Karmine Corp sweep MVK Esports 3-0 at Worlds 2026 Play-In as FURIA knock Cloud9 out 3-1

Karmine Corp are one series away from the Worlds 2026 Swiss Stage after sweeping Vietnam's MVK Esports 3-0 in the Play-In upper bracket in Los Angeles. On the same day FURIA came back from a game down to beat Cloud9 KIA 3-1, which made Cloud9 the first team knocked out of the tournament. MVK now have to beat FURIA again to stay alive. That lower bracket match starts at 2am Malaysia time on Sunday, 18 October.

Karmine Corp in control against MVK

The LEC side took the upper bracket match at the Riot Games Arena in all three games. In Game 1, bot laners Caliste (Draven) and Busio (Nautilus) won an early level-three two-on-two. From there, Kyeahoo and Canna kept lane priority in the middle and top lanes and jungler Yike took the objectives, and by around 26 minutes Karmine Corp were more than 7,000 gold up on the top side of the map alone.

For Games 2 and 3, MVK took out starting jungler Gury and brought in 19-year-old Le "SanSan" Quoc Khanh, who had not played competitively since May. SanSan made an early impact on Qiyana in Game 2, but Karmine Corp caught him out, won a teamfight at MVK's third dragon to wipe out their deficit, and closed the game after a Baron fight.

Game 3 ended in a backdoor. Karmine Corp took Baron at 21 minutes and led by more than 8,000 gold. MVK stole a later Baron during a teamfight, but Karmine Corp ended the game by pushing into MVK's base while the fight went on elsewhere. Kyeahoo later told Inven Global that the backdoor was entirely his call.

FURIA end Cloud9's Worlds early

Cloud9 KIA won the opening game of the lower bracket match, but FURIA turned the series around in Game 2 with a teamfight near the dragon pit in which they focused down jungler Blaber. The Brazilians then won Games 3 and 4 with sharper coordination and better teamfighting to finish 3-1.

Cloud9 lost both of their Play-In series. They pushed Karmine Corp to five games on the opening day in the first five-game series between an NA and an EU team at Worlds. Their roster of Thanatos, Blaber, Loki, Tactical and Vulcan goes home without reaching the main event.

MVK v FURIA rematch for a place in the final

MVK beat FURIA 3-0 on the opening day. Their mid laner Chika set a record that day for the highest damage per minute by a midlaner at Worlds, playing Kog'Maw. FURIA have played two best-of-fives since then and are one loss from elimination, so the rematch is a straight knockout.

• Lower bracket: MVK Esports v FURIA. Saturday, 17 October, 11am Pacific Time, which is 2am Malaysia time on Sunday, 18 October.
• Play-In final: Karmine Corp v the winner. Sunday, 18 October, 11am Pacific Time, which is 2am Malaysia time on Monday, 19 October.

The winner of the Play-In final takes the last place in the Swiss Stage, which starts on 23 October. All the Play-In series so far have been best-of-five and played in Fearless Draft, so a champion used in one game cannot be picked again by either team later in that series.

Why it matters for Southeast Asia

MVK are the only Southeast Asian team in the Play-In, and they are the youngest roster at the tournament. Their opening win showed they can beat FURIA. The sweep by Karmine Corp, though, showed how much experience at international events still counts. Their next two series will decide whether they reach the Swiss Stage.

Key takeaways

• Karmine Corp beat MVK Esports 3-0 and need one more series win to reach the Swiss Stage.
• FURIA beat Cloud9 KIA 3-1, and Cloud9 are the first team out of Worlds 2026.
• MVK v FURIA, lower bracket: 2am Malaysia time, Sunday 18 October.
• Play-In final v Karmine Corp: 2am Malaysia time, Monday 19 October.

FAQ

What time do MVK Esports play next at Worlds 2026 in Malaysia time? MVK play FURIA at 2am Malaysia time on Sunday, 18 October (11am Pacific Time on Saturday, 17 October).

What happens if MVK beat FURIA? They go into the best-of-five Play-In final against Karmine Corp at 2am Malaysia time on Monday, 19 October. The winner of that series takes the last place in the Swiss Stage.

When does the Worlds 2026 Swiss Stage start? The Swiss Stage begins on 23 October.

Sources: Inven Global, GosuGamers, Insider Gaming, Sheep Esports, EGamersWorld