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LEC Spring Playoffs take shape: Karmine Corp and NAVI in, Shifters and SK out
The first of the two LEC Spring 2026 Roadtrips has come to a close. Now, two teams leave French soil with their Playoffs spots secured, while two squads see their season cut short as they are eliminated from playoffs contention altogether.
Karmine Corp and NAVI Shoot for the Stars
Every single one of this weekend's games was hosted by Karmine Corp in Paris, France. After putting on a hell of an event and coming away with three consecutive victories on home turf, KC wraps the Roadtrip up feeling pretty good about themselves.
With their victories over NAVI, Shifters, and Fnatic this week, Karmine Corp move up to first place in the Regular Season standings with a flawless 6-0 record. More importantly, though, their latest win guaranteed KC a spot in the Playoffs, where they will no doubt be among the favorites to win it all.
NAVI, meanwhile, may have lost their opening match of the Roadtrip to Karmine Corp, but they swiftly made up for it with victories over Fnatic and Shifters. The squad remains young, innovative, and thoroughly likeable; enough to find fans everywhere they go.
With a 6-2 record, NAVI join Karmine Corp and Team Vitality as the first three teams (of six) to lock their spots at the 2026 LEC Spring Playoffs.
SK Gaming and Shifters Look Ahead to Summer
Not all was good news over in France, though. While KC and NAVI made the playoffs, SK Gaming and Shifters saw their chances of moving on to the next stage of competition vanish at a moment's notice.
Shifters may have inherited the BDS squad, but they have yet to show the same level of play the team displayed in years past. In fact, Shifters are yet to win a single match in the LEC Spring Regular Season. With a 0-7 record and any hope of making playoffs now out of the question, the time to start thinking about their Summer Season is now.
Along with Shifters, SK are also now out of the playoffs, and that's without playing a single game this week. For a squad led by former LEC Champions and Worlds Finalists like Mikyx and Wunder, this is a disappointing end to say the least. If SK want results, then roster changes are sure to be the priority.
The Race for Playoffs Continues!
Only three playoffs spots remain, and four teams are still in contention. G2 Esports, Movistar KOI, GIANTX, and Fnatic have two weeks left in the Regular Season, and they will need to make each of their remaining matches count if they want a shot at the title.
Who will miss their window? LEC action continues next Saturday, May 2!
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Featured image credit: Elliot Le Core/Riot Games
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