The League of Legends tournament at the 2026 Asian Games has reached its final stage. South Korea and Chinese Taipei will meet for the gold medal on October 2 after both teams completed 2-0 semifinal victories.
South Korea swept Saudi Arabia after finishing the group stage undefeated, while Chinese Taipei eliminated Vietnam in the other semifinal. Vietnam and Saudi Arabia therefore finish the event with bronze medals, as the tournament does not feature a separate third-place match.
South Korea Cruise Through Group B
South Korea entered the tournament with one of the strongest national rosters in League of Legends and immediately justified that status.
The team finished Group B with a perfect 3-0 record after defeating Chinese Taipei, India and Hong Kong.
Its group-stage results were:
- South Korea 1-0 Chinese Taipei
- South Korea 1-0 India
- South Korea 1-0 Hong Kong
- South Korea finish Group B at 3-0
The opening win over Chinese Taipei is particularly relevant because the two teams will now meet again in the final.
South Korea’s roster includes some of the most accomplished players in the game, with Faker once again representing the country at a major international multi-sport event.
Jungler Canyon also played a central role in the undefeated group-stage run.
Chinese Taipei Recover From Group Defeat
Chinese Taipei finished second in Group B with a 2-1 record.
Its only loss came against South Korea, while victories over Hong Kong and India were enough to secure a semifinal berth.
That placed the team against Vietnam, who had dominated Group A.
Vietnam entered the playoffs with a flawless 3-0 group record after defeating Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. Despite that momentum, Chinese Taipei controlled the semifinal and closed the best-of-three 2-0.
Chinese Taipei therefore reach the gold-medal match despite already losing once to South Korea earlier in the tournament.
The rematch gives them an opportunity to reverse the group-stage result when the stakes are significantly higher.
Vietnam and Saudi Arabia Take Bronze
Both losing semifinalists receive bronze medals.
Vietnam had been the strongest team in Group A, winning all three of its matches without a defeat.
Saudi Arabia took the second qualification spot despite finishing 1-2. The team ended level with the United Arab Emirates but advanced because it won the direct head-to-head meeting.
The semifinal results were:
- Chinese Taipei 2-0 Vietnam
- South Korea 2-0 Saudi Arabia
- Vietnam awarded bronze
- Saudi Arabia awarded bronze
The format therefore rewards both semifinalists rather than requiring another match for third place.
Asian Games LoL Standings Before the Final
| Placement | Team | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Finalist | South Korea | Gold medal match |
| Finalist | Chinese Taipei | Gold medal match |
| 3rd-4th | Vietnam | Bronze |
| 3rd-4th | Saudi Arabia | Bronze |
| 5th-6th | UAE / Hong Kong | Eliminated |
| 7th-8th | Malaysia / India | Eliminated |
The final will determine the only remaining positions: gold and silver.
South Korea Continue Title Defense
South Korea entered Aichi-Nagoya as the defending Asian Games League of Legends champion.
The country won gold at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou after League of Legends became an official medal discipline.
China had won the earlier 2018 edition, when esports was still presented as a demonstration event.
The 2026 tournament therefore gives South Korea an opportunity to extend its position at the top of Asian Games League of Legends.
The team has so far completed every stage without losing a match.
Chinese Taipei Face Their Biggest Test
Chinese Taipei’s route has been different.
The team already knows what it is like to lose against South Korea, but its playoff performance against Vietnam demonstrated that it can respond after a group-stage setback.
A best-of-five final also changes the competitive environment.
Group-stage matches were played as best-of-one games, while the semifinals used best-of-three series. The gold-medal match is the only best-of-five of the tournament.
That gives both teams more room to adjust drafts, champion priorities and strategies during the series.
Eight National Teams Competed in Japan
The League of Legends competition is part of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Eight national teams entered the tournament across two groups.
Unlike standard League esports events, players represent their countries rather than organizations such as T1, Gen.G or Team Secret Whales.
The group stage ran on September 29 and 30 before the knockout bracket began on October 1.
The final is scheduled for October 2.
Assessment
South Korea enter the final with the strongest statistical record in the tournament. They are undefeated through both the group stage and semifinals and have already beaten Chinese Taipei once.
That previous result provides context but does not decide the final.
Chinese Taipei have since eliminated an undefeated Vietnam roster and will now face South Korea in the tournament’s only best-of-five series.
The longer format should provide a more complete test than their earlier best-of-one meeting.
For South Korea, the match offers the opportunity to defend the Asian Games title. For Chinese Taipei, it is a chance to overturn the earlier group-stage defeat and capture gold in one of the most prominent national-team competitions in League of Legends.
