On June 28, 2026, at the Daejeon Convention Center, T1 of the LCK defeated LCS team TLAW 3-0 in the opening match of the MSI 2026 Play-In Stage, securing their spot in the winners' bracket for a chance to advance to the Bracket Stage.

T1 swept all three sets, including a comeback victory in the second set after trailing. Notably, Lee 'Faker' Sang-hyeok became the first player in the world to reach 100 career wins at MSI with the victory in that second set. Kim 'Phase' Su-hwan was named 'Player of the Series' for his consistent performance across all three games.

Following the match, T1 captain Lee 'Faker' Sang-hyeok participated in a brief interview. The full transcript of the interview follows.

You secured a 3-0 victory in your first MSI match. Since this MSI is being held in Korea, it must feel special. How do you feel about the win.

- I'm happy that we were able to start our MSI campaign with a 3-0 win. I'm also satisfied that we could reward the many fans who came out to support us with a victory.

There was a dramatic comeback in today's match. What was the most memorable moment for you.

- The early game was difficult because our strategies didn't quite work out as planned. However, I think we were able to win because we maintained our focus through the mid-to-late game, and I'm grateful to my teammates. The best moment of the match for me was when we snuck the Baron.

With this win, you've set the record for the most wins in MSI history. How does it feel to set another first-of-its-kind record.

- I don't think much of it. I believe that winning on the big stage is ultimately more important than just racking up a high number of wins. My goal is to continue showing a strong performance in the remaining matches.

Your next opponent will be the winner of the match between DCG and Karmine Corp. How do you foresee that match going.

- To be honest, I'm not sure how the match will play out. It's hard to predict, but since these teams also performed well in their respective regional finals, we will prepare without letting our guard down.

Could you say a word to the fans who filled the arena from early in the morning.

- It was an early match today, so I'm sure many of you had to come out very early. I want to say thank you so much. We will prepare hard for our next match and show you our best.