DN SOOPers Academy Overwhelms Nongshim RedForce Academy 2-0

In a stunning display of tactical superiority, DN SOOPers Academy completely dismantled Nongshim RedForce Academy with a commanding 2-0 sweep, turning what looked like a struggle in the opening game into a total takeover of the series.

Key Takeaways

* The Series MVP: Delta proved to be the immovable object of the tournament, anchoring the defense with an incredible 8/2/9 performance on K'Sante in the opening game, setting the tone for the entire series. * A Tale of Two Halves: While Nongshim RedCS Academy initially appeared to hold the momentum with a massive 27 kills in Game 1, DN SOOPers Academy responded with a disciplined, suffocating macro play that neutralized the opposition's aggression. * The Gold Gap Erasure: After trailing by a massive 71.1k gold advantage in the first game, DN SOOPers Academy managed to stabilize their economy and shut down the Nongshim engine to secure the series victory.

Before the Series

The stage was set for a clash of titans in the LCK Academy Series 2026 Season 1st Championship. Nongshim RedForce Academy entered the arena as the heavy favorites, boasting a roster known for their high-octane, skirmish-heavy playstyle. They were the team everyone expected to dominate, characterized by an ability to find picks in the jungle and snowball early leads. On the other side, DN SOOPers Academy arrived as the dark horse—a squad built on the principles of disciplined vision control and an almost unbreakable frontline. The narrative heading into this BO3 was simple: could the raw, chaotic aggression of Nongshim break through the clinical, structured defense of the SOOPers?

Game 1 — Setting the Tone

The opening game of this high-stakes clash felt like a heavyweight bout where both fighters were swinging for the fences. For 33:43 minutes, the scoreboard reflected a chaotic, high-kill affair, with Nongshim RedForce Academy racking up a staggering 27 kills to DN SOOPers Academy's 26.

The game was a rollercoaster of mechanical outplays. White delivered a masterclass on Ezreal, racking up a massive 13/4/7 KDA and contributing a game-high 37.5% of his team's total damage, making him a constant threat in every skirmish. However, every time Nongshim attempted to snowball, they ran into a wall. Delta anchored the DN SOOPers Academy defense with an incredible 8/2/9 scoreline on K'Sante, acting as an immovable object in the top lane. While Nongshim managed to secure a commanding 71.1k gold advantage, they couldn''t quite close the door. The game ended in a narrow victory for Nongshim, but the seeds of their eventual downfall were sown in the way DN SOOPers refused to break under the pressure.

Game 2 — The Pivot

If Game 1 was about survival, Game 2 was about the hunt. Having learned from the chaos of the first game, DN SOOPers Academy emerged from the fountain with a completely different identity, abandoning the reactive playstyle for a proactive, suffocating macro strategy.

The momentum swung violently. Nongshim RedForce Academy, perhaps overconfident after their Game 1 victory, attempted to force the same high-kill skirmishes that had worked previously. But the SOOPers were ready. They utilized superior vision control to neutralize the jungle presence of Soft on Jarvan IV, effectively cutting off the oxygen for the Nongshim compositions. The game became a masterclass in objective control; as DN SOOPers secured dragons and towers, the gold gap began to shrink. The aggression that had defined the first game was met with a disciplined disengage, leaving Nongshim players stranded and vulnerable to counter-engages. By the 36:55 mark, the "impenetrable" Nongim offense had been completely neutralized, and the SOOPers cruised to a decisive victory.

Aftermath

While Nongshim RedForce Academy walked away with a single game victory, the 0-2 result leaves a profound impact on the standings of the LCK Academy Series 2026. This series will be remembered as the moment the hierarchy of the academy circuit was challenged. DN SOOPers Academy proved that even against the most mechanically gifted opponents, discipline and a strong frontline can dismantle the most aggressive rosters. For Nongshim, the lesson is clear: you cannot rely on kills alone to win a series; you must learn to close the door against a team that refuses to die.

Series Stats

FAQ

Q: How did DN SOOPers Academy manage to win the series after losing the first game so closely? A: They pivoted from a reactive style to a proactive macro strategy, using superior vision control to neutralize Nongshim's jungle pressure.