LPL’s top seed exits Worlds without a game win

Team Liquid swept Anyone’s Legend 2-0 on Oct. 26 in Round 3 of the League of Legends World Championship Swiss Stage, eliminating China’s top seed from Worlds 2026. Anyone’s Legend ended the tournament with three series losses and a 0-4 game record.

The result made Anyone’s Legend the first No. 1 seed from the League of Legends Pro League (LPL) to leave Worlds without a game win since the league was established in 2013.

Liquid entered the series with a 0-2 record after losing its first two Swiss Stage matches. The North American team improved to 1-2 with the win. Anyone’s Legend qualified for Worlds as the LPL’s top seed after winning China’s Split 3.

Liquid won the first game in just over 33 minutes, finishing with 16 kills to Anyone’s Legend’s five. Park “Morgan” Ru-han recorded a 7/1/6 score on Camille, while Brandon “Josedeodo” Villegas finished 3/0/8 on Lee Sin.

The second game lasted 48 minutes and 26 seconds. Both teams secured 18 kills, but Liquid built a gold lead of more than 9,000 and destroyed 11 towers to Anyone’s Legend’s three. Sean “Yeon” Sung led Liquid on Xayah with 10 kills, one death and four assists.

Anyone’s Legend opened the Swiss Stage with a loss to Karmine Corp and then lost to Top Esports in Round 2 before its defeat by Liquid. In the previous group-stage format, LGD Gaming in 2015 and EDward Gaming in 2017 each won at least two games at Worlds.

Liquid will play in Swiss Stage Round 4, which begins Oct. 28. With a 1-2 record, the team will face another 1-2 team in an elimination best-of-three series. The draw will exclude teams that have already met in the Swiss Stage. A win would give Liquid a 2-2 record, while a loss would end its tournament.

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