kt Rolster stun Vitality with reverse sweep to reach semis

kt Rolster mounted a dramatic comeback against Team Vitality in the opening quarterfinal matchup of the 2026 Demacia Cup Global Invitational on October 12, securing a 3-2 series victory after dropping the first two games.

Vitality dominated the early phases of Game 1, with their mid-jungle combination creating immediate pressure on kt Rolster's Bdd and Cuzz. FIESTA's Orianna accumulated two kills as the European squad established control. Although kt Rolster's Cuzz responded with a successful gank in the top lane, Vitality executed a coordinated dive that resulted in a double kill for Carzzy's Xayah. Leveraging their advantage, Vitality secured a pivotal teamfight victory in the mid lane, claimed Baron, and methodically dismantled kt Rolster's defenses to close out the opening game.

Game 2 proved even more devastating for kt Rolster, who squandered a commanding position. After trading early kills, kt Rolster built momentum through successful Voidgrub skirmishes and dragon stacking, eventually accumulating a 9,000-gold advantage by the 19-minute mark following a Baron takedown. However, a critical teamfight loss around the next dragon objective triggered a complete reversal. Vitality won successive fights, secured Baron themselves, and completed an improbable comeback to force kt Rolster into an elimination scenario.

Facing elimination in Game 3, kt Rolster responded with a clinical performance. Bdd's Taliyah secured two early kills, setting the tone for kt Rolster's dominance. The team controlled dragon spawns and accumulated a 10,000-gold lead by the 22-minute mark, closing the game in just 23 minutes without repeating their previous mistakes.

Game 4 remained competitive throughout. kt Rolster shut down Vitality's top laner early, while Bdd's Locke champion pick proved instrumental with three kills that shifted momentum decisively in kt Rolster's favor. The team converted their advantage into a victory that leveled the series at 2-2.

The decisive Game 5 unfolded as a back-and-forth battle from the opening minutes. kt Rolster established a strong position in the top lane through superior wave management, but Vitality maintained competitiveness through successful skirmishes in the bot and mid lanes. After securing two dragon stacks, Vitality pursued a third, and while kt Rolster won the resulting fight, Vitality claimed the objective to reach three stacks. A subsequent teamfight saw Vitality secure an Ace and obtain the Dragon Soul, seemingly positioning themselves for victory. However, kt Rolster regrouped and won the next teamfight to reclaim the gold advantage and control heading into the Elder Dragon fight. kt Rolster's decisive victory in that final clash sealed the reverse sweep and their advancement to the semifinals.