Another international tournament to offer some consolation after missing out on Worlds, the '2026 Demacia Cup Global Invitational (DCGI)', will run from October 3 to 17. Featuring 12 teams from six regions, the LCK will be represented by KT Rolster, BNK FearX, and HANJIN BRION, who finished 5th through 7th in the region.
Previously held as an off-season tournament for the Chinese region, the Demacia Cup has expanded into a global event this year. Twelve teams from six leagues—LCK, LPL, LEC, LCS, LCP, and CBLOL—will compete, with seeds awarded to the next highest-ranked teams in each region that narrowly missed out on Worlds qualification. This year, three seeds each were allocated to the LCK and LPL, which recorded the highest finishes at MSI.
The participating teams have been confirmed as KT Rolster, BNK FearX, and HANJIN BRION (LCK); JD Gaming, Team WE, and LGD Gaming (LPL); Natus Vincere and Team Vitality (LEC); Shopify Rebellion and FlyQuest (LCS); GAM Esports (LCP); and RED Canids (CBLOL). In CBLOL's case, as the playoffs have not yet concluded, RED Canids earned the berth by finishing 4th in the regular season.
The tournament is split into a Swiss Stage and a Knockout Stage. The Swiss Stage will first take place online from October 3 to 8. Round 1 features best-of-one (Bo1) matches, while all subsequent rounds are played as best-of-three (Bo3) matches, with teams advancing to the Knockout Stage upon securing two wins. For the three teams that go 0–2, only one team will advance to the final round after a single round-robin format.
The Knockout Stage, where the eight surviving teams contend, begins on October 12. The venue also shifts from online to offline, taking place at the Beijing Smart Esports Center, home arena of JD Gaming. It will follow a single-elimination tournament format with all matches played as best-of-five (Bo5). Additionally, coach voice communication will be enabled starting from the Knockout Stage.
Following the Swiss Stage draw, KT Rolster will face Shopify Rebellion, BNK FearX will face Team Vitality, and HANJIN BRION will face JD Gaming in Round 1. Fans are eager to watch the opening steps to see if one of the LCK representatives—KT Rolster, considered one of the tournament favorites; BNK FearX, inaugural champions of the 2025 ASI, the spiritual predecessor to DCGI; or HANJIN BRION, stepping onto an international stage for the first time in nine years—can rise to the top of the Demacia Cup.
