T1 Esports Academy have secured their place in the 2026 LCK Challengers League Grand Finals after defeating Dplus KIA Challengers 3-1 on September 10. The result gives T1 Academy a chance to win their first LCK CL title since the league’s inaugural 2021 season.

The victory also ended Dplus KIA Challengers’ unbeaten run that had continued since Round 2 of the regular season. Dplus KIA entered the series as the reigning Asia Masters 2026 champions, making T1 Academy’s victory an important result in the LCK’s development scene.

T1 Academy Secure First Grand Finals Spot

T1 Esports Academy finished first in the LCK Challengers League regular season before facing Dplus KIA Challengers in the upper-bracket final. A 3-1 victory allowed T1 Academy to secure the first available Grand Finals spot.

The organization has been waiting several years for another domestic Challengers League championship. T1 Academy won the inaugural LCK CL season in 2021, but have not captured the domestic title since then.

The current lineup is also one of the youngest rosters in the league. T1 recently promoted 17-year-old ADC Kim “Eclipse” Min-jun from T1 Rookies for the playoffs, further lowering the team’s average age.

Dplus KIA’s Winning Streak Ends

Dplus KIA Challengers came into the matchup with significant momentum after winning the 2026 Asia Masters. The team had also remained undefeated in matches since the second round of the LCK CL regular season.

However, T1 Academy managed to break that streak with a 3-1 victory and move directly into the Grand Finals. Dplus KIA Challengers will now have to continue through the remaining playoff route for another opportunity at the title.

LCK AS Expands the Development Pipeline

The LCK’s wider development ecosystem is also gaining attention this month. The second half of the 2026 LCK Academy Series (LCK AS) is scheduled to begin on September 12, with top-performing teams from the School League joining the competition.

The addition of school teams highlights the broader pathway being created for younger League of Legends players, while academy competitions such as LCK CL continue to provide a competitive environment for developing talent.

With T1 Esports Academy now waiting in the LCK CL Grand Finals, the upcoming championship match could provide another major moment for one of League of Legends’ most established development programs.