Dplus KIA reverse sweep BNK FEARX to keep Worlds 2026 hopes alive
Dplus KIA reverse sweep BNK FEARX to keep Worlds 2026 hopes alive
Dplus KIA survived elimination from the LCK 2026 playoffs after completing a dramatic reverse sweep over BNK FEARX .
BFX opened the series with two consecutive victories and reached match point, but Dplus KIA escaped a razor-close Game 3 before dominating the final two maps to complete the 3:2 comeback.
The victory sends DK into a decisive lower-bracket series against KT Rolster , with a place at Worlds 2026 on the line.
BNK FEARX started the series strongly.
They secured Game 1 with a 15:11 victory before extending their lead with a 20:16 win in Game 2.
That left BFX just one map away from eliminating Dplus KIA and continuing their own push toward Worlds.
Game 3 changes everything
The third game proved to be the turning point.
Unlike the final two maps, Dplus KIA were unable to simply overpower BFX and instead had to survive an extremely close contest.
DK eventually edged the map 13:12.
That narrow victory kept the series alive and completely changed its momentum.
From there, the series became significantly more one-sided.
Dplus KIA crushed BFX 16:6 in Game 4 to force Silver Scrapes before producing exactly the same 16:6 scoreline in Game 5.
Three consecutive wins completed the reverse sweep.
ShowMaker leads DK comeback
Heo "ShowMaker" Su was Dplus KIA 's standout player across the five-game series.
The midlaner averaged a 6.2/2.3/4.9 KDA with 77% kill participation and recorded the highest average damage among DK players at 23.3K.
Clear makes history with top-lane Kai'Sa
The series also produced one of the most unusual champion selections seen in top-level League of Legends.
BNK FEARX top laner Clear selected Kai'Sa in Game 2, becoming the first player to use the champion in the top lane in a Tier-1 professional match.
Kai'Sa had previously appeared top lane in Tier-2 competition, but Clear 's pick marked the champion's first appearance in that role on the highest competitive level.
BFX miss Worlds and head to Demacia Cup
The defeat ends BNK FEARX 's hopes of qualifying for Worlds 2026.
Instead, they have secured a place at the new Demacia Cup Global Invitational, which will feature mid-table teams from the six major competitive regions.
Dplus KIA now move on to face KT Rolster .
The stakes could hardly be higher: the winner qualifies for Worlds 2026, while the loser joins BNK FEARX at the Demacia Cup Global Invitational.
The rematch also gives DK an immediate opportunity for revenge after KT swept them 3:0 earlier in the playoffs.
Dplus KIA entered the postseason after an excellent regular season and had previously won the Esports World Cup, making their difficult playoff run particularly surprising.
DK also missed Worlds last season, the first time in the organization's history that they failed to qualify for the tournament.
