LCK Cup 2026 Playoffs Match Preview: T1 and DK Battle For A Spot in Hong Kong

There is one spot left for the LCK Cup Playoffs in Hong Kong. T1 and Dplus KIA will fight it out for that final spot. T1 enters as the favorites, but question marks surround the World Champions. DK is not without their issues either and will need to improve. The winner of the series will face FearX in the Lower Bracket final following their loss to Gen.G Esports.

Recent LCK Cup Match History

T1 Beat DK 3-0 in the LCK Cup — Image of T1 beating DK 3-0, courtesy of the LCK/Riot Games

The previous meeting between the two teams is one that DK would like to forget. They were second-best in the series, losing 3-0. That match took place during Super Week of the Group Battle, which helped secure Group Baron’s victory.

Have T1 Sorted Out Draft

One aspect where T1 lost out on during their loss to BFX was their drafting. Their priority for certain champions felt misguided. We do not want to see Faker on Aurora again. As much as he is not terrible on the pick, he has yet to have a standout performance on the champion. Every game of the series against BFX, the draft advantage went to T1’s opponents. That was not their only issue, but it made playing the games out near impossible. T1 is not unused to having bad draft reads. Their gameplay bails them out of terrible draft situations. DK is another team that tends to struggle to deliver winning drafts. T1 might be fortunate in that regard.

Career’s Performance

One of the biggest weaknesses for DK in their loss to T1 was Career. They targeted the rookie support during the mid-game. The final game of the series was an example of this. He died multiple times in a row against the Orianna and Nocturne ultimate combination. He has had better performances in recent games, but that is not enough. He needs to be a liability if DK wants to beat T1. He and Smash must step up to Peyz and Keria to take down T1. The T1 bot lane had their worst series of the year against BFX. They might be looking for revenge against the former T1 AD carry and rookie support.

ShowMaker Against Faker

Ryze from League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics played in the LCK — Image of Ryze, courtesy of Riot Games

Both mid-laners have had resurgent performances in the LCK Cup. Faker has been at this level at the World Championship, but rarely in the LCK. The battle between the two experienced mid-laners could be pivotal in deciding their team’s fate. With teams focusing on roaming mid-laners, both are in their element. Which one of the mid-laners will find plays in the bot lane first?

T1 Versus Dplus KIA Prediction

T1 3-1 Dplus KIA

The combination of T1’s drop off and DK’s slight improvements might result in a closer series. DK should be able to make the series more competitive than their previous one. However, T1 has rebounded after taking a heavy loss. The last time they did that was against DK in the LCK Cup Season Playoffs. T1 lost 3-0 to Hanwha Life Esports and followed up with a 3-1 win over DK to qualify for the World Championship. Both teams will want the victory, and it could catapult their year. DK has not shown enough to beat T1, even if they are not in their best form.

A Place in Hong Kong

The LCK Cup Playoffs final three matches will take place in Hong Kong. Gen.G Esports and FearX have already booked their tickets. Gen.G waits in the Grand Final. The winner of tomorrow’s series will play against FearX. The winner of that series will not only qualify for the Grand Final. They will book their ticket to the First Stand International Event hosted in Brazil.