With the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) currently underway in Daejeon, local fans are growing increasingly anxious about the very real possibility that no Korean team will make it to the grand final.

On the 9th, at the Daejeon Convention Center, Hanwha Life Esports dropped to the losers' bracket after a 1-3 defeat to Bilibili Gaming (BLG) in the upper bracket final of the 2026 MSI. Following T1's exit during the lower bracket round 2 on the 8th, the dream of a Korean team reaching the final is looking increasingly uncertain.

Hanwha Life Esports struggled to find their footing. In the first set, an overly ambitious invasion into the enemy jungle cost the team two early kills, effectively handing over control. After being wiped out in a bot lane skirmish and conceding the Baron at 21 minutes, the team suffered a crushing 2-25 defeat in just 24 minutes. The second set wasn't much kinder, as a breakdown in a 22-minute top lane brawl saw the team lose all momentum and collapse in succession.

The third set provided a glimmer of hope. By securing early jungle control and taking the Baron at 26 minutes, the team managed to win a team fight 13-6 around the 31-minute mark, signaling a potential comeback. However, that momentum was extinguished in the fourth set when a total wipeout during the third dragon fight at 22 minutes, followed by a disastrous team fight at 36 minutes, led to an 11-23 loss. Consequently, BLG has punched their ticket straight to the grand final on the 12th.

With T1 out and Hanwha Life Esports relegated to the losers' bracket, the prospect of a final devoid of Korean representation is a genuine risk. If Hanwha Life Esports fails to navigate the remainder of the losers' bracket, the final will be contested between international teams. Fans are particularly nervous, as failing to reach the final could potentially result in Korea’s League of Legends World Championship seedings being reduced to three.

Hanwha Life Esports will return to the stage on the 11th. The opponent will be decided on the 10th, emerging from the lower bracket clash between Lyon Gaming (LYON) and G2.