LOL-MSI: Bin's Gnar secures two solo kills as BLG sweeps LYON 3-0 to advance to winners' bracket final

On July 6, Beijing time, the fourth day of the 2026 MSI knockout stage featured a winners' bracket clash between LPL's top seed BLG and LCS's top seed LYON. The much-anticipated top-lane duel between Dhokla (dubbed the "Indian God King") and Bin resumed once again. Bin's Gnar delivered two solo kills against Dhokla's Ambessa in the second game, and BLG ultimately secured a 3-0 victory through strong teamfight execution. They will face LCK's first seed HLE in the winners' bracket final on July 9.

Game 1

BLG: Jayce, Jarvan IV, Ryze, Mel, Camille

LYON: K'Sante, Lee Sin, Taliyah, Tristana, Shen

The early game saw intense skirmishes on both side lanes: Bin's Jayce pushed too deep and was ganked. He attempted to flash and force a kill on K'Sante, but K'Sante's early tankiness proved too "overpowered," handing first blood to Lee Sin. Meanwhile, LYON's bot lane hit level 3 first and initiated an aggressive trade—Tristana's W combined with Shen's taunt targeted ON's Camille. Viper's Mel calmly counterattacked, clearing minions to reach level 3, then used W and flash to get close, mitigating some damage for Camille. He first eliminated Shen, then retreated under tower, used an accurate Q-E combo to take down Tristana, securing a double kill.

In the early phase, BLG prioritized Bin's Jayce's farm, while LYON anticipated BLG's intention to break through top lane. Frequent small-scale clashes erupted top. Although K'Sante died twice, Jayce also fell twice to LYON. From a top-lane development perspective, BLG didn't gain much. Moreover, for the first neutral objective, BLG opted for the Cloud Dragon while LYON took the Voidgrubs and destroyed BLG's top tower for first turret. LYON held a slight edge in overall tempo.

Bin's Jayce swapped to bot lane but was again targeted. Shen's ultimate allowed LYON to dive and kill him in a 3v1, after which BLG's bot tower fell, forcing them to concede the Hextech Drake. LYON continued their aggressive rhythm: the support-jungle duo roamed mid to kill Ryze, with Lee Sin using a flash R to set up the kill. BLG chose to avoid direct confrontation and instead focused on macro play. They took advantage of LYON grouping to catch sidelane split-pushers, destroying two LYON side towers and picking off a lone Shen in LYON's top-side jungle. Before Baron spawned, the gold was even.

In the mid game, Dhokla's K'Sante was caught while pushing top lane by BLG's top-mid-jungle trio. With LYON's team too far away to help, they opted to take the Dragon as compensation. BLG quickly turned to rush Baron Nashor and escaped safely, finally destroying LYON's mid outer tower. LYON's defense of their inner towers was solid, preventing BLG from snowballing. When the Dragon respawned, LYON grouped at the pit. BLG's dual poke was ineffective, and both sides traded cooldowns without committing. LYON secured the Infernal Soul point, keeping the game in a stalemate.

At 29 minutes, both teams fought for mid-lane priority. ON's Camille emerged from the fog of war in LYON's bot-side jungle, using her E's first cast to bait Berserker's Tristana flash. Dhokla's K'Sante, eager to protect his teammate, used his E to give Tristana a dash after she flashed. This caused Tristana to safely rejoin her team, but left K'Sante exposed on the far right of the formation, isolated from his team. BLG immediately collapsed on K'Sante, then chased into LYON's top-side jungle, picking off the remaining members one by one. BLG secured a sudden 0-for-5 ace and ended the game, taking a hard-fought 1-0 lead.

Game 2

BLG: Gnar, Naafiri, Orianna, Ashe, Seraphine

LYON: Ambessa, Skarner, Viktor, Ziggs, Pyke

The early laning in this game mirrored the first: BLG held lane priority top and bot, while Viktor's range gave him a slight advantage over Orianna. Skarner's first gank targeted bot lane to relieve pressure, but BLG's river vision spotted him, wasting his time. Knight's Orianna recalled first to top up, then returned; Viktor greedily stayed for farm. Xun's Naafiri ganked mid successfully. Although LYON's support and jungle arrived quickly, BLG's reinforcements matched them, resulting in a 0-for-2 trade that killed LYON's mid and support, giving BLG an early tempo boost.

A major highlight of this BO5 was which top laner would break through. Bin's mini Gnar lived up to expectations: at level 5, he landed a Q slow on Dhokla's overextended Ambessa, procced Lethal Tempo, chased, and solo-killed her under tower for first blood! Ambessa even burned her flash in death, a massive loss. Viper's Ashe hit a precise long-range ultimate on Viktor at level 6, allowing BLG's mid-jungle to easily kill him and secure the first Dragon. LYON took the Voidgrubs in return.

At 13 minutes, LYON fully grouped bot lane to initiate. BLG's support arrived late, and LYON used their numbers advantage to secure a 2-for-4 trade, stabilizing the game. After respawning, BLG entered a "chaotic brawl" rhythm, and LYON was happy to trade as well. Frequent clashes top and bot saw BLG's superior teamfight positioning consistently give them the upper hand. They also destroyed LYON's bot tower for first turret and took the second Dragon without pressure. However, before Baron spawned, LYON ambushed BLG in their top-side jungle. Xun's Naafiri overaggressively dove the backline and isolated himself, allowing LYON to score a 0-for-3, interrupting BLG's snowball again.

Mid game saw both teams jockey for vision around the Baron pit. BLG won a 1-for-2 skirmish to reclaim tempo. At 23 minutes, BLG started the Dragon and forced a fight. Bin's mini Gnar chased and killed Ambessa from the flank, securing another solo kill! As he turned into mega Gnar, he re-engaged the main fight. With LYON missing a member and scattered, BLG calmly secured the Dragon and then traded 2-for-4, earning the Hextech Soul point and a decisive victory! LYON, now at a disadvantage, chose to fight near the Baron river. BLG's dual carries dealt maximum damage, winning a 1-for-5 ace and taking Baron uncontested! LYON's mid and bot inner towers fell one by one, and with a 7k gold deficit, they had no comeback. BLG eventually wiped LYON 0-for-5 in LYON's bot-side jungle and ended the game, dominating 2-0 to reach match point.

Game 3

BLG: Renekton, Vi, Ahri, Ezreal, Bard

LYON: Aatrox, Nocturne, Cassiopeia, Sivir, Nautilus

LYON made good use of their jungle-support's early skirmishing power. Isles' Nautilus roamed mid, forcing Knight's Ahri to burn flash. Then LYON's jungler and bot lane aggressively invaded BLG's bot-side jungle, forcing BLG to surrender their red buff and raptors. At 5 minutes, Saint's Cassiopeia landed all three Qs, chased Ahri through the minion wave, and solo-killed her for first blood!

LYON's mid-jungle-support advantage extended into the jungle. For the first neutral objective, LYON easily secured the Dragon, while BLG took the Voidgrubs. Inspired's Nocturne used his first ultimate post-6 to gank bot lane. Viper's Ezreal, protected by his tower, stalled until BLG's reinforcements arrived, allowing BLG to win a 1-for-3 trade. At 13 minutes, Xun's Vi ambushed Cassiopeia in the bot lane brush after she swapped lanes, helping Ahri kill her, then took the Chemtech Drake. Meanwhile, Bin's Renekton held a massive top lane advantage with over 40 CS lead and solo-destroyed the first turret, seizing tempo.

LYON's early lead dwindled after several skirmishes, and their rhythm stalled. Although Nocturne caught Renekton pushing recklessly top, using flash to kill him, BLG aggressively invaded LYON's top-side jungle and killed the flashless Nocturne in return. Before Baron, LYON's bot tower fell, BLG held two Dragons, and led by 3k gold.

In the mid game, BLG chose to avoid fights to wait for their carries' third items, conceding Dragons and instead destroying LYON's top inner tower. LYON was happy to farm, and Nocturne with rank 2 ultimate was deadly for sidelane picks, catching Vi solo. BLG quickly regrouped at the Baron river, trading cooldowns with LYON to prevent them from taking Baron. At 26 minutes, BLG had Vi and Ezreal secretly steal Baron while Renekton pushed bot lane as a decoy. LYON was completely fooled; BLG secured Baron at the cost of Bard getting caught mid. LYON could only take the Dragon as consolation.

With the Baron buff, BLG pushed LYON's remaining outer towers, and Ezreal solo destroyed LYON's top inhibitor. LYON grouped and searched for fights unsuccessfully, only managing to kill Ahri mid. Their sole advantage was Berserker's Sivir completing five items, leading in damage output. At 34 minutes, LYON started Baron to force a fight. BLG's top and jungler sold their Guardian Angels but failed to steal it. BLG's formation was scattered, and with insufficient damage, LYON's Sivir went berserk, securing a 2-for-4 and taking Baron to stabilize. In the end, BLG struck with a sudden 1-for-5 ace at the Dragon pit, wiping LYON and finishing the game 3-0. They will face LCK's first seed HLE in the winners' bracket final on July 9.