The third day of the 2026 LoL KeSPA Cup (hereinafter KeSPA Cup) Stage 1 finals was held online on the 4th. With match times overlapping with the Challengers league, the day featured head-to-head matchups between first-tier teams. T1 defeated Hanwha Life Esports 2-1 to advance to Stage 2, while Gen.G Esports swept DN Supers to move on to the third round. In the elimination match, Kiwoom DRX survived by pulling off a 'loss-win-win' reverse sweep against Hanjin Brion.

T1, Hanwha Life Esports, and Gen.G Esports—long considered the 'Big 3'—have shown signs of instability with lackluster performances in the recently opened LCK. Consequently, there was significant interest in their form at the KeSPA Cup. The first match, a showdown between T1 and Hanwha Life Esports, served as a preview for the LCK Saturday Showdown scheduled for the 8th.

Hanwha Life Esports took the first set. 'Kanavi' Seo Jin-hyeok brought out Shyvana, a joker pick that had failed him in the LCK, and this time, he proved its worth. The destructive power of a well-farmed Shyvana was clearly evident in the chaotic skirmishes. T1 struck back in the second set, consistently pressuring Hanwha Life Esports through seasoned objective and side-lane management to force a decider.

In the decisive third set, after 'Zeus' Choi Woo-je picked Dr. Mundo as a blue-side counter, T1 responded by locking in 'Faker' Lee Sang-hyeok's Azir as the final red-side pick. Early in the game, 'Keria' Ryu Min-seok, playing Blitzcrank, landed a series of inspired hooks that gifted 5 kills to 'Phase' Kim Su-hwan's Varus. However, Hanwha Life Esports regained momentum, led by Dr. Mundo,

Early on, 'Keria' Ryu Min-seok's Blitzcrank completely dismantled the bottom lane dynamic with his precise hooks. Hanwha Life Esports rallied through the strength of their top-side players, successfully turning the tide by winning a crucial Baron teamfight. Advancing with the Baron buff, Hanwha Life Esports looked to close out the game after 'Kanavi's' Jarvan IV initiated a fight that wiped out T1's members.

However, a variable emerged when 'Gumayusi' Lee Min-hyeong's Varus was executed by a tower due to the Statikk Shiv effect. T1 seized this lifeline, catching 'Zeka' Kim Geon-woo's Ahri—who had been targeting 'Phase'—and securing the Hextech Soul. While Hanwha Life Esports took the Baron in the meantime and headed toward the top lane, T₩1 a massive teamfight there to put an end to the match.

In the second match, Gen.G Esports defeated DN Supers. While the 2-0 sweep suggests a dominant performance by the superior roster, the gameplay left something to be desired. Gen.G showed signs of instability, falling behind in early skirmishes and nearly letting leads slip away. The ongoing struggles in the bottom lane were also notable.

Conversely, DN Supers looked sharp enough to pressure Gen.G Esports. The movement of new addition 'Shabel' Kim Dan-woo and the team's ability to punish Gen.G's overextensions were impressive. However, their tendency to commit 'throw'-like mistakes at critical moments remains a persistent issue to address.

In the elimination match between Hanjin Brion and Kiwoom DRX, Kiwoom DRX emerged victorious. Hanjin Brion took the first set by snowballing through the top lane, bolstered by the firepower of 'Teddy' Park Jin-sung's Corki. However, Kiwoom DRX survived by winning the next two sets, led by the explosive performance of their new face, 'Aiming' Kim Ha-ram.

Meanwhile, Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2026 KeSPA Cup Finals Stage 1 will be held online on the 10th. The advancement match will feature Hanwha Life Esports against Gen.G Esports, where the participation of first-string rosters is highly likely due to the Challengers League schedule. The elimination match will be played between DN Supers and Kiwoom DRX. The final match of Round 4 will pit the loser of the advancement match against the winner of the elimination match.