Kha Y Tran Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) secured an important 2–1 victory over DN SOOPers (DNS) at the LCK Cup 2026 on January 24, 2026. From the very beginning, the series delivered a back-and-forth battle. In addition, fans were treated to intense teamfights. Ultimately, a decisive Game 3 clearly showcased HLE’s class.
Follow the results of other matches on Tenkly: https://tenkly.com/
Draft Phase Overview
To begin with, the ban–pick phase between HLE and DNS revealed a sharp contrast in strategic philosophy. On the one hand, HLE prioritized strong teamfight compositions and objective control. On the other hand, DNS focused on snowballing and early pick-off plays.
Moreover, HLE consistently selected champions that excel in 5v5 fights and scale well into the mid-to-late game. As a result, their game plan revolved around Dragons, Rift Herald, and Baron.
Meanwhile, DNS opted for mobile champions with high pick-off potential. Therefore, they aimed to create early advantages through aggressive roaming and ganks. However, their compositions lacked stability in extended teamfights.
Match Breakdown
Game 1: HLE Control the Map from Start to Finish
From the opening minutes, HLE showed clear dominance in map control. Consequently, they won key skirmishes around the Rift Herald and early Dragons.
At the same time, DNS struggled with positioning. As a result, they were frequently caught out on the side lanes. Because of this, HLE quickly built a gold lead and dictated the pace of the game.
Therefore, HLE won Game 1 convincingly to take a 1–0 lead in the BO3 series.
Game 2: DNS Strike Back to Tie the Series
However, DNS refused to go down quietly. Instead, they adjusted their approach in Game 2. In particular, they focused on early objectives and Dragon control.
Moreover, their improved coordination paid off. By contrast, HLE made a few mistakes in isolated movements. As a result, DNS successfully snowballed the game.
Thus, DNS won Game 2 and evened the score at 1–1.
Game 3: HLE Show Their Class in the Decider
In the final game, HLE demonstrated their experience and composure. First of all, they maintained excellent vision control. Then, they forced fights only when conditions favored them.
Although DNS fought hard, they could not break through HLE’s objective setup. Afterwards, HLE secured Baron. From there, they tightened the map and pressured every lane.
Ultimately, HLE closed out the game cleanly to seal the 2–1 series victory.
Match Highlights
- All three games featured crucial teamfights around Dragons and Baron.
- HLE showed superior objective control throughout the series.
- DNS’s snowball composition worked perfectly in Game 2, allowing them to push the match to a decider.
- In the most critical moments, HLE remained calmer and more precise than DNS.
Final Thoughts
The 2–1 win over DNS proves that HLE remain a formidable contender at the LCK Cup. The series highlighted the gap in experience and composure between a seasoned team like HLE and a promising but inconsistent DNS squad.
Follow LCK matches at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQS1520OD-A
Hastag
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Quynh Bui 
