Past and Present Clash in LCK Cup 2026 Group Battle

Gumayusi and his former teammates Faker, Oner, and Keria, who formerly held three consecutive World Championships under T1, are set to compete against each other in the LCK match for the first time. The LCK Cup 2026 Group Battle will feature the high-profile contest between T1 and Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) at 10:30 UTC on January 16, 2026.

Match Background and Implications

The upcoming match marks the commencement of their LCK Cup 2026 journey in Group Baron. A potential victory for T1 could set the stage for challenging Gen.G for the prime position in the group. Concurrently, HLE has set its sights on establishing its status as a serious contender in the upcoming events. The match preview brings attention to the bottling lane duel between Gumayusi from HLE, who is set to face off against his former colleague Peyz from T1.

Recent Performances and Formations

Given that there have been 42 previous encounters between these two teams, where T1 bagged 24 victories and HLE clinched 18. The teams previously competed in the 2025 LoL KeSPA Cup Playoffs, where T1 came out as winners, 3-2. Over the past 5 matches, HLE achieved 4 victories and T1 recorded 3 wins. HLE’s lineup includes players such as Delight, Gumayusi, Kanavi, Peanut, and Zeka, while T1’s team consists of Doran, Faker, Keria, Oner, and Peyz.

The current EGamersWorld ratings for HLE and T1 stand at 7 and 5 respectively. Both teams are entering the match on the back of a loss, with HLE being the bookmaker’s favourite with odds at 1.47 for the previous match in 2025. Key changes in HLE include the acquisition of top Jungler Kanavi, while T1’s progress has been noted as relatively slower this season.

Forecasts and Betting

The predicted outcome for the match is in favor of HLE defeating T1 2-1. This prediction leans towards HLE on account of the addition of Kanavi to its ranks and T1’s tendency for slower starts at the beginning of seasons, though a close competition is expected. Prediction markets, including Robinhood and Kalshi, have listed this event for resolution on January 16, 2026.

Streams and Further Schedules

The match will be broadcasted on the official LCK Twitch and YouTube channels. The schedule for the LCK Cup 2026 continues with the match between BRION and FearX at 03:00 on January 17, 2026. Live scores can be accessed on Sofascore, Flashscore, and GosuGamers. This season will be another test for T1, a six-time World Championships winner, to demonstrate their effectiveness and HLE’s opportunity to build upon their recent success in the KeSPA upset.