On September 15, T1 Esports Academy defeated KT with a set score of 3-0 in the Grand Final of the 2026 LCK Challengers League (LCK CL) to claim the championship title.
The LCK CL is the official secondary league for League of Legends. In Game 1, T1 Esports Academy widened the gap around 'Eclipse' Kim Min-jun without surrendering the gold lead even once. In Game 2, they maintained their dominance across laning, teamfights, and macro play, while in Game 3, they overcame an early deficit with back-to-back teamfight aces to close out the series.
T1 Esports Academy's 'Painter' Kim Eun-hoo was named Finals MVP. Kim said, "It was an eventful season, but I'm happy we were able to finish on a high note. Thanks to my teammates fulfilling their roles so well, I was able to receive the MVP award." He added, "Through my experience with the first team, I learned a mindset of enjoying the game itself and the process rather than just the result. Next year, I want to improve enough to be satisfied with myself. I'm grateful to my teammates who were with me all year and to the fans who supported us." The Finals MVP was awarded prize money of 2.5 million won.
This marks the first time T1 Esports Academy has reached the top of the league in five years, since the 2021 Spring Split. The champions were awarded a trophy and 40 million won in prize money.
The 2026 ALL LCK CL Team featured T1A's 'Haetae' Shim Soo-hyun, 'Painter' Kim Eun-hoo, 'Guti' Moon Jeong-hwan, DK's 'Wayne' Hwang Seo-hyun, and T1A's 'Cloud' Moon Hyeon-ho. Regular Season MVP went to second-year player 'Cloud' Moon Hyeon-ho, while T1A head coach 'Duti' Choi Doo-sung was named CL Coach of the Year.
The 2026 LCK CL was hosted and organized by Riot Games and managed by the Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA). WDG handled broadcast production, while Woori Bank participated as a sponsor.
