LCK 2026 Playoffs Dplus KIA Versus KT Rolster Review: KT Defy Predictions For a Dominant Victory

Dplus KIA came into the LCK Playoffs in red-hot form. No team had won more series in Rounds 3-4 than they did. That momentum got stopped short by KT Rolster. They lost the series 3-0 and gave up a 14k gold lead in game two. DK will drop to the Lower Bracket to face FearX in an elimination series. KT advances to play against Gen.G Esports for a rematch from last year’s LCK Summer Playoffs.

KT Reign Supreme

KT Rolster defeated Dplus KIA 3-0 in Round 1 of the LCK Playoffs — Image of KT beating DK, courtesy of the LCK/Riot Games

PerfecT brought out Trundle as a counterpick to Siwoo’s Olaf. The pick worked out perfectly in the laning phase. He gradually increased his lead above 1k without outside help. The rest of the map was close, with DK having small leads. For most of the game, the gold stayed around 1k to either side.

That was until the third Drake fight. Bdd and Siwoo died, leaving a 4v4. Career’s misplaced Tempered Fate allowed KT to pick off Lucid and ShowMaker. The next fight started horribly for KT as Jiwoo died. DK tried to chase, but PerfecT’s pillar cut off Siwoo. With DK stuck in a choke point, KT collapsed and killed four. KT took the Ocean Soul and Baron.

The game went to an Elder Drake fight. Another Siwoo flank saw a trade. Both Siwoo and PerfecT died, and Effort followed shortly after. ShowMaker had to defend the base, leading to a standoff on the Elder. Lucid tried to go in when ShowMaker returned, but he died instantly. That gave KT the advantage to secure the Elder and end the game.

DK’s Monumental Throw

From early in the game, DK had the advantage. They won every skirmish. KT, at least, controlled the objectives well. The Rift Herald fight defined most of the mid-game. Even with a perfect KT engage, they lost the fight. They lacked the damage to kill the DK members.

DK ran the rest of the mid-game. They built a significant gold advantage and looked primed to tie up the series.

DK looked to siege KT’s base with their second Baron. KT responded by splitting up the DK members and winning the fight. KT had momentum despite being behind. Career died on the Drake fight, and KT moved to Soul point. Then Siwoo died on mid-lane, giving KT Baron.

They used the Baron to earn positional advantage on the Drake. With Lucid flanking, KT engaged on the rest of DK. The DK members fell until only the solo laners survived. KT, with the last bit of their Baron, pushed to end the game. Only after killing the second Nexus Tower did KT have a gold lead.

KT’s Solo Laners Thrive

Cuzz picked Cho’Gath Jungle for the first time in the LCK since 2017. The kills stayed close in game three, but KT built leads off PerfecT and Bdd’s individual lane advantages. DK’s saving grace was Smash being ahead of Jiwoo. DK chose to give objectives to inject gold into Siwoo.

That plan failed after Siwoo died in the bot lane. KT used the advantage to take the Baron and push for the end. It was an errant call as all but one of KT died and DK restored parity in the game.

The final fight hinged on Smash, who had a 5k gold lead. If he died, DK would lose. Lucid saw an angle onto Bdd, but it was a mistake. KT moved to punish. Smash’s Cleanse and Guardian Angel, along with Career’s Mikael’s Blessing, were not enough to save the fight. KT ended the series.