LCK Cup 2026 Dplus KIA Review: Positive Signs Combine with a Mental Collapse
Dplus KIA is an enigma within the LCK Cup. At their peak, they can match up to the best teams in the LCK. However, they can also struggle against weaker opposition. You can attribute part of their struggles to an inability to deal with high-pressure moments. When everyone expected them to win, they underperformed.
Dplus KIA LCK Cup Results
Dplus KIA played the most series out of any team in the LCK Cup. They had to advance through the play-in stage. In the eleven series they played, they won seven. They had a nearly identical game record. They won eighteen of their thirty-five games.
- Won 2-0 Versus HANJIN BRION
- Won 2-0 Versus DN SOOPErs
- Won 2-1 Versus Nongshim Redforce
- Lost 2-0 Versus Gen.G Esports
- Lost 3-0 Versus T1
- Won 2-0 Versus DRX
- Won 3-2 Versus DRX
- Lost 3-1 Versus Gen.G Esports
- Won 3-1 Versus DN SOOPers
- Won 3-2 Versus T1
- Lost 3-0 Versus FearX
Dplus KIA Player Review
Siwoo
- Total Apex Rating – 6.1 (5th among top laners, tied 19th among players)
- Champions Played
- Gwen (5)
- K’Sante (5)
- Sion (5)
- Ambessa (3)
- Jax (3)
- Aurora (2)
- Gnar (2)
- Ornn (2)
- Rumble (2)
- Jayce
- Kennen
- Olaf
- Yorick
Siwoo encapsulates DK’s successes and struggles. He can be dominant in series, helping DK win when they should not. However, in the same breath, he underperforms, allowing teams to utilize his mistakes. His performances are akin to Doran’s for T1 last year.
Lucid
- Total Apex Rating – 6.1 (5th among junglers, tied 19th among players)
- Champions Played
- Jarvan IV (7)
- Pantheon (4)
- Wukong (4)
- Xin Zhao (4)
- Ambessa (3)
- Lee Sin (3)
- Vi (3)
- Aatrox (2)
- Dr. Mundo (2)
- Maokai
- Nocturne
- Qiyana
Lucid was instrumental in DK’s reverse sweep over T1 during the playoffs. His smites were perfect in ensuring that DK always had a win condition in the final three games. Much like Siwoo, he has consistency issues in his performances. He followed the T1 series, with one of the worst performances of the LCK Cup.
ShowMaker
- Total Apex Rating – 6.2 (tied 3rd among mid laners, tied 14th among players)
- Champions Played
- Ryze (6)
- Ahri (4)
- Azir (4)
- Cassiopeia (3)
- Zoe (3)
- Anivia (2)
- Leblanc (2)
- Orianna (2)
- Twisted Fate (2)
- Ekko
- Malzahar
- Syndra
- Taliyah
- Tristana
- Viktor
- Yone
ShowMaker was often the shining light for DK. He had one of the most dominant lane performances of the tournament in DK’s opening series. His Leblanc performance against Roamer ensured the BRO mid-laner had no chance. Weirdly enough, he was the worst player in their reverse sweep against T1.
Smash
- Total Apex Rating – 6.3 (3rd among bot laners, tied 11th among players)
- Champions Played
- Ezreal (6)
- Ashe (4)
- Lucian (4)
- Yunara (4)
- Corki (3)
- Sivir (3)
- Varus (3)
- Aphelios (2)
- Jhin (2)
- Ziggs (2)
- Jinx
- Miss Fortune
Smash made his LCK debut last year in the LCK Cup. At the time, he announced himself, contributing to T1’s win over Gen.G in the Group Battle. He had a point to prove in this year’s edition, and he proved it. He stood out during the tournament and was pivotal in DK’s win over T1.
Career
- Total Apex Rating – 5.3 (7th among supports, tied 42nd among players)
- Champions Played
- Lulu (5)
- Nami (5)
- Bard (4)
- Seraphine (4)
- Alistar (3)
- Karma (2)
- Nautilus (2)
- Rakan (2)
- Thresh (2)
- Yuumi (2)
- Blitzcrank
- Braum
- Leona
- Neeko
Career had an LCK Cup he would like to forget. He was often the weak link for DK in their series. The rookie support had a lot of pressure on his shoulders. That was evident with his emotional response during the playoff series against T1. Despite those emotions, he steadied his performance to help DK pull off the reverse sweep.
LCK Cup Review
DK had a dominant start to the LCK Cup. They won three series in a row before they faced Gen.G Esports and T1. They lost five games in a row to both of those teams. Their further series showed inconsistent patterns. They had a combination of dominant performances and underperformance. In their series against T1, they were one game away from elimination. They looked dead and buried, but managed to fight back to earn a reverse sweep. They will need to become more consistent if they want to break into the upper echelon. Even though they finished 3rd, T1 and Hanwha Life Esports can take their place.
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