The 2026 League of Legends World Championship witnessed two major upsets as LOS and Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) eliminated Team Liquid Alienware and G2 Esports from the tournament. Both teams secured crucial victories in their respective Swiss Stage elimination matches, keeping their own qualification hopes alive.
LOS Knock Out Team Liquid in 2-1 Upset
Brazilian side LOS defeated North American representatives Team Liquid Alienware (TLAW) 2-1 in a closely contested series.
LOS started strongly, winning the opening game in 29 minutes with a 15-7 kill score. However, Team Liquid responded in the second game, using Yeon's Lucian and CoreJJ's Nami to secure key objectives and level the series.
The deciding game lasted 47 minutes, with both teams fighting to avoid elimination. Despite Yeon's successful Dragon steal, LOS eventually gained control during the final Elder Dragon fight. The Brazilian team secured the victory with a 16-5 kill score, ending Team Liquid's Worlds campaign.
Hanwha Life Esports Sweep G2 Esports
Hanwha Life Esports delivered another disappointing result for a major Western representative, defeating G2 Esports 2-0.
HLE controlled the opening game through strong individual performances from Zeus, Kanavi and their teammates. They secured a convincing 22-10 victory in 27 minutes.
G2 attempted to respond in the second game, with BrokenBlade's Camille providing some early opportunities. However, Zeka's Swain proved difficult to overcome as HLE gradually established control. The Korean team closed the game in 26 minutes with a 19-7 kill score.
The defeat eliminated G2 from Worlds 2026, while HLE advanced to the 2-2 pool, remaining in contention for the Knockout Stage.
Team Liquid and G2 Exit the Tournament
The defeats marked the end of the Worlds 2026 journeys for both Team Liquid Alienware and G2 Esports. The two eliminated teams finished tied for 12th-14th place and received $125,000 in consolation prize money.
Meanwhile, LOS and Hanwha Life Esports secured another opportunity to fight for qualification. Their victories highlighted the unpredictability of the Swiss Stage, where even established tournament contenders can face early elimination.