Fnatic, Team Heretics, SK Gaming and Shifters Miss LEC Playoffs

Fnatic, Team Heretics, SK Gaming and Shifters have been eliminated from the LEC Spring 2026 playoffs after finishing outside the top six in the group stage standings.

The group phase continues May 8–10 with six matches held in Madrid as part of LEC Roadtrip Week at the Madrid Arena. Karmine Corp, G2 Esports, Movistar KOI and GIANTX have already clinched playoff berths and will play those fixtures to determine seeding. Karmine Corp is locked into second place; G2 Esports, Movistar KOI and GIANTX are competing for an upper-bracket spot.

Under the playoff format, the top four teams after the group stage will begin in the upper bracket in a double-elimination bracket. Fifth and sixth place will start in the lower bracket, where a single loss results in elimination. The LEC Spring 2026 playoffs start May 23 and conclude with the Grand Finals on June 7. The top two finishers will represent Europe at the Mid-Season Invitational 2026 in Daejeon, South Korea, and the Spring Split champion will receive an automatic invitation to the Esports World Cup 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Several teams have completed their regular-season schedules; their final standings now depend on the outcomes of the Madrid matches. With four teams eliminated, the remaining clubs are focused on locking down bracket placement and avoiding a lower-bracket start.

Peak concurrent viewership for Weeks 1–6 of the group stage reached 309,400 during the Week 5 match between Fnatic and Karmine Corp. That figure is below last season’s group-stage high of 416,000. An interactive map tool is available for fans to track peak-concurrent audience milestones and major event viewership.

Roadtrip Week results will determine which teams join the upper-bracket quartet and which will begin the playoffs in the lower bracket when the postseason opens later this month.