The new Chinese esports tournament, the 2026 League of Legends Demacia Cup Global Invitational, will gather 12 top teams from the world's six major regions (LPL, LCK, LEC, LCS, LCP, and CBLOL) that failed to qualify for the 2026 World Championship. The competition will take place in China from October 3 to 17, 2026, in a mixed format combining online and offline matches. The event is organized by TJ Sports and Huya.
The total prize pool for the tournament is 1,500,000 Chinese Yuan, equivalent to approximately $223,769 USD. The tournament winner will receive a reward of $89,507, while the runner-up will take home $59,671.
The tournament consists of two main phases: the Swiss Stage and the Knockout Stage. The Swiss Stage will run from October 3 to 10. In the first round, teams will play Bo1 matches, and starting from the second round, matches will transition to a Bo3 format with mandatory use of the "Fearless Draft" system. To successfully advance to the next stage, a team must secure two victories.
The decisive single-elimination Knockout Stage will be held offline at the Beijing JD Esports Center from October 12 to 17. The eight qualified teams will determine the champion in Bo5 matches, which will also be played under "Fearless Draft" rules.
The tournament will kick off with a match featuring NAVI, who will face RED Canids on October 3 at 11:00 AM Kyiv time in the first round. The Natus Vincere organization qualified for the event thanks to a fourth-place finish in the LEC 2026 Summer split.
NAVI's starting roster for the tournament includes South Korean players Poby and SamD, Turkish esports athletes Rhilech and Parus, and Ukrainian player Maynter.
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