HLE’s MSI win may have proven that Gumayusi’s the GOAT

Hannan Mundia Published 12/07/2026

With HLE winning the 2026 MSI tournament grand final against BLG, there’s a real argument that Gumayusi may be the best ADC player currently.

This year’s MSI has finally concluded, and Hanwha Life Esports took home the winning trophy. While it was filled to the brim with ups and downs for every player, Gumayusi may be the only player who consistently performed in every game, regardless of which team was against him.

Looking at the ADC player’s performance in last year’s World Championship with T1 and comparing it with his performance with HLE, it may not be a stretch to say that he’s currently the single best ADC playing the game at the highest level.

HLE beats BLG to secure the 2026 MSI trophy

While HLE ultimately won the MSI grand final against BLG, it was anything but easy for the LCK team.

After BLG took down HLE in a 3-1 bout during this tournament’s upper bracket final, most assumed that the same would repeat in the grand final. This seemed more likely after HLE went the distance against LYON, which is an NA team that hasn’t really performed much at an international level before.

HLE’s 2026 MSI victory – Image credit: LoL Esports

The first game saw HLE win with a decisive victory, having a gold advantage of over 7,000. But that advantage was short-lived. BLG fired back with two consecutive wins. The third game in the series was particularly devastating for HLE, since the team didn’t even manage to crack seven combined kills. Still, Gumayusi was performing well with five kills under his belt.

Hanwha Life Esports made a dominating comeback in the fourth game, resulting in a final game to determine the victor. HLE had a good advantage from the start, but BLG started winning constant team fights. Much of this was because the team was targeting Gumayusi from the start, ensuring he couldn’t get any damage in.

When it seemed like all hope was lost as BLG started the second Baron, Gumayusi finally got a chance to shine in this game. He comfortably dismantled the enemy, resulting in a win for HLE. Of course, he wasn’t alone. However, his presence was clearly what tipped the scales.

Is Gumayusi the best League of Legends ADC player?

While the term best is subjective in an ever-changing competitive game such as League of Legends, Gumayusi is definitely one of the most consistent ADC players.

The current League of Legends meta is very questionable. In particular, the bottom lane is filled with players who utilize mage champions. Gumayusi has previously stated that he hates this ongoing meta, and he’s also one of the few players to usually stick to traditional AD carry champions.

HLE Gumayusi – Image credit: Hanwha Life Esports

Gumayusi’s run with T1 was successful, especially in his last year. The 2025 World Championship had him crowned as the MVP, though there were some who claimed that his success was primarily thanks to the skills of his supporting player, Keria. That misconception seems to have been proven wrong with this MSI grand final.

Even though Delight isn’t at the same level as Keria, Gumayusi still dominated most laning phases. While BLG’s Viper is no slouch, Gumayusi’s impact in the fifth game was genuinely game-changing. This suggests that those who believe Gumayusi is the best ADC player of all time may be onto something.

With this tournament ending, the next focus will be on League of Legends at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026.

Featured image credit: HLE

Hannan Mundia

About Hannan Mundia

Hannan Mundia is a lifelong gamer. Don’t believe us? Just ask him. But don’t ask how many hours he’s spent playing. He’s been gaming since the age of three, and much of his live revolves around video games and the video game industry. Whether it’s a classic Legend of Zelda game from Nintendo, the newest Bethesda RPG, or something else entirely, you can bet that Hannan is ready and willing to play it.

View full profile