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T1 Esports Academy punched their ticket to the LCK Challengers League grand finals on September 8, taking down DK Challengers 3-1 in the upper bracket of the 2026 playoffs.
The victory means T1 EA needs just one more series win to claim the LCK CL title, capping off a season that has seen the academy squad emerge as one of the most consistent developmental programs in Korean esports.
The road through the upper bracket
The LCK Challengers League playoffs use a double-elimination format, which means T1 EA’s upper bracket win gives them a significant structural advantage heading into the grand finals.
DK Challengers, the academy arm of LCK organization Dplus KIA, aren’t eliminated from title contention. The double-elimination bracket means they’ll get another crack at things through the lower bracket.
The 2026 LCK CL season has been running since March 30, with the grand finals scheduled for September 15. The total prize pool sits at approximately ₩87.5 million, which translates to roughly $65,380.
T1’s talent pipeline keeps producing
T1’s academy program has long functioned as one of the most effective player development systems in professional League of Legends. The organization’s main roster, which has claimed multiple World Championship titles, regularly pulls from its Challengers League squad when rotation or roster upgrades are needed.
The LCK CL 2026 regular season featured all 10 teams competing in a double round-robin format before advancing to the playoff bracket. T1 EA navigated it well enough to secure an upper bracket playoff position.
This isn’t T1 EA’s first deep playoff run of 2026. During the LCK CL Kickoff earlier in the year, the squad reached the finals before falling 1-3 to Nongshim Esports Academy.
What the academy ecosystem means for Korean esports
The LCK Challengers League exists to give young Korean players structured, high-level competitive experience before they potentially step into the main LCK. Every major LCK organization fields an academy roster, creating a parallel competitive ecosystem that feeds the world’s most dominant League of Legends region.
DK Challengers serves the same function for Dplus KIA. While losing in the upper bracket isn’t ideal, the exposure their players gained competing against T1 EA in a high-stakes playoff series is exactly the kind of development these programs are designed to provide.
The grand finals opponent is yet to be determined, as the lower bracket still needs to play out before September 15. DK Challengers could theoretically fight their way back for a rematch.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
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