LCK Cup 2026 Play-In Match Review: The World's Finalists Are Eliminated From Contention

Deokdam and Peter have a chance for revenge against KT Rolster. A victory for DN SOOPers results in KT’s elimination. They did that with a 2-0 series win. It was not clean, as they fell behind drastically in the first game of the series. But for the second time in the LCK Cup, KT threw away an almost unlosable lead. KT is out of the LCK Cup, while DNS advances to Round 2 of the Play-In stage.

LCK Cup 2026: KT Rolster Versus DN SOOPers Match Review

Yunara from League of Legends, a benefactor of the Role Quests — Image of Yunara, courtesy of Riot Games

Game One Draft

DN SOOPers – Blue Side

Gwen
Ambessa
Akali
Ezreal
Neeko

KT Rolster

Renekton
Vi
Azir
Corki
Nami

Game One Summary

Peter and Ghost start for their respective rosters in game one. KT’s Botlane dives deokdam for First Blood Kill. Aiming continues to build a lead in isolation as he is up 1.5 gold in 20 minutes. DNS manages to fight back on their Hextech Soul point fight. deokdam ascends as he carries DNS to being one Drake away from Soul. After a long standoff on the Hextech Soul fight, both teams pull the trigger. DNS manages to kill Bdd and Cuzz, but it is not enough as KT wins the fight and denies the Soul.

DNS holds off KT on the Baron siege and earns the Hextech Soul, but they are down three inhibitors. DNS holds a second time and delays the Baron push. They manage to win the Elder Drake fight and break four Towers in the mid lane. Those are their first Towers of the game. KT goes for a Hail Mary push for the Nexus after Cuzz dies. DNS defends and ends the game.

Total Apex Ratings

KT Rolster

PerfecT – 5
Cuzz – 4
Bdd – 6
Aiming – 5
Ghost – 6

DN SOOPers

DuDu – 7
Pyosik – 6
Clozer – 6
deokdam – 8
Peter – 7

Player of the game – deokdam

Game Two Draft

DN SOOPers – Blue Side

Rek’Sai
Lee Sin
Ryze
Yunara
Rell

KT Rolster – First Pick

Sion
Jayce
Taliyah
Caitlyn
Bard

Game Two Summary

KT’s bot lane loses the early 2v2. Even though they get the First Blood kill, it goes to Ghost, but deokdam earns the kill on Aiming. deokdam maintains a gold lead on Aiming, which allows them to have priority on the first two Drakes. Pyosik wins the smite battle on the Hextech Soul point to give DNS a clear win condition. The game slows as it becomes a Drake game. KT stalls the Hextech Soul, but they lose three members in the fight. DNS earned four kills and the Hextech Soul. They Realm Warp into the midlane and end the series.

Total Apex Ratings

KT Rolster

PerfecT – 5
Cuzz – 5
Bdd – 5
Aiming – 4
Ghost – 5

DN SOOPers

DuDu – 7
Pyosik – 7
Clozer – 7
deokdam – 8
Peter – 8

Player of the game – Peter

Series Summary

DNS Beat KT in the LCK Cup Play-Ins — Image of DNS beating KT in the Play-ins, courtesy of the LCK/Riot Games

KT had an advantage in game one of the series. Besides Drakes, they were ahead in every metric. With a 10k gold lead and Baron Buff, they only needed to win one more fight to end the game. However, they had multiple fights in a row, ones that resulted in the loss of Hextech Soul and Elder Drake. For the second time in the LCK Cup, KT Rolster threw away a gold lead above 10k.

KT looked out of sorts in the second game. With Aiming dying twice in the bot lane, it looked grim for KT. They managed to steady the ship, but could never break deokdam’s lead. DNS ended the game and the series with one decisive teamfight. KT is out of contention for the LCK Cup and First Stand.

Total Apex Series Ratings

KT Rolster