Dplus KIA defeated G2 again in the opening match of Worlds 2026, three months after their Esports World Cup victory.

Background: Bottom-Seeded Dplus KIA Face Top-Tier G2 Esports

Dplus KIA entered their first Worlds 2026 match from the bottom seeding tier, while G2 Esports arrived as the top-tier side in the pairing. The result was a win for Dplus KIA and their second victory over the LEC champions since July, setting up a meeting with T1 on Saturday.

The opening game was a rematch for both clubs. Play began at 21:10 Coordinated Universal Time in a best-of-one tie.

Before the match, the Elo power rankings favoured G2 Esports. They sat 13th on a rating of 1798, carrying a 92-41 record across 133 rated matches. Dplus KIA were placed 29th on 1715, with a 91-61 record across 152 rated matches.

Build-up: G2 Esports Came Off an LEC Title Run

The defeat for G2 Esports ended a three-match winning run. Before Worlds 2026, they had beaten Team Vitality, Karmine Corp and Movistar KOI in LEC Summer 2026.

Their final domestic success came against Movistar KOI. G2 Esports won that series 3-0 in the Summer Grand Final in Nice on 20 September. The result gave them their 20th LEC title.

Dplus KIA had a different path into the match. They arrived with mixed LCK form. Their last domestic match was a 1-3 loss to T1. Before that loss, they had beaten KT Rolster and BNK FEARX.

Their summer abroad was more successful. Dplus KIA won the League of Legends event at the Esports World Cup in Paris, held from 15 to 19 July. They swept Karmine Corp 3-0 in the final. The win earned US$600,000 plus 1,000 Club Championship points. The organisers said it was the club’s first Esports World Cup title.

The Match: G2 Esports Led Early, Dplus KIA Closed It Out

G2 Esports took the early initiative. They won a four-versus-four fight against Dplus KIA’s bottom lane. They then caught ShowMaker, who was playing Syndra, in the middle lane.

Despite the early pressure from G2 Esports, Dplus KIA secured the first dragon. They kept control after that objective and closed out the game.

The result gave Dplus KIA their first win of Worlds 2026 and continued their recent success over G2 Esports. The victory also came three months after their Esports World Cup title.

Round One Results Across the Swiss Stage

T1 also opened their campaign with a win, beating LOS. They now face Dplus KIA next.

The other LEC sides in Round 1 won their matches. Karmine Corp beat Anyone’s Legend, and Movistar KOI beat Bilibili Gaming. Elsewhere, Hanwha Life Esports beat Top Esports. CTBC Flying Oyster beat Team Liquid, and LYON beat Team Secret Whales.

The Swiss Stage has 16 teams playing five rounds. Three wins send a team to the quarter-finals. Three losses knock a team out. No pairing can happen twice, so G2 Esports and Dplus KIA cannot meet again in this stage.

The schedule shifts later next week. Matches on 28 to 30 October are due to start at 8.00pm Coordinated Universal Time, later than the 5.00pm Coordinated Universal Time start used for the opening days.

Final Stage Date and Current Position

The final is set for Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday 14 November, starting at 2 PM Eastern Standard Time, which is 8 PM Central European Time.

At this point, the event is in the first round of the 16-team Swiss Stage. Dplus KIA have one win, G2 Esports have one loss, and T1 have one win. Dplus KIA will play T1 on Saturday, while G2 Esports cannot face them again before the Swiss Stage ends.