Bilibili Gaming won the first two LPL splits and the First Stand. They were the only team that could win the Golden Road this year. Hanwha Life Esports put an end to the dreams for the year at MSI. After losing 3-1 to BLG in the MSI Upper Bracket Final, many expected the same result. They turned it around and got the win over the LPL first seed. Zeus and Zeka became the first players to win every international tournament, while Homme became the first coach to achieve it.
MSI 2026: Game One Review
Draft
Bilibili Gaming – Blue Side
- Renekton
- Naafiri
- Viktor
- Ezreal
- Bard
Hanwha Life Esports – First Pick
- Ambessa
- Lee Sin
- Orianna
- Caitlyn
- Karma
Kanavi With the Early Impact
Kanavi completes his first three camps and ganks the top lane. Both Zeus and Kanavi use Flash for the kill. The next action is five minutes later, with another Kanavi gank on Bin. BLG lets Bin breathe with a four-player play on Zeus. At the same time, HLE take the second Drake and push in the other lanes for turret plates.
A Mid-Game Explosion
Bin picks up the first tower, but that is all BLG gets at the start of the mid-game. HLE pick up kill after kill, thanks to Kanavi. BLG looks to recover with a five-player play in the top lane. They eventually kill the turret alongside Zeus and Kanavi. But at the same time, Gumayusi gets two mid towers, and Zeka picks up a kill in return.
Baron in Preparation For the Infernal Soul
BLG, first on the map, takes the Baron a minute before the Infernal Soul fight. BLG denies the Soul, but the fight goes HLE’s way. Gumayusi gets three kills in the fight. HLE invades BLG’s top jungle. Bin teleports behind, and BLG attacks Gumayusi. He eventually dies, but not before HLE wins the fight. XUN steals the second Drake to keep HLE away from the Soul. HLE chase for kills on the Infernal Soul, but they give up yet another Drake.
HLE Finally Take an Objective
HLE finally get a Baron and look to push into BLG’s base. Bin teleports behind, and Zeus dies instantly. BLG wins the fight with only Delight surviving. Kanavi reaches Viper in the final Soul fight. ON tries to save Viper, but they both die. Kanavi dies, which gives BLG a chance to contest the Drake. XUN jumps into a trap and dies. Gumayusi and Bin die as well. HLE finally gets the Infernal Soul. BLG give Baron for killing Zeus. Despite being down a player, HLE pushes into BLG’s base. Gumayusi steps up and challenges them. BLG eventually pulls the trigger. They kill Gumayusi but at the cost of the game.
Player Ratings
Bilibili Gaming
- Bin – 7
- XUN – 3
- Knight – 6
- Viper – 6
- ON – 5
Hanwha Life Esports
- Zeus – 7
- Kanavi – 8
- Zeka – 7
- Gumayusi – 9
- Delight – 8
Player of the Game – Gumayusi
MSI 2026: Game Two Review
Draft
Hanwha Life Esports – Blue Side
- Yorick
- Qiyana
- Ahri
- Ziggs
- Camille
Bilibili Gaming – First Pick
- Rumble
- Jarvan IV
- Cassiopeia
- Lucian
- Shen
XUN’s Turn for a Level Three Gank
XUN goes for the level three gank this time around. Zeus outplays the gank to secure the first blood kill on Bin before dying to XUN. The early game explodes. Zeka lands a Flash Charm on Knight, but Kanavi has to burn his Flash as well to guarantee the kill. Kanavi looks for the Scuttle Crab, and ON punishes the decision. The teams fight 4v4 in the top lane. It goes in BLG’s favor with two kills to one. They go for round 2, but this time HLE dives Bin for the only kill in the play.
A Missed Engage
Kanavi and Delight missed their ultimate engage on XUN. That prompted BLG to turn. In the extended play, BLG win with two kills to one. They also secured two of the Void Grubs, and Viper was alone in the bot lane. The action does not stop at any point in the early and mid game. The teams keep trading kills back-and-forth. At 16 minutes, there are 23 kills and the gold is even. HLE finally get a significant gold lead around the Soul Point fight. They kill the mid and bot towers. HLE also win the fight with two kills to one. The only good aspect for BLG is that they are on Ocean Soul Point.
ON and XUN save Knight
Kanavi and Zeka go for a pick on Knight. The Stand United and XUN arriving save Knight from the play. They kill Kanavi and Zeka and threaten the Baron. However, Gumayusi’s damage is too strong for them to attempt it. BLG locks Kanavi down and secures the Ocean Soul. In the long play, BLG has the kill lead. ON catches a Flashless Gumayusi in HLE’s jungle, and BLG crushes the fight. They have the objective to set up for the Elder Drake. With the Soul and both end-game buffs behind them, BLG ends the game.
Player Ratings
Bilibli Gaming
- Bin – 5
- XUN – 8
- Knight – 8
- Viper – 8
- ON – 8
Hanwha Life Esports
- Zeus – 6
- Kanavi – 2
- Zeka – 6
- Gumayusi – 7
- Delight – 3
Player of the Game – XUN
MSI 2026: Game Three Review
Draft
Bilibili Gaming – Blue Side
- Jax
- Nocturne
- Annie
- Varus
- Alistar
Hanwha Life Esports – First Pick
- Olaf
- Xin Zhao
- Ryze
- Xayah
- Rakan
Invading Kanavi Early
XUN invades Kanavi’s Raptors at level one. Kanavi looks to respond, but XUN and ON arrive to kill Kanavi on XUN’s Red Buff. Zeus dies twice in the top lane to XUN’s ganks within 30 seconds. Kanavi can not get anything in the game. XUN steals the Drake with an upgraded Smite, and Kanavi dies to Viper.
HLE Finally On the Board
Kanavi and the HLE bot lane dive ON and Viper. Both die, but not before Kanavi and Gumayusi fall as well. HLE keep the focus on getting Gumayusi ahead. They kill ON again, and Gumayusi secures the first blood tower. It becomes Bin and XUN versus Gumayusi. Gumayusi secures another kill on the third Drake, but BLG is one away from Soul Point. BLG forces a fight in the top lane. Initially, it looks good for HLE, but Delight goes too far, and BLG gets more kills and the top tower. Zeka dies right before the Ocean Soul point, and it is free for BLG.
Picks Build on Their Lead
BLG increases their gold lead with a couple of kills before the Ocean Soul fight. XUN wins the smite battle against Kanavi, who has Gumayusi’s feathers as well. Kanavi and Delight die, leading to BLG’s Baron. HLE looks for a Hail Mary engagement on Bin. He lives, and BLG ends the game.
Player Ratings
Bilibili Gaming
- Bin – 8
- XUN – 9
- Knight – 7
- Viper – 7
- ON – 7
Hanwha Life Esports
- Zeus – 3
- Kanavi – 2
- Zeka – 4
- Gumayusi – 6
- Delight – 3
Player of the Game – XUN
MSI 2026: Game Four Review
Draft
Bilibili Gaming – Blue Side
- K’Sante
- Kindred
- Taliyah
- Mel
- Skarner
Hanwha Life Esports – First Pick
- Swain
- Trundle
- Twisted Fate
- Ashe
- Seraphine
The First Mark Early
XUN wins the 50/50 on the scuttle crabs for his first mark of the game. Kanavi uses the time to gank Viper. Gumayusi earns the first blood kill, but Kanavi dies. More action takes place in the top lane. Kanavi saves Zeus’ lane. BLG extends the play and kills Delight for XUN’s second mark. They try to chase Zeus, but the Nevermove turns the fight around.
Swap Versus Standard Lanes
HLE swaps their bot lane to the top side for Grubs. BLG do not match the play. They instead send four players to kill Zeus. Upon seeing the play, Kanavi and Zeka dive Bin. HLE keep up the pressure with another dive, this time on BLG’s bot lane. HLE keeps the Drake stacking going with a fight win, and they move to a 3k gold lead.
Soul Point for HLE
HLE wins the Soul Point fight thanks to the solo laners. HLE counters BLG’s pick attempt on Zeus. However, they overchase, and the teams trade kills in a long fight. In the end, it is five kills to three for BLG. BLG attempts to force the Baron. However, they line up perfectly for HLE. It is a five-for-zero: Ace, Baron, and Cloud Soul for HLE. Zeus dies on the Baron push, giving BLG more time.
Baron and Elder Spawning at the Same Time
HLE looks for a pick on XUN before the two big objectives spawn. He barely gets his Lamb’s Respite off and survives. HLE moves towards the Baron and turns when BLG contests them. Gumayusi dies to Knight’s Seismic Shove, but Zeus is unkillable as HLE pushes the series to Silver Scrapes.
Player Ratings
Bilibili Gaming
- Bin – 5
- XUN – 4
- Knight – 5
- Viper – 6
- ON -3
Hanwha Life Esports
- Zeus – 9
- Kanavi – 6
- Zeka – 8
- Gumayusi – 7
- Delight – 6
Player of the Game – Zeus
MSI 2026: Game Five Review
Draft
Bilibili Gaming – First Pick
- Aatrox
- Vi
- Aurora
- Miss Fortune
- Neeko
Hanwha Life Esports – Red Side
- Dr. Mundo
- Pantheon
- Sylas
- Yunara
- Lulu
A Tense Early Game
The teams have nail-biting moments in the early game, but no one dies until the seventh minute. A four-player play on the HLE bot lane from BLG earns two kills. HLE restores the bot lane lead thanks to Kanavi’s Grand Starfall after taking the Void Grubs.
A Significant Drake Fight
BLG is first on the second Drake, but HLE arrives in time to challenge for the objective. Most of HLE is low, but only Gumayusi dies in the fight, while HLE gets three kills. BLG teleported behind to start the fight on the Rift Herald spawn. Gumayusi dies early. Zeka trades one kill back, but he and Kanavi fall.
The Wrong Target
XUN chose the wrong target in the Chemtech Soul Point fight, and he dies instantly. That allows HLE to take the objective and move to Soul Point. BLG sends everything on Zeus, but he lives long enough for HLE to take control of the mid lane fight. It is a three-for-two trade, and HLE gets the tower. They now have the gold lead.
The Baron Set Up For the Soul
The teams continue to fight in the mid lane. There are three separate fights at the same time. HLE wins the fight and takes the Baron. The teams move to the Soul, but BLG catch Gumayusi and win the extended fight, denying the Soul. In the second consecutive fight, BLG find Gumayusi, and they win the melee bout.
BLG Gives HLE the Fight They Want
With the Baron and Chemtech Soul spawning, BLG moves towards the Baron. HLE contests, and Gumayusi gets up time. They kill three members and push for the end. Gumayusi and Delight die on the push, but BLG can not kill the rest of HLE before they end.
Player Ratings
Bilibili Gaming
- Bin – 3
- XUN – 7
- Knight – 6
- Viper – 5
- ON – 7
Hanwha Life Esports
- Zeus – 9
- Kanavi – 7
- Zeka – 8
- Gumaysu – 7
- Delight – 6
Player of the Game – Gumayusi
MSI 2026: Series Ratings
Bilibili Gaming
Bin- 5.6
Bin had no impact on the games when it mattered. The only time Bin performed better than most of his teammates was when he played Renekton. He was the only one who consistently got onto Gumayusi. For the rest of the series, he was second-best to Zeus.
XUN – 6.2
XUN was kept quiet in the first game of the MSI series. Kanavi took a page out of his own book to keep XUN from being relevant. He got right to his best in the next two games, putting BLG on match point. His Kindred did not have the same impact that he had against T1. He, alongside ON, gave BLG a chance to win MSI with his engagements on Gumayusi.
Knight – 6.6
Knight was the most consistent member of BLG in the MSI series. He turned fights around as Cassiopeia and was one of the reasons BLG won game two. His only weak performance was as Taliyah, but that was only because of the high expectations on his shoulders.
Viper – 6.4
Viper was getting quiet by HLE throughout most of the MSI series. They gave Gumayusi plenty of resources, meaning Viper was behind. He still delivered strong performances throughout the series.
ON – 6.0
ON was once again a better support than Delight during the MSI series. His map impacts were more important as well. He struggled on the Skarner as Kanavi’s Trundle never let him play the game. His Pop Blossoms were the main reason why BLG almost recovered in Game 5.
Hanwha Life Esports
Zeus – 6.8
Zeus was instrumental in HLE’s success. His niche picks of Swain and Dr. Mundo carried HLE to the MSI title. His Olaf performance is the only reason his rating is not higher. The two early deaths really cost HLE and put BLG in a strong position.
Kanavi – 5.0
Kanavi had difficult games in the MSI series. The Qiyana and Xin Zhao had negative impacts as BLG targeted him. The early XUN pathing kept him significantly behind. Even in HLE’s game 5 win, Kanavi did not contribute to their success.
Zeka – 6.6
Zeka was a consistent member in HLE’s success in the MSI series. His only weak performance was on Ryze, where the game ended around him. He stood tall in game five to keep HLE alive while Gumayusi died early in fights.
Gumayusi – 7.2 (Total Apex Player of the Series)
Heading into MSI, many looked at Gumayusi as the weakside king. They believed HLE would play more around their solo laners. That was the case until this series. Kanavi put a lot of his attention on the bot lane to get Gumayusi ahead. Gumayusi used the extra resources to carry HLE, even in the games they lost.
Delight – 5.2
Delight still can not get the better of Delight in terms of performance. After losing to him multiple times, at least he won the series. Even his Rakan, which is known for, did not perform to the level that we know he can play at.
More MSI Content
Below is all the previous MSI content on Total Apex. You can expect more MSI articles in the following weeks.
- MSI 2026 Information
- MSI 2026 HLE Preview
- MSI 2026 BLG Preview
- MSI 2026 HLE Versus BLG Preview
