DNS Complete Epic Comeback to Eliminate NS

On February 7, 2026, LCK Cup 2026 witnessed one of the most exciting Play-In matches between Nongshim RedForce (NS) and DN SOOPers (DNS). From the very beginning, the series promised high drama. The match was played in a Best of 3 (Bo3) format, and most importantly, a coveted Playoffs spot was on the line — where the strongest teams compete for the championship.

Follow the results of other matches on Tenkly: https://tenkly.com/

Match Overview

• Tournament: LCK Cup 2026 – Play-In Stage
• Format: Best of 3 (Bo3)
• Round: Play-In Round 2
• Final Score: DNS 2–1 NS

Detailed Match Breakdown

Game 1: NS Dominate From Start to Finish

From the early minutes, NS took control of the game. First, their bot lane exploded with effective trades, forcing DNS to give up First Blood. As a result, DNS immediately fell behind in tempo.

Moreover, NS secured the first Dragon and continued stacking major objectives. At the same time, they denied DNS any real room to respond.

In the large fights around Dragons, NS executed better. Specifically, they coordinated their attacks cleanly and forced DNS into slow, reactive plays. Soon after, NS claimed the first Baron following a decisive teamfight.

Although DNS tried to strike back a few times, nevertheless, it wasn’t enough to change the flow of the game.

Therefore, NS won Game 1 with a crushing 24–3 kill score, controlling every key metric and closing the game quickly.

Game 2: DNS Equalize With Strong Teamfighting

In contrast, DNS started Game 2 slowly and deliberately. Instead of rushing, they focused on coordinated skirmishes and minimizing mistakes. As a result, they punished NS whenever they over-committed too early.

Meanwhile, a huge turning point came at the Baron fight. There, DNS’s superior positioning won them the teamfight. Immediately afterward, they secured Baron and pushed their advantage.

Consequently, NS lost map control and key objectives.

Because of this, DNS won Game 2, tying the series 1–1 and shifting the momentum. At this point, the psychological balance clearly changed.

Game 3: A 45+ Minute Battle of Nerves

By comparison, Game 3 turned into a marathon, lasting over 45 minutes. At the start, both teams played cautiously, prioritizing vision control and small objectives.

Although NS gained small leads through solo kills and lane trades, they still failed to convert them into a meaningful advantage.

As the game went on, massive fights erupted around Baron. Once again, DNS showed better overall coordination.

Eventually, at the decisive moment, DNS won a crucial teamfight. After that, they secured their second Baron and the Infernal Soul.

Finally, DNS marched down the map and destroyed NS’s Nexus.

As a result, DNS won Game 3 and completed a dramatic 2–1 comeback victory.

Draft (Ban/Pick) Analysis

Overall, NS and DNS showed two very different draft philosophies:

• NS prioritized early-game, snowball-oriented compositions. They picked aggressive junglers, strong laning mid/bot champions, and fast-tempo setups to secure early Dragons and map control. This worked perfectly in Game 1, but their comp lacked reliable hard engage and late-game teamfight tools.
• DNS, on the other hand, drafted for mid-to-late game scaling and teamfights. They favored champions with strong engage, AoE crowd control, and carries that could take over fights later. This allowed them to dominate 5v5s from mid game onward and flip the game with a single winning fight.

Key Highlights of the Series

• NS completely dominated the opening game with early Dragons, snowball pressure, and a fast finish.
• After the heavy loss, DNS adjusted their style: slower, more controlled, and focused on teamfighting.
• DNS stayed calm in the crucial Baron and Soul fights in Game 3.
• A massive final teamfight win gave DNS Baron, wiped NS, and ended the series.

Conclusion

DNS’s victory over NS secured them a spot in the LCK Cup 2026 Playoffs. They won through mental resilience, smarter drafts, and superior late-game teamfighting, while NS collapsed once they failed to snowball their early leads.

Because of the loss, NS must continue through the Play-In stage to fight for another chance at reaching the next round. This defeat forces NS to re-evaluate their playstyle and stabilize their form moving forward.

Follow LCK matches at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6C-AtE_ji8&t=2s

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