Taking place later this year, the 2026 League of Legends World Championship will feature the best in the world going head-to-head in some blistering LOL action. For those who are perhaps unfamiliar with the competition, this is an esports tournament for the multiplayer online battle arena video game League of Legends. Last year’s competition was held in China from October to November and was the fifteenth iteration of the League of Legends World Championship. The finals took place at the Don’an Lake Sports Park Gymnasium in Chengdu, where T1 of the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) successfully defended their title after defeating fellow Korean representatives KT Rolster with a 3-2 scoreline. Of course, with such a dynamic field, even T1 is not the early favorite to get back into the championship circle just yet.
For this report, SBS will review the latest 2026 League of Legends World Championship information, share some insights from the top teams, and also provide some exclusive information available only at SBS.
| Favorites to Win the 2026 League of Legends World Title |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen G. | +110 | +110 | +110 |
| Anyone's Legend | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Hanwha Life Esports | +550 | +550 | +550 |
| T1 | +700 | +700 | +700 |
Recognized as the season champion last year and also the 2025 Mid-Season Invitational winner, South Korea’s Gen. G is a fantastic unit. With headquarters in Santa Monica, Seoul, and Shanghai, Gen. G is the eighth most valuable esports organization in the world, according to a Forbes report. Truly dominant team, last year’s run featured some great highlights. Per sources, in 2025, they won the 2025 Mid-Season Invitational and also the incredible 2025 Esports World Cup. Thanks to these accomplishments, Gen. G earned a ticket to the 2025 League of Legends World Championship but ended up falling short to KT in the semi-finals, 1-3. Nonetheless, they were still nominated for “Best Esports Team” at The Game Awards 2025.
Per a report on the team, hoping to revamp its roster for the 2025 season, Anyone’s Legend from China (AL) signed two LPL veterans: 2021 World Champion Flandre and 2024 World semifinalist Tarzan. Thanks to these changes, AL placed first in their group stage of the first split, but were defeated 3-1 by Top Esports in their inaugural finals appearance. Moving on, AL began MSI 2025 in the second stage (bracket stage) of the event due to them being the LPL’s first seed. The team defeated North America’s FlyQuest in the first round before losing to South Korea’s Gen. G in the second round. Dropping to the lower bracket, AL first defeated CTBC Flying Oyster from Taiwan and then BLG, once again, before being eliminated by team T1. Hopes and expectations are clearly higher in 2026.
A team with a longer-than-usual esports history, they have accrued various high finishes over a variety of years. As of late though, the team has picked up the action with a first-place finish at the 2024 Summer League of Legends Champions Korea playoffs competition. Moreover, HLE gained some more momentum last year, with first-place finishes at the 2025 LCK Cup and the 2025 First Stand Tournament. While they finished in fifth place at the 2025 League of Legends World Championship, early markets are suggesting they could rebound in a big way in 2026. Prior to their breakthrough in 2024, the team was always competitive in most LOL competitions, but was unable to lock down many titles over that span. The goal of the course now is to make sure they not only score high now, but are clutch in the final stages of each bracket.
Our final squad showcase, T1, needs little introduction. Noted on their official page, T1’s League of Legends team has won a record six League of Legends World Championship titles (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024, and 2025) and ten League of Legends Korea championships, also a record. This, of course, includes their recent fantastic three-peat at the LOL World Championships. In addition to those fantastic honors, they have also won two Mid-Season Invitational titles (2016 and 2017), one Esports World Cup title (2024), and one KeSPA Cup (2025). Indeed, with so many great honors, T1 just has to stay on top of the mountain once again, which is getting increasingly hard to do. Of course, there might not be a better way to make history once again than this talented and stacked roster.
With so many talented squads, this year’s competition will be red hot for all of the contenders involved. However, Gen. G was so close last year, and this squad is hungry for an elusive championship in 2026 following a fantastic 2025.
Once you are all up to speed in relation to the latest gaming notes and news coming from the world of Esports, make sure to peruse the excellent array of info for you only at SBS. Of course, for even analysis on the topic in this report, the Esports betting sites guide has you covered with all kinds of betting markets on Esports. Additionally, for those on the go and who qualify, the best betting apps rundown is a must-read resource. Here, you can learn more about the perks of mobile wagering if you are eligible. Finally, for those intrigued by higher stakes wagering, the VIP sports betting sites breakdown is an excellent guide. On this page, you can learn more about VIP wagering and whether it makes sense for you.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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