Hanwha Life Esports secured South Korea's second qualifier slot at EWC 2026 on May 26, sweeping Dplus KIA 3-0 in the lower bracket final of the LCK qualifier. The commanding finish capped an impressive reverse run through the lower bracket after HLE had been dropped by the same DK side earlier in the tournament.
A flawless lower bracket run
After losing 1-2 to Dplus KIA in the upper bracket, HLE swept through every opponent in the lower side without dropping a single series. HANJIN Brion, Nongshim RedForce, and finally Dplus KIA all fell to Hanwha Life's aggressive playstyle. Zeka was a standout performer throughout, dictating the pace across multiple champion picks and denying DK any opportunity to regain momentum.
Revenge served cold against Dplus KIA
The lower bracket final was a statement match. HLE demolished DK in three straight games, avenging their earlier defeat and sending DK home without a Paris ticket. The sweep was decisive and convincing — HLE never allowed DK to settle into their preferred macro game, keeping pressure constant across all three maps. It was a masterclass in disciplined lower bracket play under elimination pressure.
Three Korean giants head to Paris
HLE now joins T1 — who qualified on May 25 with a 3-1 win over DK in the upper bracket final — and Gen.G, the reigning EWC champions who received an automatic invite. South Korea will arrive at EWC 2026 with three of the world's top teams. The League of Legends tournament is set for July 15-19 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, featuring 16 teams competing for a $2 million prize pool.
T1, HLE, and Gen.G together in Paris: South Korea is bringing three world-class teams to the EWC 2026 stage.