For a long time, the most successful League of Legends teams on the global stage have predominantly hailed from Asia, particularly China and South Korea. This trend continued into the First Stand 2026, the inaugural major tournament of the season, where LCK and LPL teams were widely expected to emerge victorious.
However, G2 Esports, representing the LEC, defied expectations with an impressive run, reaching the Grand Final. There, they faced Bilibili Gaming from the LPL, whom they had previously lost to 3-0 in the Group A Upper Bracket Final. Despite securing one map, G2 couldn’t turn the tide and ultimately fell 3-1.
The first major trophy of the 2026 League of Legends season thus goes to China with Bilibili Gaming, who also secured a substantial $250,000 prize. While G2 Esports didn’t clinch the title, their strong performance bodes well for their upcoming LEC season and future international tournaments such as MSI or Worlds.