Hanwha Life Esports beat T1 3–1 on June 12 at the Wonju DB Promy Arena to take the LCK's first seed at MSI 2026 — and reach a Mid-Season Invitational for the first time in the organization's history.
HLE set the tempo from the early game and never let go. The solo lanes did the damage. outclassed across the series, and held the top side without help. 's spine never synced — and Faker misread tempo and made repeated play errors, handing the whole map to play his game.
The result closes a long gap. HLE entered the LCK in 2018 and had never qualified for MSI, falling short in the 2024 Spring playoffs and collapsing in the 2025 qualifier. Zeka had set the target before the series. After clinching the regular-season top seed on May 31, he told reporters he had tied the run to the host city — Daejeon, home of the Hanwha Eagles (Baseball Team):
I really want to make it to this 'Road to MSI'. The finals are being held in Daejeon, and when you think of Daejeon, you think of 'Hanwha,' right? I really hope we can go to Daejeon and show them two Hanwhas.
T1 drop to the lower bracket and meet the Gen.G–KT Rolster winner on June 14 for the second seed.
