Seven times lucky. Anyone’s Legend beat Bilibili Gaming 3-1 in the 2026 LPL Grand Final on September 13, lifting the Chinese championship trophy after losing every single series they had played against BLG this year. The win hands AL China’s first seed at Worlds 2026 and ends BLG’s attempt to sweep all three domestic titles in one season. Jungler Tarzan was named Finals MVP after carrying the opening two games almost single-handedly.
A season of almosts finally pays off
For most of 2026, AL were the team that looked great on paper and fell short in the bracket. They topped the Split 1 regular season in Group S with an 8-2 record, then finished fourth. Split 2 ended in fourth place again. Split 3 was even less convincing on paper, with an 8-6 record and another fourth-place finish in Group Ascend. In the League of Legends playoffs, though, something clicked: a 3-1 win over LGD carried them into the upper-bracket final, where BLG swept them 3-0 just six days before the Grand Final.
That sweep made it six straight series defeats against Bilibili in 2026 and dropped AL into the lower bracket, where Invictus Gaming pushed them to a full five games. AL scraped through 3-2, with Tarzan named Player of the Match, to book the rematch – and at least the second Worlds seed.
Tarzan’s jungle masterclass
The final itself was decided early. Tarzan took MVP honours in both of AL’s opening wins, posting a 7/2/5 Qiyana in game one and a flawless 8/0/6 Cho’Gath in game two. BLG pulled one back to make it 2-1, but in the fourth game AL’s bot laner Hope took over on Miss Fortune, punishing every engage that Kael and Tarzan set up. The 3-1 result is AL’s second LPL title, following their Split 2 triumph in 2025 – and by far the bigger one, since it comes with China’s top Worlds seed attached.
What it means for Worlds 2026
AL travel to the World Championship as LPL seed one, with BLG taking seed two. Top Esports and Invictus Gaming will play off for seed three, and the loser of that match faces the winner of Team WE against JD Gaming for the fourth and final Chinese slot. All four LPL representatives skip the preliminary round this year and go straight into the Swiss Stage, which begins on October 23 in Allen, Texas.
That set-up creates an intriguing outright market. Gen.G arrive from Korea as back-to-back LCK champions and the natural favourites, and BLG remain the more consistent Chinese side over the season – yet AL are the team holding the trophy and the seeding. Bettors weighing up whether the LPL champions are a value pick or a one-off run should note that the head-to-head record still favours Bilibili six to one. Anyone planning to build a Worlds bankroll before the Swiss Stage can compare welcome bonuses for new accounts, which are typically at their most generous ahead of a major international event.
Key takeaways
AL are LPL champions and enter Worlds with momentum and the top Chinese seed, but their sample size against elite opposition is small. BLG’s dominance across the year makes them a strong candidate for a deep run despite the final. And with all four LPL teams entering the Swiss Stage directly, China’s depth will be tested from day one rather than in a play-in. Expect pre-tournament prices on the LPL contingent to move once the remaining two seeds are settled in the coming days.
Related:
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
