Gaming reached the qualifier as the four highest-ranked teams in Championship Points among those that had not already secured a spot.
Top Esports entered with 105 points, followed by Invictus Gaming with 90, Team WE with 85, and JD Gaming with 80. TES and iG started in the upper bracket, while WE and JDG played the first lower-bracket series.
The format placed the four teams in a double-elimination bracket, with every series played as a best-of-five. The winner of TES vs. iG would directly secure the region's third seed. The loser would still have a second chance against the winner of WE vs. JDG, this time with the fourth and final spot at stake.
Top Esports defeated Invictus Gaming 3-1 on September 17 to secure the third seed. The following day, JD Gaming eliminated Team WE by the same 3-1 score. That set up a decisive series between iG and JDG on Saturday, which Invictus Gaming won 3-1.
Why Does the LPL Have Four Spots at Worlds 2026?
The LPL originally had three guaranteed spots at Worlds 2026, as did the LCK, LCS, LEC, and LCP. Riot Games, however, awards an additional spot to the region that finishes runner-up at MSI.
Bilibili Gaming finished runner-up at MSI 2026 after losing the final to Hanwha Life Esports. The result gave China a fourth spot at Worlds and meant the Regional Finals would qualify two teams instead of just one.
LPL Teams Qualified for Worlds 2026
- 1st seed: Anyone's Legend — Split 3 champion
- 2nd seed: Bilibili Gaming — Championship Points
- 3rd seed: Top Esports — Regional Finals
- 4th seed: Invictus Gaming — Regional Finals
When Does Worlds 2026 Start and Where Will It Be Held?
Worlds 2026 begins on October 15 and will be held across three cities in the United States. The play-in stage runs from October 15 to 18 at the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles.
The competition then moves to Allen, Texas, where the Credit Union of Texas Event Center will host the Swiss Stage from October 23 to 31. The same venue will also host the quarterfinals from November 3 to 6 and the semifinals on November 7 and 8.
The season concludes on November 14, when Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, hosts the Worlds 2026 grand final.
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Featured image credit: LPL/Riot Games
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