Incheon Wave win 2026 KEL in Eternal Return
Incheon Wave have claimed the 2026 KEL Eternal Return title. After leading through the first three rounds, the team faced a slump starting in round four, but ultimately secured the championship with a comeback victory against Busan in the final seventh round.
The grand finals, held at the Daejeon eSports Stadium, followed a sequential checkpoint rule where the tournament ended once a team reached a specific score. After a dominant start, Incheon Wave struggled in the fourth round, losing their lead to teams like Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk.
The momentum shifted mid-tournament as Daejeon and Gyeongnam surged forward. In the sixth round, Daejeon secured three consecutive checkmates, climbing to third place in the standings. This kept the title race wide open, with Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk maintaining their hold on the top two spots while Incheon Wave fought to stay in contention.
The seventh and final round saw a rapid series of eliminations, with Jeonnam, Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, and Gangwon being knocked out early. The championship came down to a final showdown between Incheon Wave and Busan. Although Busan took an early kill in the engagement, Incheon Wave turned the tide, eliminating the remaining players to secure the trophy.

With the tournament concluded, Incheon Wave took first place, followed by Gyeongbuk in second and Gangwon in third.