Kha Y Tran The match between Nongshim RedForce (NS) and Dplus KIA (DK) at LCK 2026 on April 2, 2026 delivered one of the biggest surprises of the season. Before the series, analysts heavily favored DK and predicted an overwhelming win rate. However, NS stepped up, played aggressively, and secured a convincing 2-0 victory.
Match Overview: NS vs DK – LCK 2026
The clash between NS and DK took place in a Bo3 series during the group stage of LCK 2026. DK entered the match as clear favorites, boasting a strong roster featuring well-known players like ShowMaker and Lucid. Meanwhile, NS were considered significant underdogs.
However, the actual outcome told a completely different story. NS played proactively, controlled the pace of the game, and capitalized on DK’s mistakes to secure a clean 2-0 sweep. This result shocked the LCK community, especially considering DK were expected to win with over a 90% probability.
Follow the results of other matches on Tenkly: https://tenkly.com/
Detailed Match Breakdown
Game 1: NS Fully Controls the Game
From the early stages, NS executed a highly disciplined vision control strategy. They placed deep wards in DK’s jungle to track the enemy jungler’s movements.
NS’s jungler initiated the first gank in the mid lane, forcing DK’s mid laner to burn Flash. Shortly after, NS returned to mid lane and secured first blood, gaining an early advantage. Meanwhile, both side lanes played safely without falling behind, maintaining a balanced and stable setup.
NS held a slight gold lead (~1k–1.5k), but more importantly, they dictated the tempo of the game.
As the match transitioned into the mid game, NS showcased superior macro play. They secured the first Dragon uncontested. DK attempted a small skirmish near the river but failed, allowing NS to pick up two more kills. NS then captured the Rift Herald and destroyed the mid lane turret, opening up the map.
From there, NS continuously applied pressure through split pushing and vision control, forcing DK into a defensive position with no room to execute their strategy.
In the late game, NS baited DK into a fight around Baron. They executed a clean engage and eliminated three DK members, securing Baron for free.
With Baron buff, NS ran a well-coordinated 1-3-1 split push strategy, applying pressure across all three lanes. DK were unable to defend effectively.
At the 25-minute mark, NS destroyed DK’s Nexus and closed out Game 1.
Game 2: NS Dominates – DK Collapse
In Game 2, DK attempted to adjust their strategy after losing Game 1. They focused on stronger laning matchups and aimed to play more aggressively early on.
However, NS read their intentions perfectly.
NS executed a successful counter-gank in the bot lane, securing two early kills. Around minutes 6–7, NS continued to invade DK’s jungle, disrupting their jungler’s tempo and putting DK at a severe disadvantage from the start.
During the mid game, DK tried to turn things around but failed repeatedly. At minute 12, DK initiated a team fight in mid lane but lost decisively, giving up three more kills. NS capitalized on this advantage by securing their second Dragon, moving closer to Dragon Soul.
Additionally, NS maintained full vision control around the Baron area, further limiting DK’s options.
In the late game, NS set a Baron bait. DK were forced to engage, but NS won the decisive team fight and nearly wiped out the entire DK squad.
Following that, NS secured Baron and pushed straight down mid lane.
By minutes 23–24, NS destroyed DK’s base, completing a dominant 2-0 sweep.
Draft Analysis
NS Strategy
- Prioritized strong teamfight compositions
- Selected champions with reliable engage tools
- Focused heavily on objective control
NS built well-balanced compositions with both damage and durability, allowing them to maintain control throughout both games.
DK Strategy
- Focused on mechanically demanding champions
- Lacked synergy between roles
- Failed to capitalize on laning advantages
Although DK drafted strong champions individually, they struggled to execute effectively in team fights.
As a result, NS’s victory was not only due to superior performance but also better strategic planning.
Key Highlights of the Match
- NS demonstrated outstanding performance in both macro play and teamfighting.
- DK underperformed despite being heavily favored, showing inconsistency and frequent mistakes.
- NS had a much clearer and more effective game plan.
- The 2-0 victory is considered one of the biggest upsets of early LCK 2026.
Conclusion
The match between Nongshim RedForce and Dplus KIA at LCK 2026 on April 2, 2026 clearly demonstrated the unpredictability of Korea’s top-tier league.
Despite being the underdogs, NS delivered a dominant performance with superior strategy and execution, securing a convincing 2-0 win.
As for DK, they will need to quickly improve their coordination and strategic approach if they want to remain competitive in the upcoming matches.
Follow LCK matches at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwiEZlm2dHg
Hastag
#LCK2026 #DK #NS #NSWin #LeagueOfLegends
