GAM Esports Misses Out on World Championship Yet Again

A lower-bracket defeat in LCP Split 3, compounded by a victory for CFO, has officially eliminated GAM Esports from 2026 World Championship contention, marking their second consecutive absence from the globe's premier tournament.

This is the second consecutive year that GAM has missed out on the World Championship

GAM Esports’ campaign for a 2026 World Championship (Worlds) berth has officially concluded following a series of detrimental results in LCP 2026 Split 3. A narrow 2-3 defeat at the hands of familiar foes MVK Esports in the lower bracket stripped Vietnam's most storied franchise of their ability to control their own destiny.

The playoff loss to MVK relegated GAM to a fourth-place overall finish for LCP Split 3. This outcome forced an earlier-than-expected tournament exit for the squad while simultaneously clinching Worlds 2026 qualification for MVK, alongside Team Secret Whale (TSW), by virtue of accumulated championship points.

Consequently, GAM was left hoping for a stumble from CTBC Flying Oyster (CFO) to keep their faint hopes of a last-chance berth alive.

However, the worst-case scenario for the Vietnamese representative ultimately unfolded. In the lower bracket final, CFO delivered a masterful performance. Overwhelming MVK Esports to secure a decisive 3-1 victory, CFO booked their place in the Grand Final to contest the championship title against TSW.

Under Riot Games' regulations for the LCP region, the two direct seeds to the 2026 World Championship are awarded to the two Grand Final participants. With TSW and CFO locking down both slots, GAM's hopes were completely extinguished. The remaining lower seed was claimed by MVK thanks to their superior accumulated points, leaving GAM to finish in fourth place and suffer official elimination.

GAM's downturn occurs against the backdrop of significant transformations among other representatives within the Vietnamese region. TSW's impressive campaign to secure an early Worlds berth underscores the fierce competitiveness of the domestic circuit.

Reflecting on this challenging period for the organization, TK Nguyen, CEO of GAM Esports, stated: "The pressure weighing heavily on the management and the roster during do-or-die matches is immense."

This marks the second consecutive year that GAM Esports will be absent from the World Championship stage. The failure of a major Vietnamese League of Legends icon to appear at the planet's premier tournament has brought profound disappointment to the domestic fanbase.