Rookie and TheShy return to Worlds as Invictus Gaming claim LPL's fourth seed

Invictus Gaming defeated JD Gaming 3-1 in the lower-bracket final of the LPL 2026 Regional Finals on Saturday, 19 September, to claim the League of Legends Pro League's fourth and final berth at Worlds 2026. The victory sends IG to the World Championship alongside Anyone's Legend, Bilibili Gaming and Top Esports.

IG made the stronger start, taking the series opener in 33 minutes. JiaQi led the team's offense on Tristana with six kills and two assists, while Rookie contributed four kills and five assists on Syndra. The team extended its advantage to 2-0 before JD Gaming won a 34-minute game to stay alive, with Junjia recording 11 kills and 11 assists on Trundle. IG closed out the series in the fourth game to secure qualification.

The qualification concludes a difficult Regional Finals run for IG. The team first faced Top Esports in the upper-bracket final, where TES won in four games and sent IG into the lower bracket. From there, IG defeated the teams standing between them and the Worlds spot.

IG will enter Worlds 2026 as the LPL's fourth seed. The all four LPL representatives are set to begin their campaigns in the Swiss Stage, taking place in Allen, Texas, from 23 to 31 October. Rookie and TheShy return to the World Championship stage with the team following their Regional Finals run. JD Gaming will instead compete in the 2026 Demacia Cup Global Invitational alongside Team WE, the fourth-place finisher in the Regional Finals.