Press Release
The biggest League of Legends tournament of the year is rolling out, making this the perfect time to take a closer look at the players competing at the 2026 World Championship. In this 1xBet review, we highlight five of the tournament’s most intriguing players worth watching.
Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyung (Hanwha Life Esports)
Kicking off our list is Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyung, who came through T1’s ranks and spent seven years with the Korean organization, winning three consecutive Worlds titles in 2023, 2024, and 2025. He capped that run with the Finals MVP award at the 2025 World Championship.
So why did Gumayusi leave T1 after a string of spectacular victories? His departure followed a season of experiments with the team’s bot lane lineup, during which he was benched several times in favor of the young Sin “Smash” Geum-jae. With his new team, Hanwha Life, he has already finished second in the 2026 LCK season and won the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational. It will be fascinating to see Gumayusi face his former teammates.
Chen “Bin” Zebin (Bilibili Gaming)
Chinese players have been performing at such a high level this season that they could end Korea’s dominance at Worlds. Leading the way is Bilibili Gaming’s top laner Chen “Bin” Zebin. He played a key role in the team’s victory at the 2026 First Stand Tournament, earning Finals MVP honors, and helped them finish second at the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational.
Kim “Peyz” Soo-hwan (T1)
Kim “Peyz” Soo-hwan is the only player in T1’s starting lineup who has never lifted the Summoner’s Cup. That should give him extra motivation, while his individual stats already speak for themselves.
At the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational, he led the field in four categories: kills per game (8.33), CS per minute (10.3), gold per minute (534), and damage per minute (999). He also recorded two pentakills! Peyz is only 20, but he already has considerable experience: before joining T1, he played for Gen.G in Korea’s LCK and JD Gaming in China’s LPL. His playstyle draws on the approaches of the world’s two strongest leagues.
Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon (Gen.G Esports)
Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon is one of the most experienced mid laners in professional League of Legends, and his play deserves close attention. His arrival at Gen.G for the 2022 season marked the start of their dominance in the LCK: eight consecutive finals appearances, with six titles. They have outperformed Faker and T1 domestically in recent years, but Chovy and Gen.G still need to win Worlds 2026 to truly dethrone the legend.
A potential Gen.G vs T1 grand final, featuring a showdown between the world’s best mid laners, Chovy and Faker, would be a real treat for League of Legends fans!
Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok (T1)
In recent years, Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok and T1 haven’t entered Worlds as the clear favorites, but the Unkillable Demon King has proven who reigns supreme in LoL three years running. Whether the 2026 World Championship brings a fitting end to his career or yet another triumph, he remains the player to watch above all others!
The 2026 League of Legends World Championship runs from October 15 to November 14. Don’t miss the most exciting matches featuring these standout players and follow the biggest e-sports tournament of the year with 1xBet!
