T1 vs Hanwha Life Esports LCK Cup 2026: T1 Win 2–1 in Season Opener

The 2026 professional League of Legends season is officially underway, and T1 began their year with a statement victory. The reigning world champions defeated Hanwha Life Esports 2–1 in their opening match of the LCK Cup 2026, a tournament that serves as the qualification pathway to First Stand.

The series marked the first competitive clash between T1 and a Hanwha Life roster led by former T1 star Lee Min-hyeong. Despite several offseason roster changes across the league, T1’s cohesion and drafting flexibility ultimately proved decisive.

T1 vs Hanwha Life Esports LCK Cup 2026: How the Series Played Out

Game 1: Hanwha Life Esports Control the Map

Both teams opened the series with aggressive intent. T1 found early pressure in the top lane against Zeus, but Hanwha Life Esports quickly responded by targeting T1’s bottom lane, applying sustained pressure onto Peyz and Keria.

With a superior scaling composition, Hanwha Life Esports converted early advantages into neutral objectives, steadily building control across the map. Despite efforts from Lee Sang-hyeok and Oner to force fights and close the gold gap, HLE’s control around Baron Nashor and the Elder Dragon sealed the first map.

Game 2: Faker Takes Over on Sylas

T1 responded in game two with a far more aggressive draft, centered around Faker’s Sylas. Just three minutes into the match, Faker secured a double kill, instantly swinging momentum in T1’s favor.

From there, T1 dictated the pace. Clean rotations, decisive skirmishes, and superior objective setups widened the gold gap rapidly. Hanwha Life Esports struggled to find favorable teamfights, and T1 closed out the game in just 26 minutes, finishing with an approximately 11,000-gold lead.

Game 3: T1 Snowball to Close the Series

In the deciding game, T1 doubled down on early aggression, drafting Akali, Nocturne, and Orianna to enable explosive engages and pick potential.

The turning point came at the first dragon fight, where T1 secured four kills, immediately taking control of the game. With Faker leading the charge, T1 continued to punish every misstep, extending their lead relentlessly.

By the 24-minute mark, Hanwha Life Esports trailed by more than 14,000 gold, leaving little room for recovery as T1 closed out the map and secured the 2–1 series victory.

What the Win Means for T1 in LCK Cup 2026

With this result, T1 earn valuable points in the Baron Group, one of two groups in the LCK Cup 2026 alongside the Elder Group.

LCK Cup 2026 Group Structure

• Teams are split into Baron and Elder groups

• The group with the highest total points becomes the Winners Group

• The other becomes the Losers Group

Playoff Qualification

• Top 2 teams from the Winners Group qualify for playoffs

• Top 1 team from the Losers Group also advances

This early win places T1 in a strong position to secure playoff qualification and keeps them firmly in contention for First Stand, as the Korean season begins with intense competition across the board.

Early Signs of a Competitive LCK Season

The T1 vs Hanwha Life Esports LCK Cup 2026 opener highlighted both the strengths of the reigning champions and the potential of Hanwha Life’s rebuilt roster. While HLE showed promise, T1’s experience, drafting adaptability, and mid-game execution once again proved decisive.

With more high-stakes matchups ahead, the LCK Cup 2026 is already shaping up to be a fiercely contested start to the season.