First Stand 2026 FearX Preview: A Surprising Dark Horse Addition

By:Devin Morris
The First Stand Logo, the first international event of the year

At the start of the year, no one would have expected FearX to be here. They managed to surprise everyone by finishing second in the LCK Cup and qualifying for First Stand. Many might expect them to struggle on the international stage without the experience. Given their confidence in their mechanics and playstyle, they might continue to surprise. Will the dark horses rise once again to claim impressive scalps?

FearX First Stand Roster

  • Song “Clear” Hyeon-min – Korean Top Laner
  • Jeon “Raptor” Eo-jin – Korean Jungler
  • Lee “VicLa” Dae-kwang – Korean Mid Laner
  • Nam “Diable” Dae-geun – Korean Bot Laner
  • Kim “Kellin” Hyeong-guy – Korean Support

BFX held onto their roster from 2025. The team has improved over the past year or so. Their focus has been on their AD Carry Diable, who has taken the league by storm. One of the players who has improved the most since last year is their mid-laner, VicLa.

BFX’s Aggression

BFX beat T1 3-1 in the LCK Cup Playoffs
Image of BFX beating T1, courtesy of the LCK/Riot Games

BFX live and die by their aggressive playstyle. They do not allow teams to breathe in matches. If you overstep slightly in lanes, BFX will look to fight. BFX’s botlane duo, Diable and Kellin, encapsulate the team’s aggression. Diable will challenge anyone on mechanics. He almost dares his opponents to go for him. More often than not, he outplays them and earns advantages for his team.

However, there have been situations where he has cost the team. He might mistime his cooldowns or misposition slightly, and teams will take advantage of that. Expect BFX to draft him champions that have dashes. On those champions, he tends to push the boundaries further. Kellin is often there to back up his aggressive AD carry and flourishes on enchanter champions.

Dealing With The Pressure

Only one player on BFX has the experience of playing on an international stage. The team did play in the Asia Invitational last year; however, that was not on a stage. They had a small taste of playing outside of Korea during the final weekend of the LCK Cup. They played against Dplus KIA and Gen.G Esports in Hong Kong. That was in front of a bigger audience than what First Stand will have.

The international stage is a different place, and the players might struggle to adjust. Kellin is the only player on the roster with previous international experience. Kellin played for Damwon Gaming/Dplus KIA at the World Championships in 2022 and 2023. They will not have much time to adjust to the conditions. They begin against Bilibili Gaming, one of the stronger teams at First Stand. It is trial by fire for the youngest team at the international event.

Prediction

The expectations on BFX are lower than what they might be for T1 or Hanwha Life Esports. The team has had outstanding performances so far this year. However, their 3-0 loss to Gen.G Esports and lack of international experience have many doubting them. If they manage to conquer the experience, they could become a threat to every team at the competition.

We might see BFX finish first in their group. However, Bilibili Gaming should finish above them. If BFX fails to qualify for the Knockout Stage, that will be a disappointing result. BFX could make the Grand Final if they manage to avoid Gen.G Esports in the semi-final. Gen.G Esports have stylistically had the advantage over BFX in the LCK Cup.

BFX’s Path to Glory

BFX qualified for First Stand as an LCK representative
Image of BFX qualifying for First Stand, courtesy of Riot Games

BFX will start the competition with a series against Bilibili Gaming. Should they win the match, they will face the winner of G2 Esports Versus Team Secret Whales. Losing to Bilibili Gaming will put them in an elimination match against the aforementioned teams. Two wins in the group will earn qualification to the Knockout Stage. Two losses will eliminate them from the competition. Should they qualify, they will face one of the teams from Group B. The team they play will depend on the position in the group.

More First Stand Content

The articles below will provide more information on the First Stand event. Stay tuned for more previews on the teams later this week. You can expect further preview and review coverage of all the matches taking place next week.

Author

  • Devin Morris

    I am a gaming fanatic from little old South Africa. I have had a passion for gaming and writing from a young age. My early favorites were Age of Empires, FIFA and Need for Speed games. As I grew older I moved into more competitive gaming, focusing on Overwatch, League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics. I also sink way too many hours into Destiny 2!

I am a gaming fanatic from little old South Africa. I have had a passion for gaming and writing from a young age. My early favorites were Age of Empires, FIFA and Need for Speed games. As I grew older I moved into more competitive gaming, focusing on Overwatch, League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics. I also sink way too many hours into Destiny 2!

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