T1 Highly Rated at MSI 2026
With just over a week until MSI 2026 officially begins, the tournament promises to be extremely exciting with the confirmed participating teams, including those in the Play-ins. Moreover, the absence of defending champions Gen.G has intensified the competition among powerhouses like BLG, T1, HLE, and G2. According to an evaluation on FmKorea, T1 is one of the two teams considered the strongest contenders for the championship.
Specifically, T1 and BLG received the highest votes from fans as the teams most likely to claim the title at this year’s tournament hosted in South Korea. This assessment comes firstly from the fact that both teams are very familiar with this stage. Secondly, the absence of Gen.G also factors into these predictions. Notably, T1 earned high regard after taking Gen.G to a full five-game final at last year’s MSI before ultimately falling short.
Furthermore, although HLE has 4 out of 5 players experienced with MSI, including two former champions (Kanavi, Delight), their star player Zeka is a first-time participant. This explains why HLE is not rated as highly. Additionally, it has been nearly 10 years since Faker last won MSI (in 2017), so his determination is not in question.
But T1 Fans Are Worried
For T1 fans, especially the most dedicated ones, the team being rated highly may not be entirely positive. There have been many occasions when players have faltered just when the community’s expectations were highest. A prime example is the recent Road to MSI 2026 winners bracket match, where almost everyone expected T1 to defeat HLE and secure the number one seed at MSI.
– Don’t overrate T1, please
– Lessons from Road to MSI and previous tournaments haven’t been enough, yet people still believe T1 will be the top favorite for the crown
– Faker hasn’t won MSI in a long time, please underestimate T1 for once
Still, it is understandable why T1 and BLG are rated so highly. However, to turn these predictions into reality, the community will have to rely on the players’ form and performances at the upcoming MSI.