The esports organization JD Gaming, based in China, has secured the final entry into First Stand, which marks the initial global competition for the 2026 League of Legends esports season.
Their qualification was confirmed once they reached the championship match of the LPL Split 1 Playoffs, ensuring their participation in São Paulo, Brazil, as the second-ranked representative from the Chinese territory.
Although they qualified, JDG faced a challenging path. Following a fiercely contested defeat in the upper bracket against BLG, the squad was compelled to navigate the lower bracket playoffs, successfully overcoming prominent teams like Anyone’s Legend and Weibo Gaming, both vying for a First Stand position.
Head coach Wong ‘Tabe‘ Pak Kan once more demonstrated remarkable skill in swiftly elevating JD Gaming’s capabilities, even after a substantial roster overhaul. Xu ‘Xiaoxu‘ Xing-Zu, the top laner, stood as the sole player retained from the 2025 lineup. The other four team members comprised experienced players like Yu ‘JunJia‘ Chun-Chia and Chen ‘GALA‘ Wei, alongside emerging prospects such as Tsai ‘HongQ‘ Ming-Hong and Zhao ‘Vampire‘ Zhe-Can.
While the team did reach the LPL Split 1 championship match, JD Gaming was eventually defeated by Bilibili Gaming with a score of 3-1, repeating a previous outcome.
Despite not possessing the most individually dominant players, JD Gaming has compensated through exceptional team coordination and steadiness, characteristics often observed in squads managed by Tabe.
Outcomes of the First Stand 2026 Group Allocation
Subsequent to the conclusion of the LPL Finals, the process of assigning teams to groups for First Stand 2026 was also completed.
As JDG secured the second seed from the LPL, they are set to compete against Gen.G, the top seed from the LCK, in the opening round of the group stage on Tuesday, March 17th.
Beyond Gen.G, the Chinese contingent shares its group with LYON, who represent the LCS, and the Brazilian squad LOUD. Given Gen.G’s formidable performance this year, coupled with the overall prowess of Korean teams, JDG might find themselves battling for the second advancement slot.
Per the tournament structure, every group is mandated to compete in a double-elimination bracket, consisting of Fearless best-of-five matches. The aggregate prize money for this championship totals $1m (approximately £749,660), with the triumphant team claiming $250,000 (roughly £187,415).
