Knight shatters 13‑year Korean mid‑lane reign as BLG clinches Worlds 2026

BLG’s historic victory in New York on Saturday night didn’t just hand the team its inaugural World Championship—it rewrote the record books.

End of a Korean Mid‑Lane Dynasty

Since 2013 every Worlds‑winning roster featured a Korean mid laner, whether the team hailed from Korea, China or elsewhere. The LPL’s three previous titles—2018, 2019 and 2021—were all powered by South Korean mids: the 2019 FunPlus Phoenix squad rode Kim “Doinb” Tae‑sang to a 3‑0 sweep of G2, while the 2021 EDward Gaming roster leaned on Lee “Scout” Ye‑chan, who also earned Finals MVP as his side edged DWG KIA 3‑2. The last non‑Korean to hoist the Summoner’s Cup was Hong Kong’s Kurtis “Toyz” Lau in 2012 with the Taipei Assassins. Knight’s win finally broke that pattern.

Knight’s Road to Redemption

Three years later, JD Gaming—his new home—swept both LPL splits and captured the 2023 Mid‑Season Invitational, only to be stopped by T1 in the Worlds semifinals. The following year, BLG finally broke through to the final, taking a 2‑1 lead against T1 before the Koreans rallied to a 3‑2 series win, leaving knight as runner‑up.

The 2026 campaign saw BLG exact revenge, eliminating T1 3‑1 in the semifinals. Those victories built momentum, but the ultimate test arrived in New York against Gen. G.

The Final Showdown

G fought back in game four, but BLG’s coordinated teamfights and knight’s clutch 1‑v‑2 engagements sealed a 3‑1 series victory.

In the post‑match ceremony, knight was handed the Finals MVP award, cementing his status as the first mainland Chinese mid laner to claim both the Summoner’s Cup and its top individual honor. The triumph also handed the LPL its fourth World title, this time without a Korean mid‑lane star.

With the championship secured, BLG now basks in the glow of a historic win, while the rest of the League of Legends world reevaluates a role that has been Korean‑dominated for over a decade.