LCK Cup 2026 Playoffs Match Review: DK Cause The Giants to Bleed

Dplus Kia has not won against Gen.G Esports in over 20 series in the LCK. Gen.G has not lost a game during the LCK Cup. DK managed to achieve the first game victory over Gen.G. However, they did not convert that into winning the series. Gen.G managed to close out the series with a 3-1. It was not the cleanest LCK Cup series from Gen.G.

LCK Cup 2026 Playoffs: Gen.G Esports Versus Dplus KIA Match Review

Aurora from League of Legends Played in the LCK — Image of Aurora, courtesy of Riot Games

Game One Draft

Dplus KIA – Blue Side

Ornn
Jarvan IV
Azir
Ezreal
Yuumi

Gen.G Esports – First Pick

Rumble
Vi
Taliyah
Jhin
Rakan

Game One Summary

Ruler and Duro earn the First Blood kill on the 2v2. Canyon shows up shortly after for a second kill. DK lost two fights in a row over two consecutive Drakes. All of a sudden, Gen.G has a 4k gold lead, with Ruler ahead 2k gold. In classic Gen.G fashion, they take that gold lead and balloon it further. DK earns their second kill of the game at the 20-minute mark. Ruler oversteps on midlane, as he usually does throughout a series. Gen.G slammed the Chemtech Soul fight. Some happy gaming from Gen.G allows DK to stall the game until Elder Drake. The Elder fight is one-sided, allowing Gen.G to storm down the mid-lane and end the game.

Total Apex Ratings

Gen.G Esports

Kiin – 7
Canyon – 8
Chovy – 9
Ruler – 7
Duro – 8

Dplus KIA

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

Player of the game – Chovy

Game Two Draft

Dplus KIA – Blue Side

Gwen
Wukong
Cassiopeia
Yunara
Lulu

Gen.G Esports – Second Pick

Jayce
Xin Zhao
Ahri
Corki
Nami

Game Two Summary

For the second game in a row, Ruler and Duro dominate the 2v2. Ruler secures a double kill with one rocket under Tower. Lucid bails his botlane as they go for a second and third 2v2. All attention from Canyon and Lucid goes to the bot lane. DK wins the second Drake skirmish thanks to Lucid’s ultimate. The two kills they earn go over to Smash. Chovy misses his engagement in the Third Drake fight, and he falls. Gen.G picks off ShowMaker on the Fourth Drake fight. As Ruler and Duro move back mid, they go on the wrong path, and DK punish them. Canyon had to pull off Drake, giving it over to DK.

Gen.G has no vision of the Drake and gives Cloud Soul to DK. Gen.G overstays and kills Siwoo. They force Baron and trade kills with DK. The respawns are in Gen.G’s favor, allowing them to set up on the Baron for a second time. Siwoo dies again as Gen.G secures the objective. The game goes to Elder Drake fight. Even with Siwoo dead, Lucid steals the objective. As a result, DK wins the game. They earn the first victory against Gen.G in the LCK Cup.

Total Apex Ratings

Gen.G Esports

Kiin – 6
Canyon – 7
Chovy – 8
Ruler – 5
Duro – 5

Dplus KIA

Siwoo – 4
Lucid – 8
ShowMaker – 5
Smash – 8
Career – 7

Player of the game – Lucid

Game Three Draft

Dplus KIA – Blue Side

Jax
Dr. Mundo
Malzahar
Ashe
Seraphine

Gen.G Esports

Zaahen
Pantheon
Ryze
Kalista
Renata Glasc

Game Three Summary

More early action occurs around the bot lane. Canyon visits first and secures the First Blood Kill. Gen.G are the ones to make proactive plays in the early and mid-game. They need to break open the game. Chovy targets Siwoo to ensure that Kiin has a significant advantage. The Gen.G top laner has a 3k gold lead on Siwoo. DK misposition on the Third Drake fight, which Gen.G takes advantage of. They secure the objective and kill Lucid. Gen.G stomps the next fights with their gold lead. DK holds Gen.G’s Baron push due to their mispositioning. They nearly win the Mountain Soul fight, but Gen.G has too many resources. Gen.G crushes the second Baron push and ends the game.

Total Apex Ratings

Gen.G Esports

Kiin – 8
Canyon – 8
Chovy – 9
Ruler – 7
Duro – 7

Dplus KIA

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

Player of the game – Chovy

Game Four Draft

Gen.G Esports – Blue Side

Rek’Sai
Nocturne
Aurora
Miss Fortune
Rell

Dplus KIA – Second Pick

Sion
Aatrox
Anivia
Aphelios
Thresh

Game Four Summary

For the first time in the series, DK’s bot lane wins the 2v2. Smash earns the First Blood kill on Duro. The mid-lane is Armageddon, as Chovy secures a solo kill and gets a gank from Canyon. The good news for DK is that Smash is ahead with two kills. Gen.G stifles Smash’s lead with a 3v3 skirmish that leads to his death. Gen.G builds a slight lead in the mid-game, but a couple of errors leave the gold close. DK crushes the fourth Drake fight to deny Soul point. They move to the Baron and have their first gold lead of the game.

Chovy manages to catch Lucid on the Baron spawn. He almost one-shots Lucid and has support from Canyon. Gen.G secures the Baron and increases their lead to 5k gold. All of that lead falls to Chovy. DK has no way to reach the Ocean Soul and give up the Drake. Gen.G sends it on Smash, and he eventually goes down. However, he lives long enough for DK to trade kills. Gen.G’s only play is to take Baron and set up for the Elder. Chovy tears through everyone on the Elder fight, and they end the game.

Total Apex Ratings

Gen.G Esports

Kiin – 4
Canyon – 7
Chovy – 9
Ruler – 6
Duro – 6

Dplus KIA

Siwoo – 6
Lucid – 7
ShowMaker – 4
Smash – 7
Career – 6

Player of the game – Chovy

Series Summary

Gen.G Beat DK 3-1 in the LCK Cup Playoffs — Image of Gen.G beating DK, courtesy of the LCK/Riot Games

Dplus KIA managed to achieve what no one else has in the LCK Cup. They won a game against Gen.G Esports. This series was the weakest Gen.G has looked. Did the break impact their performance? Kiin, especially, had a poor performance compared to what he usually does. Chovy put the team on his back in the fourth game. He was looking as dominant as ever. DK had moments in their series where they could have won more. They recovered well from a disappointing game one loss. Gen.G awaits in the LCK Cup Upper Bracket final for the winner of T1 and FearX.

Total Apex Series Ratings

Gen.G Esports