T1 Esports Academy Claims Victory at WSCI 2026, French League Shines
Written with artificial intelligence.
The World Star Challengers Invitational 2026 concluded in Seoul, with T1 Esports Academy winning the Tier 2 international trophy after a thrilling five-game final against Solary. The French league showcased its strength by placing two teams in the top four.
WSCI 2026 Finals Overview
The World Star Challengers Invitational 2026 wrapped up on Friday in Seoul. T1 Esports Academy emerged as the champions, defeating Solary in a tense five-match finale. The tournament highlighted the prowess of the French league, which successfully positioned two teams in the semifinals.
The event, which began on September 20, featured the top sixteen academic squads and regional circuit teams, including those from the European Regional Leagues (ERL). With a total prize pool of $48,000, the competition utilized a double Round-Robin format in the group stage, where half of the teams were eliminated before moving to a best-of-five elimination bracket.
Match Highlights
In the opening game, T1 Esports Academy took control with strong performances from Painter on Vi, Cloud on Seraphine, and Haetae on Ambessa, finishing with a significant gold lead. Solary responded by dominating the second game, led by Aetinoth's Kalista, achieving a remarkable KDA of 12/2/7. The third match showcased Solary's tactical superiority, ending in just 22 minutes with a crushing victory.
The fourth game saw T1 Esports Academy bounce back, methodically securing dragons and Baron to force a decisive fifth match. In the final clash, Eclipse's Kai'Sa dominated, achieving a near-perfect KDA of 11/1/7 and securing the championship for T1 in 24 minutes.
Future Competitions
Despite the finals loss, Solary's strong tournament run, which included a perfect 6-0 in the group stage, should not be overlooked. Both French teams will continue their season, preparing to face Karmine Corp Blue and TLN Pirates in the EMEA Masters Summer knockout matches, aiming for playoff qualification.