Despite the Mid-Season Invitational being less than three weeks away, global teams are fully engaged in their spring split tournaments. While some regions have already crowned their champions, others are still in the process of determining their seeds, with four teams yet to secure their positions.
In the past week, Top Esports secured their qualification, leaving BiliBili Gaming, Anyone’s Legend, and Team WE to contend for the remaining spot. G2 Esports once again claimed victory, triumphing over Karmine Corp in a repeat of the LEC Versus final. FURIA demonstrated that Brazilian talent can compete at a high level.
In North America, LYON convincingly defeated Cloud9, raising significant questions about C9’s true capabilities. The elimination of Dplus Kia has also sparked many discussions, both regarding their in-game performance and external factors.
Here are some of the most compelling narratives developing leading up to MSI.
Are Team WE’s Aspirations for Playoffs Concluding? The Situation is Intensifying.
At the beginning of the split, few anticipated that Team WE would be vying for an MSI slot, yet the team turned this improbable scenario into a near reality. Unfortunately, that prospect is now dimming after their defeat to Top Esports, who have once more confirmed their presence on the international stage.
TES’s 3-0 sweep not only halted WE’s momentum but also brought their vulnerabilities to light. Team WE had previously demonstrated an ability to draw opponents into their preferred chaotic skirmishes.
Top Esports recognized this and countered by doing the opposite, leveraging their strong foundational play to dictate the terms of engagement, with jungler Gao “Tian” Tian-Liang orchestrating the game’s pace.
Following this defeat, Team WE’s path forward has become more intricate. BiliBili Gaming appears to have overcome their earlier setback and is currently demonstrating formidable strength, with all their players performing exceptionally, particularly support Luo “ON” Wen-Jun.
“There is no other player globally who currently plays like ON; he is truly fearless in his approach to every move – and BLG benefits immensely from it,” remarked color caster Alex “Nymaera” Hapgood. A potential rematch is widely expected to favor BLG, unless Monki can produce another astonishing upset.
G2 Overcomes Karmine Corp, and SkewMond Advances Further.
G2 Esports securing a European title has become almost customary by this point. Their 3-2 victory over Karmine Corp marked the organization’s 19th LEC championship and guarantees G2 a direct entry into MSI’s Bracket Stage. KC, having come close to the title, will commence their journey from the Play-Ins.
While the win was not a complete rout, G2’s triumphs were significantly propelled by an outstanding performance from Rudy “SkewMond” Semaan, who remained deathless in all three of his team’s winning games. The jungler, who deservedly earned the MVP award, even showcased a Nasus jungle pick, effectively “bonking” his adversaries.
His impressive displays and pivotal role within the squad raise a question that is beginning to circulate: Is SkewMond the most impactful European player to emerge since Caps?
While such a claim might still be premature, he is certainly on track to achieve that stature. The consistent level of dominance since his debut last year, combined with G2’s recent strong international showings, is elevating him to this standing. He will require more time to build his accomplishments, but current indicators suggest a promising trajectory for the French competitor.
For European fans, G2 and KC were the optimal teams to represent the region based on their Spring performances. The French contingent will be a team to monitor closely, especially as they are set to confront the LCK’s second seed to secure a spot in the top eight. Although their run could be brief, it will undoubtedly prove invaluable, particularly as KC is anticipated to be among the EU representatives for Worlds 2026.
Dplus KIA Requires Improvements Both On and Off the Game Stage.
Dplus Kia will not be participating in MSI. Their journey concluded with a defeat against KT Rolster in the most agonizing manner possible. Despite holding leads in both Game 4 and Game 5, the team ultimately conceded both matches during intense teamfights.
Beyond their gameplay, however, much of DK’s focus has been diverted by off-stage issues. At the conclusion of the series, head coach Kim “cvMax” Dae-ho once again found himself at the center of controversy after making inappropriate remarks during the post-match interview, which prompted the organization to implement stricter guidelines for media interactions.
This incident represents the latest in a series of controversies surrounding DK’s head coach, following earlier criticisms of his demanding coaching approach. While the team’s potential is undeniable, as demonstrated throughout the initial phase of the LCK season, DK must cultivate a more constructive environment, free from ongoing drama.
While missing MSI is understandable given the formidable presence of teams like T1, Hanwha Life Esports, and Gen.G, Dplus Kia will need to secure a top-four finish if they aspire to compete at Worlds.
Cloud9 Faces One Final Series to Evade a Further Disappointing Outcome.
Cloud9’s 0-3 loss to LYON in the LCS Spring Playoffs evokes a strong sense of déjà vu from the previous year, when the team similarly failed to qualify for the Mid-Season Invitational. It’s not merely the defeat itself; the team appeared disoriented compared to LYON, unable to match their cohesive teamfights.
A Reddit user eloquently summarized C9’s performance: “They once were the underdogs, the clutch team capable of exceeding expectations… Now they are the regular season frontrunners who consistently falter under pressure and devise novel methods to collapse when it matters most.”
C9 has consistently demonstrated strong performance throughout the regular season but frequently struggles to elevate their gameplay when it matters most. This decisive sweep will inevitably place considerable pressure on C9, who must now face Team Liquid for the remaining MSI qualification slot.
Mid laner Lim “Quid” Hyeon-seung has recently enhanced his play, assuming a more prominent carry role within the team, reminiscent of his contributions to 100Thieves last year. The synergy between the mid laner and jungler will likely be crucial to the outcome of this match.
FURIA’s Achievement May Redefine Brazilian Team Composition.
FURIA secured consecutive appearances at MSI following a strong performance throughout the second split.
However, this victory also appears to have shifted perceptions regarding roster construction among CBLOL teams. FURIA’s success with an entirely Brazilian lineup demonstrated that the country can rely on its homegrown talent to achieve domestic wins and international qualification.
This development seems to be prompting many organizations to adopt a similar strategy, with numerous teams contemplating changes to their import player rosters.
LOUD is reportedly considering replacing both jungler Ko “YoungJae” Yeong-jae and ADC Song “Bull” Seon-gyu with Brazilian players Enzo “Sinatra” Candido Ferreira and Yudi Leonardo “NinjaKiwi” Miyashiro. Vivo Keyd Stars will not only welcome a new head coach in Ludvig Erik Hugo “Smiley” Granquist but also witness the departure of Korean top laner Choi “Wizer” Eui-seok and support Ling “Kaiwing” Kai Wing, who was expected to propel VKS to new heights.
Brazil is currently shifting its focus back to developing more domestic talents: “Invest in LATAM,” commented a Reddit user. “Cease looking towards Korea when there is clear evidence that local talent can compete effectively, at least with North America.”
While imported players can rapidly elevate a team’s baseline through strong fundamental skills, Brazil’s most notable achievements have historically been built upon the cohesive synergy of local talent, employing unexpected playstyles and strategies.
Last year, FURIA nearly achieved an upset against G2 Esports during the play-in stage. With their direct entry into the bracket stage this time, the Brazilian team now has an exceptional opportunity to demonstrate CBLOL’s capabilities to a global audience.
Last year, FURIA came close to upsetting G2 Esports in the play-in stage. With them now directly to the bracket stage, the Brazilian team will have the golden opportunity to showcase CBLOL’s potential to the world.
