A surprising turn of events has taken place.
Dplus KIA, a team that had been flying under the radar among LCK participants, has defied expectations by making it to the finals. Despite facing challenges such as internal wage payment issues and a tense atmosphere, the team has managed to turn these obstacles into opportunities.
In the pursuit of the first Dragon, DK successfully took down ‘Canyon’s’ Naafiri. DK then proceeded to build a lead against Gen.G through effective bottom-lane dives and skirmishes near the Dragon pit. By the 19-minute mark, DK had a 5k-gold lead, although Gen.G did manage to eliminate ‘Smash’s’ Ezreal.
DK maintained their control, swiftly securing three Dragon stacks. While Gen.G was able to prevent DK from obtaining the next Dragon and slightly narrow the gold gap, DK surged ahead once again after emerging victorious in a skirmish in Gen.G’s blue-side jungle. In the subsequent teamfight, DK decisively triumphed, chasing down their fleeing opponents to wipe them out and secure Baron.
Gen.G displayed remarkable resilience. Despite being behind, their teamwork enabled them to win a crucial teamfight and close the distance. Both teams demonstrated intense focus. While Gen.G’s comeback effort was commendable, DK emerged victorious in the final teamfight, ultimately clinching the first set after a long and arduous battle.
The second set was fiercely contested. Although Gen.G initially held a slight lead, DK gradually clawed their way back through skirmishes, keeping the game neck and neck. Gen.G, consistently securing Dragons, eventually gained the upper hand and prepared for the next Dragon after reaching three stacks.
After securing vision and claiming the Dragon Soul, Gen.G turned their focus to Baron. A teamfight erupted at the 31-minute mark; DK eliminated three members, leaving only Ziggs and Akali, and secured Baron. With the buff in their possession, the momentum shifted in favor of DK.
Despite Gen.G maintaining a slight lead in global gold, the upcoming teamfight held critical importance. The two teams clashed in the mid lane, with Gen.G emerging victorious after taking down DK’s primary damage dealer, ‘Smash’s’ Miss Fortune. Gen.G then secured the Elder Dragon and launched an offensive. DK put up a strong defense, but eventually succumbed to the pressure of Gen.G’s Elder Dragon and Baron-empowered push, tying the series at 1-1.
In the final set, both teams adopted a cautious approach, avoiding unnecessary confrontations and focusing on tower trades in the top and bottom lanes. The first kill occurred at the 15-minute mark, when Gen.G caught ‘Lucid’s’ Jarvan near the mid lane. As the game progressed, both teams exchanged a few more kills.
DK secured a significant victory in a mid-lane teamfight and swiftly claimed Baron. With the momentum on their side, DK patiently awaited the next Dragon. During the ensuing battle, ‘Canyon’s’ Xin Zhao successfully secured the Dragon, but DK emerged triumphant in the teamfight. Gen.G faced a major crisis but mounted a desperate defense to prevent the game from ending.
In the end, DK emerged victorious. After eliminating ‘Chovy’s’ Sylas in the top lane and securing Baron, DK launched a final assault, destroyed Gen.G’s Nexus, and secured their spot in the finals. Consequently, the third-place match will feature T1 against Gen.G, while the finals will witness Karmine Corp (KC) competing against Dplus KIA.
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