Kha Y Tran On February 9, 2026, Top Esports faced Team WE in the Play-In – Knights Rivals stage of LPL 2026 Split 1. It was a Best-of-5 series, and the winner would move on to the next round. From start to finish, the match was intense. In fact, it went the full five games. As a result, fans witnessed one of the most exciting series of the split.
Watch the match highlights at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yJdiajnvW4
Match Overview
- Tournament: LPL Cup 2026 – Play-In
- Format: Best of 5 (Bo5)
- Round: Play-In Round 2
- Final Score: Top Esports 3 – 2 Team WE
Detailed Match Breakdown
GAME 1: WE Take Full Control
WE started the game with a clear plan. Their jungler invaded early. He put pressure on mid lane. WE secured First Blood. They also took the first dragon.
TES played very carefully. Their lanes could not push. Because of that, WE controlled river vision and the lower jungle. At 12 minutes, WE led by 2,000 gold.
In the mid game, WE increased the pace. They caught TES players out of position. A big fight at the second dragon gave WE a huge lead. They also took Rift Herald and the first turret. The gold gap grew to over 5,000.
TES tried to stall the game. They wanted to reach late game. But they could not find a good teamfight. After WE took Baron, they forced a fight in mid lane. TES lost the fight. WE pushed to the Nexus and won Game 1.
GAME 2: TES Adjust and Strike Back
Unlike Game 1, TES focused on jungle-centric play. They executed an early top lane gank to secure First Blood and gained control of the first dragon while setting up stronger vision control.
Although the early game remained relatively even, TES gradually seized the momentum.
The turning point came during a Rift Herald fight, where TES won decisively and opened a 3,000 gold lead. Their teamfight coordination significantly improved, especially in protecting their ADC and splitting WE’s formation effectively.
After securing Baron, TES pushed two lanes simultaneously and forced WE into disadvantaged fights. TES evened the series 1–1, turning it into a Best-of-3.
GAME 3: TES Maintain Pressure and Snowball
At the beginning, both teams traded aggressively. However, WE made a mistake in mid lane. Immediately, TES punished it and secured an important kill. Soon after, TES claimed two dragons in a row.
From that point on, teamfights favored TES. Whenever WE tried to contest objectives, TES responded decisively. For instance, a top-side counter-gank shut down WE’s comeback attempt.
By minute 23, TES led by 6,000 gold. Shortly afterward, they secured Baron. Then, they set up a 1-3-1 split push. As a result, WE struggled to handle the pressure. Eventually, TES forced a final fight and secured Game 3.
GAME 4: WE Fight Back Strongly
Learning from their mistakes in Game 3, WE adjusted their approach. They focused on mid-lane pressure and utilized global abilities to create map-wide impact, allowing them to gain a slight kill advantage early.
The decisive moment occurred at the third dragon fight, where WE out-positioned TES and eliminated three members. They then secured Baron and destroyed two mid-lane turrets.
TES tried to drag the game into the late phase, but WE avoided major mistakes. They forced the final engagement near the inhibitor turret and closed out the game.
The series was tied 2–2, pushing both teams into a decisive Game 5.
GAME 5: TES Show Their Composure
Game 5 was extremely balanced and tense. Both teams played cautiously, with few kills in the first 10 minutes. However, TES established superior vision control around the dragon area.
The turning point came at minute 18 when TES won a crucial dragon fight, securing three kills and taking control of the game. They then applied pressure on both side lanes, forcing WE to split their defense.
After claiming Baron, TES organized a decisive mid-lane teamfight. Their coordination was nearly flawless, as they eliminated WE’s primary carry first.
With insufficient damage to defend, WE fell. TES closed out Game 5 and secured the 3–2 series victory.
Overall Match Assessment
Throughout all five games, TES prioritized macro-oriented compositions focused on mid-to-late game teamfights. Their drafts featured strong engage tools, area control, and stable scaling carries protected by coordinated frontlines.
In contrast, WE leaned toward early-game snowball compositions. They favored champions capable of burst damage and aggressive picks designed to secure early advantages and force skirmishes.
Ultimately, TES won the strategic battle in the draft phase. Their long-term scaling approach proved more consistent, while WE only succeeded when they managed to dictate the game’s pace early.
Key Highlights of the Series
- Both teams had moments of complete dominance, creating constant momentum swings.
- After losing, TES adjusted their jungle control and teamfight focus effectively.
- TES demonstrated the composure of a top-tier team — they never collapsed under pressure.
- WE impressed with explosive early games but lacked the consistency needed for a long series.
- TES did not win through overwhelming individual mechanics, but through superior teamfight execution and coordination.
Conclusion
This was one of the most notable Bo5 series of the early LPL 2026 Split 1. Both teams showcased fierce competitiveness and resilience throughout the match.
With this victory, TES advance deeper into the Knights Rivals bracket and continue their pursuit of qualification for major international events such as First Stand 2026.
Although Top Esports entered the series as favorites, they did not defeat Team WE easily. This intense matchup highlights the growing competitiveness of the LPL this season.
Follow the results of other matches on Tenkly: https://tenkly.com/
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Quynh Bui 
