Hanwha Life Esports won the MSI finals 2026 on Sunday with a 3-2 victory over Bilibili Gaming in Daejeon.
It was a difficult final for HLE. They won the first game, then lost the next two as BLG moved to match point. HLE answered in Game 4 and then won the deciding game to take the title.
The win also sends HLE to Worlds 2026. Zeus was named Finals MVP after two strong games to close the series, while BLG finish second after coming within one map of the trophy.
HLE MSI win came the hard way
HLE started the bracket stage with two sweeps, first against Team Secret Whales and then against G2 Esports. BLG stopped that run in the Upper Bracket Final, winning 3-1 and sending HLE down into the lower bracket.
That loss forced HLE into a dangerous route back to the title match. They had to beat LYON in the Lower Bracket Final, and they did it through a reverse sweep, earning one more shot at BLG.
BLG arrived in the Grand Finals with less damage on the run sheet. They swept LYON, swept T1, then beat HLE to reach the final first. The bracket made BLG look like the steadier team. The final told a different story.
The official MSI 2026 bracket stage placed HLE and BLG on a collision course twice, while Riot's wider LoL Esports schedule underlined why the result matters beyond one trophy. MSI sits in the middle of the international season, and this one now belongs to HLE.
HLE vs BLG went all five games in the MSI finals
Game 1 was messy in the best way. Both teams traded kills, dragons and map pressure for more than 40 minutes before HLE finally found the fight that cracked open BLG's base. The 25-16 kill score gave HLE the first lead of the final.
BLG answered quickly. Game 2 turned after HLE's early burst damage gave way to BLG's better objective control around Ocean Soul. Game 3 was even harsher for HLE, with BLG repeatedly attacking Kanavi's jungle and choking out the map until they took a 2-1 series lead.
Then came the swing. HLE's Game 4 draft gave BLG very little room to start clean fights. Zeus' Swain became a nightmare in the front line, Gumayusi's Ashe gave HLE vision and range, and Kanavi recovered from the previous game with the space his team needed. HLE won 28-13 and sent the final to Silver Scrapes.
| Game | Winner | Kill score | Time | What decided it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | HLE | 25-16 | 43:09 | HLE won the late fight that finally opened BLG's base. |
| Game 2 | BLG | 28-15 | 32:10 | BLG used Ocean Soul and team-fight control to level the series. |
| Game 3 | BLG | 20-7 | 32:19 | BLG attacked Kanavi early and never let HLE settle. |
| Game 4 | HLE | 28-13 | 31:08 | Zeus' Swain and HLE's crowd control forced Game 5. |
| Game 5 | HLE | 21-20 | 36:26 | Kanavi punished BLG's Baron setup and HLE closed through mid. |
HLE won Games 1, 4 and 5 to beat BLG 3-2 in the MSI finals.
Zeus turned Game 5 into a Dr. Mundo highlight reel
Game 5 did not look comfortable for either side for most of its 36 minutes. BLG kept trading across the map, denied HLE a Dragon Soul setup, and made sure the final never became a simple march to the Nexus.
The difference was how much space Zeus created on Dr. Mundo. He walked into fights first, soaked pressure, ran through danger and still gave Gumayusi's Yunara and Delight's Lulu time to play the back half of the fight. BLG had damage, but they did not have an easy way to remove him before HLE's carries could respond.
That Game 5 performance is the focus of the short highlight clip, with Zeus repeatedly forcing BLG to deal with him before HLE took over the closing stretch.
The final turn came around Baron. BLG tried to force the play that could keep their title hopes alive, but Kanavi found the angle HLE needed. Once HLE took the Baron, the game moved fast. They pushed through mid, won the last exchange, and ended the series with a 21-20 kill score in Game 5.
Game 5 stats from HLE's MSI finals win
The final scoreboard showed how close Game 5 really was. BLG matched HLE in kills until the very end, but HLE's distribution was stronger for the final fights. Delight ended with 86 percent kill participation, Kanavi and Gumayusi both reached 76 percent, and Zeus did the job HLE needed most, absorbing pressure while still dealing 36.7k damage.
| HLE player | Champion | Ending KDA | Kill participation | Damage | Gold and CS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeus | Dr. Mundo | 4/1/5 | 43% | 36.7k | 15.3k gold, 302 CS |
| Kanavi | Pantheon | 5/4/11 | 76% | 29.8k | 15.2k gold, 258 CS |
| Zeka | Sylas | 7/4/8 | 71% | 24.7k | 13.6k gold, 241 CS |
| Gumayusi | Yunara | 4/6/12 | 76% | 30.3k | 18.0k gold, 391 CS |
| Delight | Lulu | 1/5/17 | 86% | 6.7k | 10.8k gold, 37 CS |
HLE's Game 5 numbers show why the title-clinching map was built around Zeus' frontline and the Yunara-Lulu backline.
Across the full series, Gumayusi led HLE in total listed damage at 156.3k. Zeus finished with 124.6k, and Zeka added 105.3k. Delight led HLE in overall kill participation at 77 percent, a fitting number for a final where HLE kept finding ways back into fights even when the game looked unstable.
HLE celebrate MSI title after stopping BLG's run
After the final, the LCK posted HLE's celebration with the MSI trophy.
HLE received US$500,000 for the win. The title also gives them a spot at Worlds 2026. BLG received US$300,000 for second place.
For more coverage from the competitive season, follow RiftDaily's esports coverage, the dedicated MSI hub, and the latest League of Legends news.
The full series highlights show just how many times the final changed direction before HLE finally shut the door.
BLG were close enough to make the loss hurt. HLE were tough enough to make the comeback stick.
Frequently asked questions about HLE winning MSI 2026
Who won MSI 2026?
HLE won MSI 2026. They beat BLG in the Grand Finals.
What was the final score?
HLE won 3-2. The series lasted all five games.
How did the series play out?
HLE won the first game, then BLG won the next two. HLE came back by winning Games 4 and 5.
Who won Finals MVP?
Zeus won the Oppo Finals MVP award. His Swain helped HLE force Game 5, and his Dr. Mundo was central to the deciding win.
Did HLE qualify for Worlds?
Yes. The MSI title also gave HLE a confirmed spot at Worlds 2026.
Where was the final played?
The final was played in Daejeon, South Korea.
How much did HLE win?
HLE won US$500,000. BLG won US$300,000 for second place.
What this means for HLE
HLE were facing the same BLG team that had beaten them earlier in the bracket. The final started well for HLE, but BLG won Games 2 and 3. HLE answered with two wins of their own to take the title.
The title gives HLE more than a trophy. It puts them into Worlds 2026 and gives them a major best-of-five win over the LPL's first seed before the season reaches its final stage.
