BLG vs G2: First Stand 2026 Grand Final Recap and Highlights

The First Stand 2026 final has concluded, featuring a showdown between China's Bilibili Gaming (LPL) and Europe's G2 Esports (LEC). It has been a long time since G2 Esports appeared in an international grand final, so let us take a look at how this Best-of-5 battle unfolded for the First Stand 2026 title - the first international trophy of the season.

Game 1 Picks:

• G2 Esports: Yorik, Jarvan IV, Aurora, Yunara, Nami
• Bilibili Gaming: Gnar, Poppy, Annie, Sivir, Lulu

Game 2 Picks:

• G2 Esports: Zaahen, Dr.Mundo, LeBlanc, Corki, Bard
• Bilibili Gaming: Gwen, Pantheon, Galio, Ezreal, Shen

Game 3 Picks:

• G2 Esports: Sion, Aatrox, Anivia, Varus, Karma
• Bilibili Gaming: Jax, Xin Zhao, Mell, Ashe, Seraphine

Game 4 Picks:

• G2 Esports: KSante, Wukong, Viktor, KaiSa, Rakan
• Bilibili Gaming: Camille, Vi, Cassiopeia, Xayah, Alistar

The first map was incredibly intense, with both teams constantly trading the momentum and maintaining a high level of activity across the board. At one point, G2 Esports managed to seize control, but a single lost fight in the mid lane due to poor positioning allowed BLG to claw their way back into the game.

However, during the Baron contest, G2 pulled off something truly spectacular despite being outnumbered. They executed the teamfight so flawlessly that they secured an ACE without losing a single member, allowing them to push straight through and close out the game.

Bilibili Gaming drafted a high number of global area-of-effect ultimates in this match, allowing them to move across the map with much greater confidence and efficiency. G2 Esports' win condition relied on quickly picking off a single champion and then forcing a fight after BLG's ultimates were spent, using Dr. Mundo, Zaheen's initiation, LeBlanc, or the Bard ultimate. Overall, this map was under BLG's total control, but one fight gave G2 a glimmer of hope. However, after Zaheen died in the top lane, that hope vanished. The series tied up 1-1, and the final began to take an even more interesting turn.

The fourth map became the final one of this encounter, and BLG were just slightly stronger in terms of macro play. They played around a teamfight at the dragon and capitalized on the timing when G2 Esports failed to secure the Elder Dragon. It was an excellent performance from BLG to take the series 3-1.

Bilibili Gaming become the First Stand 2026 champions, winning $250,000. G2 Esports fell just short of closing out the fourth map and deservedly take second place, taking $150,000 home.