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The fighting is going to be fierce for that guaranteed spot in Worlds 2026.
Our final eight teams for MSI 2026 have been locked in and in just a few days we’ll be crowning ourselves a new MSI champion. Outside of pride, a free pass into Worlds 2026 is on the line and these are the teams that we think have the best shot of taking it.
G2 Esports
As the pride of EMEA, G2 has always been an international powerhouse. Spirits are actually quite high for them this year for making a deep run in MSI 2026. Mid Laner Rasmus “Caps” Winther is looking better than ever and G2 is playing like a championship contender team.
That being said, G2 will forever remain underdogs until they convincingly beat an Asian team. They’ve come close so many times so maybe MSI 2026 is where they finally break through that glass ceiling.
T1
It should be a no-brainer to include reigning three-peat world champions in this list but T1 outside of Worlds has always been a wildcard. Depending on the day, they could look like the best team in the world or five friends goofing around in a game of League of Legends.
Granted, they can still end up winning despite their antics and that’s what makes T1 so exciting to watch. It’s generally believed that they save their energy for the second half of the year, right when it’s time to qualify for Worlds. It’ll be interesting to see if T1 will be able to secure that spot ahead of time.
Bilibili Gaming
Bilibili Gaming has proven time and again that they’re one of the best teams in China yet a large number of fans glance over them. Even after they won First Stand 2026 and gave another Chinese team a spot in the playoffs, many would still place them second right after the South Korean teams.
Maybe it has something to do with T1 being their first opponents in the tournament. It’s a nasty draw but if Bilibili can send the world champions to the lower bracket, then there’s a strong argument for them taking MSI 2026. We’ll have to just wait and see if they can rise up to the challenge.
MSI 2026 Fearless Forecast: T1 to Win It All
While we made an argument for Bilibili to take MSI 2026, we think that this is actually a good year for T1 to take it. It’s not just the aura that they’re the first ever three-peat world champions that’s influencing this. It’s the fact that they always lock in whenever it’s time to get serious in an international tournament.
Of course, we’re aware that T1 entered this tournament as South Korea’s second seed and Hanwha Life Esports are no slouches either. But the fact remains that the most eyes and pressure to deliver are on T1, and they usually do. Now we have to see what kind of form T1 will be playing in for the rest of the tournament.
Banner image by Liu Yicun / Riot Games.
Frequently Asked Questions
MSI 2026’s final eight determines which teams earn a guaranteed spot at Worlds 2026 alongside tournament pride. G2 Esports, T1, and Bilibili Gaming are considered among the strongest contenders in this bracket, each carrying distinct storylines into the knockout stage.
G2 Esports has historically struggled to convincingly defeat Asian teams in international competition despite strong regular performances, including from mid laner Rasmus “Caps” Winther. MSI 2026 is viewed as an opportunity for G2 to finally break through that barrier.
T1, the reigning three-time world champions, are known for inconsistent play outside of Worlds but historically elevate their performance when qualification or titles are on the line, making their MSI 2026 form difficult to predict from regular-season results alone.
Bilibili Gaming, winners of First Stand 2026, are drawn against reigning world champions T1 in their first MSI 2026 matchup. A win would send T1 to the lower bracket and strengthen Bilibili Gaming’s case as a top title contender.
The GAME’s forecast favors T1 to win MSI 2026, citing the team’s track record of elevating performance under pressure in international tournaments, despite entering as South Korea’s second seed behind Hanwha Life Esports.
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