This is the first time since 2019 that the LCS has reached top 3.
It’s an epic battle of the Western teams at the 2026 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational, with 
G2 Esports and 
LYON going head-to-head in Lower Bracket Round 3 for a spot in the Lower Bracket Final.
In the end, it was LYON that emerged victorious after a dominant 3-0 sweep against G2. The win marks the first time since 2019 that an LCS team has reached the final three of an international LoL Esports competition.
G2 began their Bracket Stage run against LPL first seed 
Top Esports, where they reverse swept the LPL team 3-2. However, the LEC first seed were sent down to the Lower Bracket after being swept 3-0 by 
Hanwha Life Esports, where they kept their MSI run alive with a 3-1 victory over 
T1.
LYON, meanwhile, opened their Bracket Stage campaign with a 3-0 sweep against 
FURIA Esports. Their Upper Bracket run was then stopped by 
Bilibili Gaming in another clean sweep, but the LCS side bounced back in the Lower Bracket by storming past 
Team Secret Whales Whales 3-0 to set up their showdown against G2.
Here’s how the matches went.
LYON execute a dominant first game against G2
In the first game, both G2 and LYON were on equal ground, with constant back-and-forth fights. However, in a bid to claim the Dragon Soul, LYON decimated G2 in a team fight and successfully claimed the objective, widening the gold gap between them and their opponents.
After a 35-minute encounter, LYON emerged victorious, taking down G2’s Nexus with a 17-8 kill lead to win the first game.
LYON ace G2 to take a 2-0 series lead
In the second game, LYON took control of the early game, but G2 continued to fight back and keep up by taking map objectives instead. However, LYON’s team fighting remained superior, with the LCS side still outplaying them in team fights.
After a team fight erupted in the top lane, LYON overpowered G2, taking down all five members in a clean ace. This allowed them to march down G2’s base and destroy the Nexus in 30 minutes with an 18-6 kill lead.
LYON dominate G2 to complete 3-0 sweep
LYON continued to dominate in the third game, taking over the entire map. While G2 were able to defend in small bursts, they were still unable to overcome their North American opponents. After a 35-minute encounter with a 23-5 kill lead, LYON destroyed G2’s Nexus to win the third game and the series.
With their win, LYON have secured their spot in the Lower Bracket Final, where they will face South Korean team Hanwha Life Esports tomorrow (Saturday, 11 July).
Meanwhile, G2 bow out of the competition in fourth place, taking home US$200,000 in consolation.
