LCK 2026 Road to MSI KT Versus DK: KT Earns a Reverse Sweep Thanks to DK’s Mistakes
Dplus KIA played their second LCK series in a row against KT Rolster. They stormed to a 2-0 LCK series lead. Game two had shaky moments, but they were always in control. KT fought back in game three. However, it looked doomed for them in the fourth game. That was until Siwoo died before the Elder Drake, and the gates opened. KT also had to rely on a Siwoo mistake in game five to win the LCK series.
LCK 2026 Series Summary
Game One – Winning Through Bot Lane
An early 3v3 in the bot lane goes the way of DK. They use that to earn a second kill on Effort minutes later. Smash’s lead becomes pivotal in the Rift Herald fight. With ShowMaker dying early, Smash had to carry, and he did. KT could not take the DK AD carry, and the gold lead ballooned from 2k to 5k in an instant. The story kept repeating itself: ShowMaker would die or lose most of his health, but Smash was untouched in the fights. DK picked up a 20-minute Baron and used that to end the game.
Game Two – DK Nearly Throws It All Away
After KT overextends on a bot lane skirmish, they fall significantly far behind. PerfecT solo kills Siwoo, but that barely has an impact on the early game. KT can not find their footing in the game. Even when they get to the Rift Herald first, and ShowMaker is not there, KT can not win. The lead eventually grows to 11k gold for DK, before mistakes happen.
DK loses a fight in the mid-lane, and the gold lead shrinks. That gives KT momentum to take the Baron and lower the gold lead. With the game falling away from them, DK prepares for the Elder Drake fight. Cuzz tries to engage on ShowMaker, but he goes too far. DK wins the fight, takes the Elder, and ends the game.
Game Three – KT Pulls One Back
KT has an early game lead for the first time in the series. They struggle to increase their lead. Every time KT gets kills, DK responds by farming towers for gold. Aiming gets the vast majority of the gold for KT. Siwoo finds the angle on the KT bot lane, but there is no follow-up, and he dies, giving KT one step towards extending the series.
The next Drake fight is Lucid’s turn for some heroics. He loses the smite battle to Cuzz, but finds the Flash Impale onto the KT bot lane. Despite both Aiming and Effort dying, KT wins the fight. The Elder Drake becomes the final fight of the game. DK can not kill Aiming as he earns a Pentakill.
Game Four – One Mistake and DK Lose it All
The early game is tense. Both teams posture for positioning and leads, but neither can find one until the Drake fight. KT secures the Drake but loses four members, and the game starts to fall apart. ShowMaker and Lucid’s threat on the backline makes it difficult for Aiming to deal consistent damage. KT looks to stall the game against a Baron and eventually an Infernal Soul. Aiming’s wave clear does mean DK never has a chance to siege the inhibitor towers.
Siwoo makes one mistake near the Elder Drake spawn, and that allows KT to get an Elder fight, despite being down 10k gold. KT kills Lucid and secures the objective with DK not having a jungler. The fight is close, and both teams reset. With the last ticks of Elder, KT and DK fight. KT wins and ends the game, sending the series to Silver Scrapes.
Game Five – KT Steals Elder Drake
Cuzz kicks the game off early with a gank towards the bot lane. DK responds with their own pressure, giving Smash a significant gold lead. Lucid also gives attention to Siwoo and gets him ahead. Two fights later, and KT restored some parity to the gold lead. With KT playing the map better, they had the advantage. However, DK outmaneuvered them, first forcing Baron and then taking the Ocean Soul. They won the fight and had the ascendancy. The game came down to an Elder Drake fight. Siwoo died on the setup, and Cuzz stole the objective. KT won the fight and ended the game.
Champions Played
KT Rolster
- PerfecT – Rumble, K’Sante, Renekton, Sion, Zaahen
- Cuzz – Xin Zhao, Vi, Nocturne, Naafiri, Poppy
- Bdd – Viktor, Taliyah, Zoe, Ahri, Azir
- Aiming – Jhin, Caitlyn, Yunara, Sivir, Corki
- Effort – Nautilus, Alistar, Lulu, Karma, Blitzcrank
Dplus KIA
- Siwoo – Ornn, Jayce, Gnar, Jax, Ambessa
- Lucid – Wukong, Jarvan IV, Skarner, Pantheon, Maokai
- ShowMaker – Orianna, Ryze, LeBlanc, Aurora, Yone
- Smash – Ashe, Mel, Lucian, Miss Fortune, Xayah
- Career – Seraphine, Shen, Milio, Bard, Rakan
Dplus KIA Crumbled Under the Pressure
The warning signs were there for DK after they nearly threw away their lead in game two. Their inability to close out games cleanly was a significant problem in the series. Games four and five were in their hands until they made mistakes. These problems have persisted for DK through recent LCK years, and one wonders if they will fix them. For KT, they won the series, but it was not clean. Them falling behind so often in games is a bad sign. They will not have the opportunity to bounce back from deficits against Gen.G Esports.
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