Kha Y Tran On January 18, 2026, in the group stage of the LCK Cup 2026, Nongshim RedForce (NS) faced Hanwha Life Esports (HLE), one of the tournament favorites. The match followed a Bo3 (Best of 3) format and featured two teams from the LCK, Korea’s top League of Legends league.
Follow the results of other matches on Tenkly: https://tenkly.com/
Pre-Match Context
HLE entered the draft with a clear goal. They prioritized champions with strong engage tools and solid 5v5 teamfighting. Instead of split-pushing, they focused on full team combat.
At the same time, HLE used their bans to remove early snowball picks. They also targeted NS’s strongest jungle and mid champions.
In contrast, Nongshim RedForce took a more modern drafting approach. NS picked lane-dominant champions with roaming power and strong vision control. Moreover, their lineup was designed to spike in the mid game.
During the ban phase, NS removed HLE’s best teamfight champions. As a result, HLE lost access to several of their signature picks..
Match Breakdown – Game by Game
Game 1: NS Secure a Convincing Win
At first, HLE looked stable with a slight draft advantage. However, their coordination soon broke down. NS gradually took over the tempo of the game.
Meanwhile, NS secured key objectives and won small skirmishes. Their superior macro play created a clear gold lead. Eventually, Nongshim RedForce closed out the game in dominant fashion.
Game 2: NS Close It Out Early
In the second game, NS stayed aggressive from the start. Once again, they controlled the map and forced favorable fights.
Moreover, NS dominated every major objective. HLE failed to contest dragons and Baron effectively. As a result, NS ended the game early and secured a clean 2–0 victory.
Key Highlights of the Match
- Nongshim RedForce delivered a dominant macro performance with extremely disciplined objective control.
- Hanwha Life Esports looked completely stuck in the crucial teamfights and failed to execute their game plan.
Impact on the Group Standings
The 2–0 win over HLE not only gave NS crucial points but also created a huge mental boost for their group-stage campaign at the LCK Cup 2026. Meanwhile, HLE found themselves in a difficult position after underwhelming results, forcing them to improve quickly if they want to compete for a playoff spot.
Follow LCK matches at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9aL-U8f9tU
Hastag
#LCKCup2026 #HLE #NS #RiotGames #LeagueOfLegends
Quynh Bui 
