WSCI 2026 LoL Groups Draw: Solary and Galions Drawn in Group D
The stage is set for the inaugural World Star Challengers Invitational (WSCI) 2026. Following the official group draw conducted on Friday, September 18, sixteen elite Tier 2 and Academy rosters now know their path to international glory. The standout storyline of the draw lands squarely in Group D, where French powerhouses Solary and Galions find themselves locked in the same pool.
Co-hosted by Riot Games and TJ Sports, the tournament marks a massive expansion of the former ASCI circuit, extending an official global stage to premier tier-2 talent across EMEA, the Americas, and Asia from September 20 to October 2, 2026.
All-French Showdown in Group D
The draw delivered an immediate high-stakes rivalry for European fans. Solary, one of the most storied organizations in France's LFL, will square off against Galions, the surging squad that fought through intense qualifiers to earn their spot on the world stage.
With only two playoff spots available per group, this regional clash will carry championship-level tension. Neither team can afford missteps against the remaining Group D contenders: Vietnamese powerhouse Saigon Warriors and Chinese LDL challenger ZSK.
This inaugural clash brings to life the competitive ladder established when Riot Games detailed the official WSCI Tier 2 world championship framework earlier this season.
Complete WSCI 2026 Group Stage Breakdown
The draw successfully distributed top academy powerhouses across four balanced groups:
| Group | Participating Teams | Key Regions |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | T1 Esports Academy, EDward Gaming Youth, DN SOOPers Challengers, Fuego | Korea (LCK CL), China (LDL), Americas |
| Group B | Bilibili Gaming Junior, KT Rolster Challengers, CFO Academy, Movistar KOI Fénix | China (LDL), Korea (LCK CL), PCS, EMEA |
| Group C | Dplus KIA Challengers, Vivo Keyd Stars Academy, Cupid Esports, FENNEL | Korea (LCK CL), Brazil, Japan (LJL) |
| Group D | Saigon Warriors, Galions, ZSK, Solary | Vietnam (VCS), France (LFL/EMEA), China (LDL) |
In Group B, Movistar KOI Fénix faces an added operational challenge. NightSlayer will be competing remotely due to international visa processing delays, testing the team's resilience against heavy hitters like KT Rolster Challengers and BLG Junior.
Tournament Dates and Knockout Format
The tournament features a fast-paced and unforgiving structure:
- Group Stage (September 20 – 25): Double round-robin format played entirely in Best-of-1 (Bo1) matches. Each squad plays six total games.
- Knockout Stage (September 27 – October 2): Single-elimination bracket featuring Best-of-5 (Bo5) series between the top two finishers from each group.
Beyond the trophy itself, the WSCI represents a vital showcase for rising pros seeking LEC, LCK, and LPL contracts ahead of the upcoming winter transfer window. The action begins this Sunday, September 20.
SEO consultant for over 20 years and digital entrepreneur, Charles 'Grimtag' Ronchain is the founder of Pro-Gamer.gg, Retrocharting.com, and Gamescharting.com. A competitive gamer, streamer, and retro game collector, he has worked in the video game industry for over 15 years, notably as a consultant for leading price comparison platforms. Passionate about real-time performance data and gaming technology, he analyzes competitive esports, gaming hardware benchmarks, and creator workflows on Pro-Gamer.gg with an authentic player perspective.
