Worlds 2026 quarterfinals set: T1 vs KC, DK vs BLG

The Worlds 2026 quarterfinals are set. The Swiss Stage ended on October 31, and the draw produced TES vs IG, Gen.G vs LYON, DK vs BLG and T1 vs Karmine Corp. The knockout stage starts on November 3.

The final day still delivered a shock. MSI champions Hanwha Life Esports lost 2-0 to Bilibili Gaming and are out. Karmine Corp and LYON took the last two places.

Worlds 2026 quarterfinals schedule

Every quarterfinal is a best-of-five at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen. Each series starts at 5 p.m. ET, which is 10 p.m. UTC and 7 a.m. KST the next morning.

The semifinals follow on November 7 and 8. The TES-IG winner meets the Gen.G-LYON winner, and the DK-BLG winner meets the T1-KC winner. The grand final then moves to New York on November 14 at 2 p.m. ET, according to the time Inven Global gives.

How did the quarterfinal draw work?

Inven Global explains that 3-0 teams were paired with 3-2 teams by default. DK and Gen.G, the two 3-0 sides, were placed in opposite halves so they cannot meet before the final. LCK teams were also kept apart in the quarterfinals.

That rule did not apply to the LPL. So the two Chinese 3-1 teams, TES and IG, drew each other. Gen.G got LYON, DK got BLG, and T1 drew Karmine Corp, who are at their first Worlds.

What happened on the last day of the Swiss Stage?

Karmine Corp get revenge on MKOI

Karmine Corp won the all-LEC series 2-0. Movistar KOI started the event 2-0 but then lost every best-of-three they played. Hotspawn says MKOI led for much of Game 1 before Caliste turned it around on Ashe. Game 2 was one-sided, with Yike dominant on Pantheon.

LYON end the LØS run

Brazilian champions LØS took Game 1 and were one win away from the quarterfinals. In Game 2, Berserker dragged LYON back from 8,000 gold down on Yunara. Insider Gaming reports the game ended with a backdoor by LYON's bot lane. LYON then won a tense Game 3 late to close the series 2-1.

A shock exit for HLE

The headline was Hanwha Life Esports going home. In a rematch of the MSI final, BLG came back to win a Game 1 that went past 40 minutes. In Game 2, Knight and Bin took over early on Locke and Olaf. Hotspawn called it the biggest upset of the Swiss Stage. HLE did have a brutal run of opponents: TES, Gen.G, IG, G2 and BLG.

Who is left, by region

• LCK (3 teams): Gen.G, Dplus KIA, T1
• LPL (3 teams): Top Esports, Invictus Gaming, Bilibili Gaming
• LEC (1 team): Karmine Corp
• LCS (1 team): LYON

Korea and China again have three teams each. Karmine Corp are the last LEC team standing after G2 and MKOI went out, so all of Europe's hopes now rest on them.

What does it mean for fans?

T1 vs KC will be the most talked-about series. The defending champions face a European side at its first Worlds, backed by one of the loudest fanbases in the sport. DK vs BLG puts a perfect 3-0 LCK team against the side that just knocked out HLE.

Gen.G vs LYON is the only series with an LCS team, and LYON have already shown they can come back from big deficits. TES vs IG guarantees at least one LPL team in the semifinals.

Catch up on earlier days with our coverage of the day Team Liquid and G2 went out, T1, IG and TES qualifying and DK and Gen.G going 3-0.

Frequently asked questions

When are the Worlds 2026 quarterfinals?

They run from November 3 to 6 in Allen, Texas. Every series starts at 5 p.m. ET (10 p.m. UTC), and TES vs IG opens the bracket.

Who does T1 play in the quarterfinals?

Defending champions T1 face Karmine Corp, who are playing their first ever Worlds, in a best-of-five on November 6.

Where and when is the Worlds 2026 final?

The final moves to New York. Inven Global lists it for 4 a.m. KST on November 15, which is 2 p.m. ET (7 p.m. UTC) on November 14.

Sources

• Inven Global: Quarterfinal draw results
• Hotspawn: Worlds 2026 Swiss Stage Day 8 results
• Insider Gaming: KCorp, LYON and BLG secure knockout spots
• e.sport.fr: Quarterfinal schedule