LCK Cup 2026 Playoffs Match Review: ShowMaker Carries DK To Victory

In their previous LCK Cup meeting, Dplus KIA coasted to a 2-0 victory over DRX. Today, they faced off in a best-of-five series for the LCK Cup Playoffs. The match went to five games, with DK managing to close out the LCK Cup series. They looked shaky in the opening, but managed to wake up and beat DRX 3-2. They will face Gen.G Esports in Round 2. DRX plays against DN SOOPers in a must-win LCK Cup series.

LCK Cup 2026 Playoffs: Dplus KIA Versus DRX Match Review

Zoe in League of Legends played in the LCK — Image of Zoe, courtesy of Riot Games

Game One Draft

Dplus KIA – Blue Side

Jayce
Ambessa
Azir
Jhin
Bard

DRX – First Pick

Kennen
Xin Zhao
Orianna
Corki
Nautilus

Game One Summary

DRX’s bot lane tries for an all-in at level one. They come out of the trade behind. That allows Smash and Career to dive Jiwoo. Career earns the First Blood kill but dies in trade. It feels like Deja Vu as DRX and DK fight 4v4 on the scuttle crab. However, it is later in the game and does not give DK a significant gold lead. DK takes a confusing fight without ShowMaker joining. They lose and give up their lead.

DRX starts to build a lead on their Mountain Soul point. They win the fight and secure the objective. DRX secures the Baron, and the push gives them space to earn the Mountain Soul. The second DRX Baron push becomes shaky. In the end, Jiwoo stands tall to carry them over the line.

Total Apex Ratings

Dplus KIA

Siwoo – 4
Lucid – 3
ShowMaker – 6
Smash – 5
Career – 5

DRX

Rich – 6
Willer – 7
Ucal – 8
Jiwoo – 7
Andil – 8

Player of the game – Ucal

Game Two Draft

Dplus KIA – Blue Side

Gnar
Dr. Mundo
Zoe
Ashe
Seraphine

DRX – First Pick

Aurora
Zaahen
Sylas
Yunara
Karma

Game Two Summary

There is some action in the early game, but First Blood only comes at 7 minutes. Siwoo chases Rich into his jungle and earns the kill, even with Willer in the area. The DK lanes continue to win in isolation. Everyone on the team ahead, causing a 3.5k gold lead at 12 minutes. DK has a chokehold over the game, and DRX has no chance to fight back. Their first kill occurs at 20 minutes, with Smash dying at the hands of Jiwoo. DK overextended in the bot lane, giving four kills to DRX. Three of those go to Jiwoo, and they deny Infernal Soul point.

In the blink of an eye, the 8k gold lead goes to 4k, with Jiwoo leading by 1.5k gold. DK steadies the ship in the follow-up bot lane fight to restore most of their lead. Willer steals the Drake, and the fight barely goes in DK’s favor. DRX stalls the game for an eternity. They continue to get kills to the point where DK’s lead is only 1k at 38 minutes. Finally, DK finds the fight win on the Infernal Soul to clinch the game.

Total Apex Ratings

Dplus KIA

Siwoo – 7
Lucid – 8
ShowMaker – 9
Smash – 5
Career – 5

DRX

Rich – 5
Willer – 6
Ucal – 4
Jiwoo – 8
Andil – 5

Player of the game – ShowMaker

Game Three Draft

Dplus KIA – Blue Side

K’Sante
Nocturne
Viktor
Varus
Alistar

DRX – First Pick

Renekton
Olaf
Ryze
Sivir
Poppy

Game Three Summary

Game three sees nearly no action in the early stages of the game. Rich earns the First Blood with a solo kill on Siwoo at 12 minutes. Both teams earn kills, but the gold stays close, with a slight DK lead. The Cloud Soul point stays in DRX’s favor. They get the Drake and kill ShowMaker. However, Jiwoo facechecks and dies, allowing DK to secure more kills and Baron. DK manages to prevent the Cloud Soul with a scrappy fight win.

DK and DRX have some scraps, which result in one or two kills but nothing significant. Once again, the teams participate in a nail-biting fight. DRX eventually wins in the ensuing fight. They secure the Cloud Soul and Baron, finally earning a gold lead. DRX ends the game with the Baron push and moves to match point.

Total Apex Ratings

Dplus KIA

Siwoo – 5
Lucid – 5
ShowMaker – 6
Smash – 6
Career – 5

DRX

Rich – 6
Willer – 6
Ucal – 7
Jiwoo – 7
Andil – 7

Player of the game – Ucal

Game Four Draft

Dplus KIA – Blue Side

Jax
Vi
Taliyah
Ziggs
Rakan

DRX – Second Pick

Sion
Naafiri
Galio
Kalista
Renata Glasc

Game Four Summary

The first Drake fight is disastrous for DRX. Andil goes on a bouncy castle and dies, while Lucid steals the Drake. Lucid ganks the DRX botlane to put Jiwoo further behind. As it has been during the series, a scrap ensues during the second Drake fight. Lucid dies, while everyone else’s health bars are low. Despite losing Lucid, DK secures the Drake due to the low health of the DRX members. The game goes from bad to worse for DRX, as they lose more fights, and the DK is on Hextech Soul point. The fights are heavily in DK’s favor as they take Baron and Hextech Soul. The Baron push leads to Silver Scrapes.

Total Apex Ratings

Dplus KIA

Siwoo – 8
Lucid – 8
ShowMaker – 8
Smash – 8
Career – 8

DRX

Rich – 5
Willer – 4
Ucal – 5
Jiwoo – 4
Andil – 4

Player of the game – Lucid

Game Five Draft

Dplus KIA

Gwen
Lee Sin
Twisted Fate
Jinx
Thresh

DRX

Rumble
Sejuani
Tristana
Aphelios
Lulu

Game Five Summary

Rich and Willer dive Siwoo for First Blood. Rich does die, resulting in an even trade. Rich solo kills Siwoo at 8 minutes. The kill allows Willer to secure all three Grubs. Willer’s indecision and missed ult mean DK wins the Drake fight. Ucal and Rich collapse mid after securing the side lane Towers to get a kill and their second Drake.

Lucid manages to break open the top matchup. Smash earns the shutdown on Rich with a Rocket. Siwoo follows up with a solo kill on Rich. All of a sudden, DK has a 6k gold lead with another fight win and a Baron take. DRX tries to chase, but they fail to get a kill. DK turns around to win the fight and end the LCK Cup series.

Series Summary

DK Beating DRX 3-2 in the LCK Cup Playoffs — Image of DK Beating DRX, courtesy of the LCK/Riot Games

DRX nearly had a surprise LCK Cup series victory over DK. There was even a chance that they could have won 3-0. They nearly recovered from a 10k gold deficit to win game two. DK woke up towards the end of the series. They delivered dominant victories. While game five looked shaky, once they got a lead, they ran away with it. The concerns for DK remain, as Career struggled to perform today. The same can apply to Andil on DRX. He looked comfortable on melee supports, but did not find his place on enchanters. The win for DK sees them play against Gen.G Esports in Round 2 of the LCK Cup.

Total Apex Series Ratings

Dplus KIA