LEC Versus 2026: Karmine Corp defeats Fnatic to retain first place in the standings

The penultimate match featured Fnatic vs Karmine Corp. Coming into the match, Karmine Corp held a 5-2 record and occupied the top spot in the standings. Fnatic entered with a 4-3 record. And in the event of a Fnatic victory, the standings would take on a very interesting look. Let's see how the match unfolded.

Game 1 Picks:

• Fnatic: KSante, Jayce, Ryze, Varus, Braum
• Karmine CorpI: Gnar, Dr.Mundo, Orianna, Jhin, Alistar

The game started relatively quietly, with the first small skirmish occurring at the dragon, which Karmine Corp managed to secure along with First Blood for Jhin. At the 10-minute mark, Fnatic tried to find an opening in the mid lane by attacking Orianna, but an excellent Shockwave and the timely arrival of allies not only saved Orianna's life but also secured 2 kills. This allowed KC to pull ahead with a 2k gold lead.

At the 23-minute mark, Fnatic attempted to stop KC from taking the Chemtech Soul, but a magnificent Shockwave from Orianna buried all of Fnatic's hopes for a comeback. Three members of Fnatic fell, resulting in the Chemtech Soul, Baron Nashor, and a 9k gold lead for Karmine Corp, effectively checkmating the game.

The final fight at the Elder Dragon was split across two fronts. While the rest of Karmine Corp hovered around the dragon and Fnatic tried to contest them, Jhin simply went to push the enemy base, which forced Fnatic to retreat from the dragon. Consequently, they lost both the Dragon and their base. It was a nearly perfect game for Karmine Corp with a 1-11 scoreline and not a single objective conceded to Fnatic. Karmine Corp moves to 6-2 in the group, holding the top spot. Fnatic drops to a 4-4 record.

This year, the LEC Versus 2026 does not provide a cash prize for winning the tournament. Instead, teams are competing for the opportunity to qualify for the international tournament, First Stand 2026. The Regular Season will be held in a Bo1 format where every team faces each other. In total, teams will play 11 matches each, and those with the best results will advance to the playoffs.