Bilibili Gaming send HLE to the lower bracket at MSI 2026 as the LCK’s hopes hang in the balance

Bilibili Gaming has defeated Hanwha Life Esports in the semi-finals of the 2026 Mid Season Invitational, with the chinese organization sending their LCK opponent’s crashing down to the lower bracket.

After a 3-1 defeat that saw HLE crumble in the final games, the LCK side finds itself on the verge of elimination - a potentially disastrous result for Korean teams in front of a home team crowd at MSI 2026. Meanwhile, Bilibili Gaming are poised to push the LPL once again to the pinnacle of competitive League of Legends.

Bilibili Gaming defeats HLE at MSI 2026 as Knight earns MVP honors.

The series, played in the early hours of July 9, started poorly for HLE who immediately felt the dominance of Bilibili’s star midlaner Zhuo "Knight" Ding. Knights Akali crushed in lane and then set the pace for the rest of the game, ending things quickly against a stunned opponent.

A similar story developed in the next game HLE floundered against a Ryze pick that seemed to be everywhere on the map at once.

HLE finally started to gain some momentum in game three, locking down Knight on a dubious Mel pick. But it simply wasn’t enough, with the MVP putting on a clinic on Orianna in the final game to secure the victory.

The MVP honors mark Knight’s second, and the win propels BBG into the Grand Finals awaiting their next opponent.

HLE fall to the lower bracket and will face the winner of G2 Esports and Lyon for the privilege of facing Bilibili in the final. If HLE perseveres, they’ll need a whole new playbook to contest the dominance of their LPL opponents.

MSI 2026 reaches its conclusion on July 12.