Dplus Kia Academy Dominates Nongshim RedForce Academy 2-0

The Hunt for LCK Supremacy

In the high-stakes ecosystem of the LCK Academy Series 2026 Season 1st Championship, every match is a audition for the main stage. When Dplus Kia Academy faced off against Nongshim RedForce Academy on April 19, 2026, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. This wasn't just a clash of rosters; it was a battle of philosophies. On one side, you had the disciplined, resource-heavy execution characteristic of the Dplus Kia Academy system, and on the other, the scrappy, skirmish-oriented identity of Nongshim RedForce Academy.

The expectations heading into this Best-of-3 were centered on whether Nongshim RedForce Academy could disrupt the rhythm of the favorites. Could their chaotic jungle pathing and aggressive mid-lane presence force the favorites into mistakes? As the players loaded into the Rift on Patch 26.07, the question wasn't just about who had the better mechanics, but who could maintain their composure when the first blood was drawn.

Game 1 — A Predatory Statement

From the opening minutes of Game 1, it became clear that Dplus Kia Academy had no intention of letting this be a close contest. They didn't just want to win; they wanted to dismantle. The game was a high-speed demolition that lasted only 23:22 minutes, a duration that speaks volumes about how much control the victors maintained.

The narrative of this game was written in the jungle. The Dplus Kia Academy presence was suffocating, characterized by a level of predatory instinct that left Nongshim RedForce Academy reeling. The standout star of this opening act was the Dplus Kia Academy Pantheon player. He played with a terrifying level of aggression, carving through the enemy skirmishes and finishing the match with a monstrous 10/4/7 KDA. His ability to find picks and secure early objectives provided the necessary momentum, contributing a vital 20.7% of his team's total damage.

While Nongshim RedForce Academy attempted to mount a defense through their mid lane, their Cassiopeia specialist was forced into a Herculean task. This player was working overtime, absorbing a massive 38.4% of the team's total damage output just to stay relevant. However, the sheer weight of the Pantheon pressure and the superior gold scaling of Dplus Kia Academy proved insurmountable. The scoreboard reflected a total slaughter: 26 kills for Dplus Kia Academy compared to a mere 15 for their opponents, with a massive gold advantage of 58.1k to 45.2k. By the time the Nexus fell, the tone for the series had been set: Dplus Kia Academy was playing a different level of League of Legends.

Game 2 — The Chaos and the Counter-Strike

If Game 1 was about clinical efficiency, Game 2 was about the struggle for survival. Following their crushing defeat, Nongshim RedForce Academy emerged for the second map with a desperate, high-risk philosophy. They abandoned the cautious approach and leaned into a chaotic, skirmish-heavy style, attempting to catch the Dplus Kia Academy players off-guard in the river and around neutral objectives.

For a significant portion of the mid-game, it looked as though the momentum might actually swing. Nongshim RedForce Academy began finding crucial picks, and the kill count began to climb in their favor. They managed to rack up an impressive 23 kills, significantly outperforming the 14 kills recorded by Dplus Kia Academy. The energy in the arena shifted; the underdogs were fighting back, and the "unbeatable" narrative of the Dplus Kia Academy was being put to the ultimate test.

However, the true mark of a champion is the ability to weather a storm. Instead of panicking or overextending, Dplus Kia Academy tightened their macro-discipline. They absorbed the Nongshim RedForce Academy aggression, waited for the inevitable overextensions, and then punished them with surgical precision. The 24:13 minute marathon saw the Dplus Kia Academy players neutralize the chaos, turning the high-kill frenzy into a controlled execution. They regained control of the map objectives, effectively silencing the Nongshim RedForce Academy comeback attempt and closing the series with a definitive victory.

Aftermath: A Dynasty in the Making

As the final Nexus crumbled, the scoreboard told the story of a complete 2-0 sweep. Dplus Kia Academy has sent a chilling message to the rest of the LCK Academy Series: they possess both the raw mechanical power to crush opponents and the mental fortitude to survive a mid-game crisis.

The series MVP was undoubtedly the Pantheon specialist from Dplus Kia Academy. His performance in Game 1 set the tone for the entire series, providing the gold lead and the frontline pressure that allowed his team to dictate the pace of play. His ability to act as a secondary engage and a primary damage dealer made him the centerpiece of the Dplus Kia Academy strategy.

For Nongshim RedForce Academy, the loss is a sobering reminder that while aggression can create chaos, it cannot overcome superior macro-discipline. They showed flashes of brilliance and the ability to hunt for kills, but they lacked the tools to close out games against a disciplined giant. As we move further into the 2026 season, all eyes will be on Dplus Kia Academy to see if this level of dominance can be sustained.