LEC Versus Playoffs Race Heats Up as Karmine Corp, GIANTX Secure Spots
The LEC Versus Winter 2026 playoffs begin February 16 in Berlin, culminating in a March 1 grand final at Badalona’s Palau Municipal d’Esports. Three teams – Karmine Corp, GIANTX, and Natus Vincere – secured playoff berths during this weekend’s matches, while Karmine Corp Blue became the first team mathematically eliminated from contention.
Karmine Corp Maintains Dominance Despite Stumble
French squad Karmine Corp reinforced their championship credentials despite opening Sunday with a surprise loss to Team Vitality (0-1). Rookie phenom Caliste “Caliste” Henry-Hennebert led rebound victories against Fnatic (1-0) and Shifters (1-0), improving to 7-2 overall. According to Oracle’s Elixir stats, Karmine’s +9.2 average gold differential at 15 minutes remains best in the league, showcasing their early-game control.
LEC Versus e-Learning. / ASSIGNED
GIANTX Shows Consistency Under Guilhoto
Coach André “Guilhoto” Pereira’s GIANTX replicated their previous 2-1 weekend performance with wins against Natus Vincere (1-0) and SK Gaming (1-0), though fell to Vitality (0-1). The Spanish organization now holds a 6-3 record, maintaining their position among the league’s top four teams. Analyst Laure Valée noted on the LEC broadcast: “GIANTX’s objective control (58% first Baron rate) gives them late-game insurance against weaker teams.”
Spanish Teams Face Playoff Pressure
Movistar KOI (5-4) jeopardized their playoff position with losses to underdogs Los Ratones (0-1) and Team Heretics (0-1), though remain favored to qualify after defeating SK Gaming (1-0). Javier “Elyoya” Prades’ squad now shares an identical record with Team Vitality entering the final weekend.
Team Heretics (4-5) revived their playoff hopes with crucial victories against Movistar KOI (1-0) and Karmine Corp Blue (1-0). Their +3.3 average kill differential over the weekend ranked third among all teams according to Games of Legends data. However, their playoff path requires defeating powerhouses Fnatic and Karmine Corp next weekend.
Los Ratones Deliver Tournament’s Biggest Upsets
The Northern LoL Championship (NLC) representatives stunned the league by defeating reigning LEC finalists G2 Esports (1-0) and Movistar KOI (1-0), improving to 4-5. Their mid laner Felix “MagiFelix” Boström posted a league-high 12.3 KDA during Sunday’s matches. A playoff berth remains possible if they win both remaining games against Team BDS and SK Gaming.
The rise of Los Ratones. / ASSIGNED
Final Week Playoff Scenarios
Five playoff spots remain open heading into February 7-8’s decisive matches. Teams currently in qualification positions include:
- Fnatic (6-3)
- Team Vitality (5-4)
- Team Heretics (4-5)
- SK Gaming (4-5)
- Los Ratones (4-5)
The LEC’s official competition framework requires teams to finish top-8 in the single round-robin stage to advance. Tiebreakers will be determined by head-to-head records followed by average game time.
All matches stream live on the official LEC Twitch channel with expert analysis from veteran casters. For detailed coverage of Spanish teams’ playoff push, visit Diario de Mallorca.
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