In the semifinals of the 2026 GSL Season 1, held at the Freec Up Studio in Daechi-dong, Seoul, Kim Jun-ho and Shin Hee-bum defeated Kim Do-wook and Jo Seong-joo, respectively, to advance to the finals.

In the first set between Kim Jun-ho and Kim Do-wook, both players opted for standard macro play, expanding steadily. It was a textbook matchup with similar supply counts, but Kim Jun-ho secured his expansions more efficiently, gaining the upper hand in the war of attrition to take the win. In the second set, Kim Jun-ho caught Kim Do-wook off guard with a surprise Dark Templar build, bringing the series to 2-0.

Down 0-2, Kim Do-wook opted for an all-in strategy. He secured his first win with a proxy Barracks Marauder rush. Carrying that momentum into the fourth set, he attempted another all-in with Barracks, Factory, and Starport built outside his base, but Kim Jun-ho scouted it early, prepared Void Rays to defend, and won the series 3-1 to reach the finals.

In the second semifinal match, Jo Seong-joo used his Reaper to prevent Shin Hee-bum from spreading creep and successfully defended against Zergling attacks with Hellions in the first set. However, Shin Hee-bum managed to drone up effectively and transition into a high-production build. In a base-trade scenario, the Zerg player gained the advantage, leading Shin Hee-bum to victory.

In the second set, Shin Hee-bum attempted a unique play by building a Hatchery at Jo Seong-joo’s natural expansion to delay the Terran's timing. Jo Seong-joo responded calmly, clearing the Hatchery and creep before landing his Command Center. He then gained an advantage through Medivac and Marine harassment and won a late-game engagement to tie the series 1-1.

In the third set, Shin Hee-bum prepared a Roach-based pressure build, but after being spotted by a Reaper and Hellion, he chose not to commit to an over-aggressive attack. Jo Seong-joo focused on defense and expansion, massing Tanks, Marauders, and Ghosts. Shin Hee-bum countered by teching into high-tier units like Vipers, Ultralisks, and Brood Lords, leveraging his superior resource count to win the war of attrition and take a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth set, Jo Seong-joo successfully defended against Shin Hee-bum’s Roach and Ravager-heavy army to win, leveling the series at 2-2. In the final fifth set, Shin Hee-bum opened with Zerglings and Banelings instead of Roaches. Jo Seong-joo went for a standard bio composition, and the game went into the late stages. Shin Hee-bum added Hydralisks and used a multi-pronged drop alongside a mass Baneling attack at the 9 o'clock position to destroy the Planetary Fortress.

Shin Hee-bum stabilized his economy with multiple expansions, securing a dominant position. Although Jo Seong-joo held on with his signature control, he could not overcome the overwhelming resource gap. Shin Hee-bum defeated Jo Seong-joo 3-2 to advance to the finals, where he will face Kim Jun-ho.