The main stage of the League of Legends World Championship, the Worlds 2026 Swiss Stage, has officially concluded, determining the top eight teams. The Swiss system competition took place from October 23 to 31, where sixteen teams battled for three wins to advance to the playoffs. Eight rosters have been eliminated from the tournament, sharing a portion of the prize pool. Hanwha Life Esports (the first MSI champion in history to fail to qualify for the playoffs), LOS, and Movistar KOI finished in 9th-11th place, ending their run with a 2-3 record and earning $175,000 each. CTBC Flying Oyster, G2 Esports, and Team Liquid shared 12th-14th place, taking home $125,000, while Anyone's Legend and Secret Whales finished in 15th-16th place with a $90,000 payout.
Fans can now look forward to the Playoffs Stage, which, for the first time since 2021, will feature representatives from both Western leagues — the LEC and LCS. The top eight will compete in a single-elimination bracket, where every series will be a best-of-five utilizing the Fearless Draft system. The teams have no more room for error, as the format offers no second chances. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be held at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen, Texas, from November 3 to 6, while the grand final will take place at the Barclays Center in New York.
The draw has set the following quarterfinal matchups:
The Playoffs Stage kicks off on November 4 at 00:00 EET with a match between Top Esports and Invictus Gaming.
As a reminder, Official: FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves to be part of Esports World Cup 2027
