Following a fierce Swiss Stage, the quarterfinal knockout stage is set to begin.
The quarterfinals will be held starting at 7:00 AM KST on November 4 at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen, Texas, USA, the same venue as the Swiss Stage.
Although Hanwha Life Esports was unfortunately eliminated after losing to BLG, Dplus KIA and Gen.G advanced with 3-0 records and T1 qualified at 3-1, allowing the LCK teams to avoid facing each other in the quarterfinals. The first match will feature an all-LPL clash between TES and IG. While the quarterfinals begin without a Korean team, there is still plenty of entertainment value.
The LPL also sent three teams to the quarterfinals after their No. 1 seed AL suffered an early elimination, setting up a match between TES and IG. IG, a former LPL powerhouse that had slowly faded into memory, has returned to the Worlds main stage and made it all the way to the quarterfinals after a long absence. On the other hand, TES is a frequent participant in international events, but has often disappointed LPL fans by exiting early due to inconsistent performances on the global stage. With these two teams going head-to-head, at least one will advance to the semifinals and get a chance to contend for the title.
Next, on the 5th, Gen.G will face LYON. While Gen.G has often disappointed at Worlds, they have always been strong through the Swiss Stage. Since the World Championship adopted the Swiss Stage format for the Round of 16 in 2023, Gen.G has advanced every year, accumulating a 12-1 match record and a 92% win rate.
In that sense, the quarterfinals mark Gen.G's true test, though their matchup against LYON is highly favorable. While LYON made it to the quarterfinals, they nearly surrendered the spot to CBLOL's LOS, making a comfortable victory for Gen.G expected unless a major upset occurs. However, given past instances where an overwhelmingly strong Gen.G was eliminated from knockout stages due to poor condition or unexpected setbacks, they must prepare thoroughly this time around.
On the 6th, Dplus KIA will battle BLG. Joining as the LCK's 4th seed, DK secured an early quarterfinal spot with three consecutive wins in the Swiss Stage. Having shown a fearsome form once they gain momentum in knockout tournaments—such as winning this year's EWC—attention is focused on DK's run. However, being among the first to reach the quarterfinals resulted in a lengthy layoff, creating a variable as to whether their match sharpness may have dulled.
T1 joined the quarterfinals with a 3-1 record. After losing to DK in Round 2, they comfortably defeated CFO and MKOI. T1 has also enjoyed favorable draw luck compared to other teams. Having avoided teams widely considered contenders, T1 now faces Karmine Corp (KC) in the quarterfinals, a matchup seen as one of the most manageable alongside LYON.
For KC, 'Canna' Kim Chang-dong stood out with impressive performances from the Play-In Stage to the Swiss Stage. However, with T1's 'Doran' also showing strong form in this Swiss Stage and T1 holding a clear advantage across the other lanes, T1 appears well-positioned to put on a strong performance against KC. Once all quarterfinal matches conclude, the semifinals will take place on November 8 and 9, with the finals moving to New York on November 15.
