**Western teams from the LEC and LCS enter Worlds 2026 with three seeds each (G2 Esports and Movistar KOI direct to Swiss; Karmine Corp in Play-In for Europe; Team Liquid, Cloud9, and LYON for North America), facing a 16-team Swiss Stage where eight advance via three wins.** Eastern dominance from four LCK and four LPL squads creates a steep path, yet G2’s consistent international pedigree, LCS roster stability after summer playoffs, and the Swiss format’s early best-of-ones introduce variance that supports realistic upset potential. CBLOL’s expanded presence and the Play-In bracket add further variables. Trader consensus at 50% for more than one Western team reaching the knockout stage reflects these balanced factors: strong regional qualification results and stylistic matchups against Eastern opposition, tempered by historical performance gaps and the depth of LCK/LPL competition. Late roster adjustments or Play-In outcomes could shift implied probabilities before Swiss begins on October 23.