Kha Y Tran GAM Esports faced T1 for the second time at the League of Legends Esports World Cup 2026. The two teams met in a lower-bracket match in Group C.
GAM had already lost 0-1 to T1 on the first day. Therefore, this rematch was their final chance to stay in the tournament.
However, there was no miracle for the Vietnamese team. T1 won the series 2-0 and moved into the Knockout Stage. Meanwhile, GAM ended their EWC 2026 journey in 9th-12th place.
Follow the tournament at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNGQDPhr8uE
T1 and GAM meet in a must-win series
The match had very high stakes. The winner would advance, while the loser would leave the tournament.
T1 entered the lower bracket after losing to BLG. Therefore, the 2025 world champions also had no room for another mistake.
GAM faced an even harder task. They needed to beat one of the strongest League of Legends teams in the world. Still, the Vietnamese players entered the series with confidence.
Although GAM lost both games, they created several exciting moments. In addition, they forced T1 to work hard for the victory.
Game 1: GAM starts well against T1
In Game 1, GAM played on the blue side. They selected Camille, Lee Sin, Syndra, Varus, and Ziggs. Meanwhile, T1 chose Gnar, Vi, Orianna, Cassiopeia, and Leona.
GAM made a strong start. Kiaya quickly secured First Blood after beating T1’s Gnar in the top lane. As a result, GAM gained an early advantage. However, the lead did not last long.
T1 soon began to control the bottom side of the map. They won several small fights and placed more vision around key areas.
Even so, GAM stayed close in gold. They also found several good picks against isolated T1 players.
For most of the first 25 minutes, the gold gap stayed below 2,000. Therefore, GAM still had a chance to win the game.
A failed Baron attempt changes Game 1
The key moment came at the 25-minute mark. GAM tried to take Baron Nashor. The call could have given them control of the match. However, the plan did not work.
T1 reached the area in time and started a fight. They killed four GAM players and then secured Baron.
After that, GAM could no longer defend their base. T1 used the Baron buff to push through the lanes.
Finally, T1 destroyed the Nexus at 27 minutes. Therefore, they took a 1-0 lead in the series.
Game 2: T1 gains an early lead
GAM changed their draft for Game 2. They selected Zaahen, Nocturne, Ahri, Lucian, and Nautilus. On the other side, T1 chose Renekton, Jarvan IV, Sylas, Seraphine, and Alistar. T1 played a mage in the bottom lane once again. Meanwhile, Faker used Sylas in the mid lane.
The second game was much faster. Both teams fought often from the opening minutes. However, T1 won most of the early battles. Faker collected several kills and quickly became a major threat.
As a result, T1 gained an advantage in both kills and gold. They also controlled more areas of the map. Still, GAM refused to give up. They continued looking for fights and waited for a chance to strike back.
GAM wipes out T1 in a huge teamfight
GAM’s best moment came at the 26-minute mark.
T1 had just taken the Infernal Drake. However, GAM immediately started a 5v5 fight.
This time, the Vietnamese team played the battle very well. They wiped out all five T1 players.
Kiaya and Gloryy survived the fight. Therefore, GAM had enough time to push the middle and bottom lanes.
They destroyed several towers and gained more control of the map. As a result, Vietnamese fans began to hope for a comeback.
The game had already reached 51 total kills at that point. T1 had 30 kills, while GAM had 21.
Therefore, Game 2 became a very bloody and exciting match.
T1 wins the final teamfights
Although GAM had created a new chance, they could not keep the momentum. At 30 minutes, GAM started another teamfight. However, T1 reacted much better this time.
T1 killed all five GAM players while losing only two members. Therefore, the Korean team took back control of the game. Three minutes later, another fight began. Once again, T1 came out on top.
After winning the battle, T1 pushed straight through the middle lane. GAM did not have enough players alive to defend.
Finally, T1 destroyed the Nexus at 33 minutes. The victory gave them a 2-0 series win.
Faker leads T1 to victory
Faker was one of T1’s best players in the series.
In Game 2, he gained several kills during the early fights. Therefore, his Sylas became very powerful. Moreover, Faker made good choices during the major teamfights. He knew when to attack and when to move away.
His experience also helped T1 remain calm after GAM’s ace at 26 minutes. Instead of losing control, T1 waited for another chance. Then, they punished GAM in the next two fights.
This ability to stay calm was one of the main differences between the teams.
GAM showed strong fighting spirit
The 0-2 result may look one-sided. However, GAM had many positive moments.
In Game 1, they kept the gold gap small for 25 minutes. They also found several successful picks against T1.
In Game 2, they completely wiped out the world champions in a major fight. In addition, they destroyed several towers and briefly reopened the match.
Therefore, GAM did not leave EWC 2026 without making an impact.
The Vietnamese players showed courage and strong fighting skills. However, they made several mistakes during important moments.
Against a team like T1, even one mistake can decide the game. Unfortunately, GAM’s failed Baron attempt in Game 1 became a major turning point.
Likewise, their failed teamfight at 30 minutes in Game 2 ended their comeback hopes.
GAM ends EWC 2026 in 9th-12th place
After the defeat, GAM officially left the Esports World Cup 2026.
The Vietnamese representatives finished in the 9th-12th place group. They also earned $55,000 in prize money, which is about 1.44 billion VND.
Although GAM could not reach the Knockout Stage, the tournament gave them useful experience.
They faced T1 twice and competed against some of the best players in the world. Therefore, these matches may help the team improve before future events.
GAM’s exit also meant that teams from the Asia-Pacific region had been eliminated. At the same time, the North American teams had also left the tournament.
T1 advances to the EWC 2026 Knockout Stage
The victory helped T1 recover from their loss to BLG.
Although they were not perfect against GAM, they played well during the most important moments.
They controlled major objectives, punished GAM’s mistakes, and won the final teamfights.
As a result, T1 secured a place in the Knockout Stage. They also kept their hope of winning the EWC 2026 title alive.
However, T1 will need to improve in the next round. GAM showed that the Korean team could still make mistakes in teamfights.
Therefore, stronger opponents may be able to punish them more heavily.
Conclusion
GAM fought hard against T1 at EWC 2026. They started Game 1 well and created a huge comeback chance in Game 2.
However, T1 remained stronger during the key moments. Their better map control, calm decision-making, and teamfight skills helped them win 2-0.
As a result, GAM ended the tournament in 9th-12th place. Meanwhile, T1 advanced to the Knockout Stage and continued their title run.
There was no miracle for GAM this time. Still, the Vietnamese team left the tournament after showing courage against the reigning world champions.
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