Kha Y Tran The match between DragonX (DRX) and Nongshim RedForce (NS) took place in the Play-Ins stage of the LCK Cup 2026 – one of the key series that determined the final ticket to the Playoffs. It was an emotional showdown as both teams were desperate for a win to continue their journey into the strongest bracket of Korea’s top League of Legends competition.
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Match Overview
Tournament: LCK Cup 2026 – Play-In Stage
Format: Best of 5 (Bo5)
Round: Play-In Round 2
Final Score: DRX 3 – 0 NS
Detailed Match Breakdown
GAME 1 – DRX Take Control From Start to Finish
In the opening game, NS drafted an early-game skirmish composition with champions such as Ambessa, Malphite, Lucian, and Braum, while DRX opted for Gwen, Pantheon, Azir, Yunara, and Nautilus – a lineup focused on map control and objective play. Scout (NS) and Ucal (DRX) traded Flash early in mid lane, a small but important turning point that weakened NS’s defensive options.
In the mid game, DRX focused heavily on the bot lane. Jiwoo’s successful ganks created a large advantage and applied pressure across the map. NS tried to respond with mid-lane teleports and pick attempts, but DRX were always in the right position to counter, slowly pushing NS back.
With excellent map control, DRX won every major fight around Dragons and Baron, closing the game at around 27 minutes with a huge lead in kills and resources. Willer (DRX jungler) was the key factor in securing early dominance.
GAME 2 – DRX Maintain the Upper Hand Despite NS Resistance
NS shifted to an early-skirmish setup with Sion, Vi, Taliyah, Ezreal, and Leona, looking to create chaos in small fights. However, DRX denied NS any easy gold. Willer continued to pressure bot lane, giving DRX two early kills.
In the mid game, DRX controlled every Dragon, forcing NS away from key objectives and starving them of resources. When Baron spawned, DRX confidently took a calculated fight, secured more kills, and claimed Baron.
NS tried to drag the game out, but they couldn’t withstand DRX’s macro play and teamfighting. DRX closed out Game 2 with a massive resource advantage, even though NS had a few decent fights.
GAME 3 – A Brief Hope for NS, But DRX Still Dominate
NS started strong in Game 3. For the first time in the series, they claimed First Blood when Scout solo-killed Ucal, gaining some early momentum. Sponge (NS) also secured early river control, allowing NS to take the first Dragon.
However, in the mid game, DRX fought back with coordinated ganks in mid and bot. Andil and Jiwoo consistently won skirmishes, reclaiming gold and objectives. In the second Dragon fight, DRX outplayed NS cleanly, regained full control, and never let go.
After overcoming the early setback, DRX accelerated and finished Game 3 to complete the 3–0 sweep. This was DRX’s second consecutive win over NS in the LCK Cup 2026, following their group-stage victory in January.
General Assessment of the Draft
Overall, DRX won the series starting from the draft phase. They built a stable team composition with strong teamfighting and objective control, while NS drafted more risk-heavy lineups and lacked a backup plan when they failed to snowball early.
DRX consistently prioritized:
- Proactive junglers
- Mid laners who control fights
- Teamfight-oriented ADCs
- Engage supports
This gave them clear tools to force fights and dominate the mid-to-late game.
On the other hand, NS relied heavily on early-game pressure. Their drafts often featured duel-focused top laners, early-impact junglers, and poke-style mids. This made their team hard to play from behind, with poor protection for the ADC and weak coordination between the frontline and backline.
Key Highlights of the Series
- DRX showed superior macro and objective control throughout the series.
- Their compositions excelled in 5v5 teamfights, while NS depended too much on early snowballing.
- In every full teamfight, DRX had better positioning, timing, and mechanical execution.
- NS showed promise in the early stages of Game 3, but lacked the coordination to maintain their lead.
Final Summary
The Play-Ins series between DRX and Nongshim RedForce on February 8, 2026 ended in a convincing 3–0 victory for DRX, earning them the final spot in the LCK Cup 2026 Playoffs.
DRX demonstrated tight coordination, excellent objective control, and superior teamfighting compared to NS. Meanwhile, NS had moments of strong skirmishing but lacked the consistency needed to stop DRX from snowballing their advantage.
DRX advance with confidence, while NS are eliminated from the Play-Ins.
Follow LCK matches at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqiBukU5VXc
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Quynh Bui 
