The road to the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational 2026 begins with an exciting Play-In Stage, where regional champions battle for the final spots in the main event. While two favorites enter the Upper Bracket Round 1 with overwhelming odds, recent international tournaments have already shown that reputation alone is never enough on the MSI stage.
Teams arriving from different regions have taken very different paths throughout 2026. Some dominated their domestic leagues, while others proved themselves against elite international competition during First Stand and regional playoffs. Those performances provide valuable context for the opening matches.
What Previous International Results Tell Us
T1 earned their MSI qualification after surviving one of the toughest regional qualification brackets of the year. After defeating Dplus and KT Rolster, they fell to Hanwha Life before bouncing back with an impressive 3-2 victory over Gen.G to secure their MSI berth. That run once again demonstrated T1’s resilience in high-pressure elimination matches.
Team Liquid arrive as the LTA North representatives after an outstanding lower-bracket playoff run. They defeated Shopify Rebellion, FlyQuest and Cloud9 before sweeping LYON 3-0 in the Grand Final. Their ability to adapt throughout long playoff series makes them one of the strongest Western representatives entering MSI.
Karmine Corp also enter the tournament with confidence after their remarkable LEC playoff campaign. Despite losing early to G2 Esports, KC eliminated Natus Vincere, GIANTX and eventually defeated Movistar KOI before pushing G2 to five games in the Grand Final. Their consistency throughout the lower bracket showcased one of Europe’s most disciplined macro styles.
Deep Cross Gaming may not possess the same international pedigree, but PCS representatives have historically been capable of producing surprising performances at MSI whenever opponents underestimate them.
Source: Lolesports. Edited photo
Expert Predictions & GGbet odds
This matchup looks one-sided on paper, but Team Liquid’s championship-winning run showed excellent drafting flexibility and significantly improved teamfighting. Still, T1 possess superior individual talent, world-class laning fundamentals and unmatched experience on the international stage. Unless Team Liquid can force chaotic early games, T1 should remain in complete control throughout the series.
Prediction: T1 to win
GGbet odds: 1.01 / 15.50
Karmine Corp continue to impress with disciplined objective control and patient macro play. Their playoff performances against Europe’s strongest teams demonstrated both mechanical consistency and strong drafting preparation. Deep Cross Gaming will likely need early-game advantages to have a realistic chance, but over a full series KC should comfortably outclass their opponents.
Prediction: Karmine Corp to win
GGbet odds: 1.03 / 11.80
Team to Qualify for the Main Stage
Among the Play-In participants, T1 remain the strongest candidate to reach the MSI 2026 Main Stage.
The Korean giants already proved their championship mentality during the LCK qualification bracket by eliminating Gen.G in a decisive five-game series after suffering an earlier defeat against Hanwha Life. Combined with one of the world’s deepest player rosters and years of international success, T1 have every tool necessary to comfortably advance through Play-Ins.
Karmine Corp should also be highly competitive, but T1’s experience against elite opposition gives them the edge.
Patryk’s Prediction Performance Update
Total Picks: 20
Correct Predictions: 12 / 20
Accuracy: 60%
ROI: -10.1%
Final Thoughts
The opening day of MSI 2026’s Play-In Stage features two heavy favorites, but international League of Legends rarely follows expectations perfectly. T1 and Karmine Corp both earned their places through impressive regional playoff performances, while Team Liquid have already shown they can exceed expectations after their dominant LTA title run.
Expect disciplined macro, creative drafting and plenty of high-level teamfighting as the battle for the Main Stage officially begins. If current form carries over from the regional playoffs, T1 should be the first team to secure qualification, while Karmine Corp look well-positioned to follow closely behind.