On the 4th, at the Daejeon Convention Center Exhibition Hall 2, T1 secured the first win in their best-of-five (Bo5) series against BLG during the '2026 LoL Mid-Season Invitational (MSI)' bracket stage, emerging victorious after a 41-minute epic. It was a match truly worthy of the star power of both T1 and BLG.

Early in Game 1, both teams' Supporters constantly roamed to the mid lane. BLG's 'On' (Shen) successfully baited out the Flash of 'Faker' (Cassiopeia), while T1's 'Keria' (Nautilus) focused his presence on the top side rather than the bottom. As both teams skirmished around the top Scuttle Crab, Cassiopeia landed a burst of damage to secure the first kill on Shen.

When the action shifted to the top lane, BLG didn't hesitate to use Shen's ultimate skill and Viktor's Teleport to take down 'Oner' (Vi). Although T1 lost Vi, BLG had committed significant resources, and meanwhile, 'Phase' (Jhin) was free-farming in the bottom lane. Unwilling to settle for just the kill on Vi, BLG pushed the top tier-1 tower, but shortly after, T1 successfully caught 'Bin' (Jayce), who had overextended to target 'Doran' (Yorick), with help from Jhin.

BLG continued to target Yorick. They first collapsed on him using Shen's ultimate skill alongside 'Knight' (Viktor), and later, Poppy and Viktor hunted him down again. While they managed to secure the kill on Yorick, T1's Nautilus, Vi, and Jhin arrived to take down both Poppy and Viktor in return.

As the game remained tense with both sides trading blows, T1 executed a brilliant play, using Jhin and Cassiopeia's ultimate skills to catch 'Xun' (Poppy) as he dove deep. T1 immediately pivoted to the Baron and secured it. T1 held the momentum with the Baron Buff, but BLG broke their flow by catching Cassiopeia, who was isolated in the mid lane. BLG then won the subsequent Dragon fight, giving them a 3k-gold lead by the 26-minute mark.

BLG won a skirmish near the Baron pit and began taking the objective. With only Jhin and Cassiopeia present, the two T1 players remained calm, taking down Shen first before Jhin used his ultimate skill to exploit an opening and eliminate Jayce. Although BLG secured the Baron, T1 continued to pick up kills in the ensuing skirmish, coming out ahead in the trade. The focus naturally shifted to the next Dragon. T1 opted to concede the Dragon in exchange for destroying the mid tier-2 tower.

At the next Dragon spawn, T1 established position first. BLG attempted to break through with Poppy, taking down Nautilus before heading to the Baron. T1 conceded Nautilus but secured the Dragon, and by applying pressure on the side lanes, they prevented the opponent from rotating to the Baron. As expected from top-tier teams, the mid teamfight was a masterpiece. Initiated by Jhin, the intense exchange ended in a 1-for-1 trade between the junglers.

T1 quickly took the Baron while BLG was resetting, and after an Ace in the final teamfight, they secured the first win of the series after a 41-minute thriller.