T1 secures Worlds 3rd seed with LCK playoff comeback
T1 secured the third seed for the 2026 World Championship after defeating Dplus KIA 3-1 in the 2026 LCK Playoffs Loser Bracket Round 3, played on September 6 at Chzzik LoL Park.
The series featured a decisive comeback in the fourth game, where T1 overcame an early deficit in the bottom lane to dominate the late-game teamfights. In that final game, T1 selected Kalista and Renata for their bot lane duo, aiming to apply pressure from the start of the lane phase. However, the plan did not unfold as intended. The Dplus KIA duo of "Smash" Shin Geun-jae and "Career" Oh Hyung-seok secured early kills in the lane, disrupting T1's initial momentum.
As Dplus KIA increased the pressure in the bot lane, T1 responded with a lane swap. Dplus KIA capitalized on their bot lane dominance to take the first tower of the game. T1 attempted to find an advantage during the lane swap, similar to their strategy in previous games of the series, but scoring points proved difficult. In a skirmish near the Rift Herald, T1 successfully eliminated Jax first but immediately suffered a counter-attack, resulting in a net loss. In subsequent engagements, Dplus KIA gradually pulled ahead, solidifying their control of the map.
Dplus KIA attempted to force fights by luring T1 out with objectives, but T1 declined to engage. Instead, they bought time for their carries to grow and waited for the right moment. The turning point was created by the Kalista and Renata duo of "Phaze" Kim Soo-hwan and "Keria" Ryu Min-seok. They turned the tables on the pursuing Dplus KIA players, cutting off the enemy carry lane first. T1 won this major teamfight decisively and secured the Baron Nashor.
With their dive composition gaining strength, T1 became more aggressive in seeking teamfights. At the 27-minute mark, they engaged near the Dragon, successfully removing key enemy skills before starting the fight and emerging victorious. This battle widened the gold gap to 7,000, and T1 proceeded to destroy the Nexus without further resistance.
With this victory, T1 has locked in the third seed for the 2026 World Championship and will continue the playoffs at the KSPO DOME. Dplus KIA has confirmed the fourth seed, finishing fourth in the LCK standings.
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