Anyone's Legend Breaks the BLG Curse

More

17 September 2026 09:15

A win and a curse undone.

AL managed to beat Bilibili Gaming 3-1 on 13 September to win LPL Split 3 and take China's first seed at Worlds, ending BLG's attempt to win all three domestic titles this season.

It's AL's second LPL title after Split 2 in 2025. It's also their first win over BLG this entire year.

How bad the head-to-head was

The record was six series, six losses, before this one. The most recent win was a 3-0 sweep in the upper bracket final on 7 September that dropped AL into the lower bracket.

From there they managed to beat Invictus Gaming to get another shot, and IG took them to five games. AL won through 3-2, with Tarzan named Player of the Match.

BLG had dominated the regular season at 12-2 in series and 25-10 in games, managed to top Group Ascend. AL finished second at 9-5 and 22-14. Both received byes to the upper bracket semifinals.

The final

Tarzan took MVP in each of AL's first two wins. A 7/2/5 Qiyana play in game one, ending 20-1 in kills across 31 minutes. An 8/0/6 Cho'Gath in game two, with BLG's Xun, a multiple LPL champion known for consistency, having a rare series where nothing worked.

BLG took game three 20-9 in just over 35 minutes.

Game four was the one. Hope on Miss Fortune, capitalising on engages from Kael and Tarzan, finished 13/0/5 with a pentakill. AL won it 22-5 in 31 minutes.

Tarzan took Finals MVP deservedly. Prize money is around 253,000 dollars, against BLG's 1,000,000 yuan, roughly 149,000.

The year that led here

AL had a unique 2026. First in Group S during Split 1 at 8-2, then fourth. Fourth again in Split 2. Split 3 was less imposing at 8-6 for fourth in Group Ascend, before a 3-1 win over LGD carried them to the upper bracket final.

BLG will still go to Worlds as China's second seed, having the highest Championship Points total among remaining teams.