LEC Versus 2026: Shifters Keep Playoff Hopes Alive with Dominant Win Over KCB

The second match of the day featured Karmine Corp Blue facing off against Shifters. For Karmine Corp Blue, the tournament has essentially already come to an end, as they are officially eliminated following a 1-8 record. On the other hand, this victory is extremely important for Shifters. Currently standing at 3-6, their chances remain slim, but qualifying for the playoffs is still a mathematical possibility.

Game 1 Picks:

• Karmine Corp Blue: Aatrox, Vi, Taliyah, Kai`Sa, Rakan
• Shifters: Ambessa, Scarner, Azir, Yunara, Alistar

The match began with several successful rotations from Shifters, which provided them with a significant gold advantage during the early stages. By the 9th minute, they already held a 3,000 gold lead and a 6-0 kill score in their favor.

By the 17th minute, the score increased to 9-0 for Shifters, with their gold lead growing to 6.5 thousand. At this point in the game, Karmine Corp Blue needed to win 2-3 fights with almost no losses to stabilize the situation. However, the three dragons secured by Shifters played a major role, granting them even more of an advantage.

By the 30th minute, Shifters maintained a lead of over 7,000 gold, four dragons, and a secured Baron. A single mistake by Azir allowed KCB to survive slightly longer, but following that unsuccessful teamfight, Shifters secured the Elder Dragon and finished the game by pushing down the bottom lane.

This relatively convincing victory gave Shifters a chance to fight for the playoffs with a 4-6 record. Meanwhile, KCB continues to practice with a group stage record of 1-9.

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.