Every team in the 2026 World Star Challengers Invitational

The Asia Star Challengers is opening its doors to the rest of the world for this first time this year, turning the event into the 2026 World Star Challengers Invitational. Some familiar names and teams are here – check out all 16 teams in the 2026 WSCI.

2026 World Star Challengers Invitational

The 2026 WSCI will welcome a total of 16 teams across China, South Korea, Asia-Pacific, EMEA, and Americas. The region allocation is as follows:

• Asia Masters
• China: 3 teams from Qualifier
• South Korea: 3 teams from LCK CL
• Asia-Pacific: 4 teams from the winner of the following tournaments:
  • VCS Summer
  • PCS Summer
  • LJL Summer Championship
• EMEA: 3 teams
  • EMEA Masters Winter
  • EMEA Masters Spring
  • EMEA Qualifier
• Americas: 3 teams
  • NACL Summer
  • CD Split 2
  • Americas Qualifier

Ablazeolive, Fresskowy, Sylvie, Ellim, and more

There is a lot of familiar names in the 2026 WSCI. Let’s go through some of them.

Many of the players in BLG.J, ZSK, and EDG.Y have experienced some stage time in the LPL. If you’re an avid LPL watcher, then names like Zhang “zs” Shuai and Li “sorrow” Deming might bring back memories of FunPlus Phoenix and Ultra Prime from a few years ago.

Meanwhile, the South Korean teams are fielding players like Bang “DDoiV” Moon-yeong (DNS.C), Lee “Sylvie” Seung-bok (KT.C), and Oh “Pollu” Dong-gyu (KT.C). Thanks to LCK’s unified rosters, a lot of the players in the LCK CL have seen some games in the LCK. Another name that might sound familiar is Kim “Loopy” Dong-hyeon, who left DK.C to play for Isurus in the LLA, then SK Gaming in the LEC, before going back to DK.C this year.

Nicholas “Ablazeolive” Abbott of Cupid eSports is leading the nostalgic names who comes from the Americas. His professional esports career began in 2015, and has been a mainstay in the LCS and Academy scene since before his retirement in 2023. Many members of the VKS.A roster, on the other hand, have been on the CBLOL stage.

Finally, the most prominent names in the Asia-Pacific teams are Phạm “Elio” Thạch Nhân Băng (SGW) and Choi “Ellim” El-lim (FL).

Elio has two MSI and one Worlds appearance under his belt with GAM Esports. Meanwhile, Ellim was in T1 as their jungler for the 2020 and 2021 seasons, back when the organization fielded their infamous “musical chairs” 10-man roster. Unfortunately for him, he was only able to pick up one regional trophy and no international appearances.

The 2026 World Star Challengers Invitational begins on Sept. 20.