Dplus KIA beat KT Rolster 3-1 to secure final LCK Worlds 2026 spot
Dplus KIA beat KT Rolster 3-1 to secure final LCK Worlds 2026 spot
Dplus KIA secured the final LCK qualification spot for Worlds 2026 after defeating KT Rolster 3:1 in the second round of the lower bracket.
KT opened the series with a dominant victory, but Dplus KIA responded with three consecutive wins to complete the comeback and keep their playoff run alive.
The result sends DK into the next lower-bracket round against T1 , while KT Rolster are eliminated from contention.
KT Rolster 1:3 Dplus KIA
KT immediately put Dplus KIA under pressure in Game 1.
They controlled the map from start to finish and closed the opener 19:5 in 31:37, giving DK another difficult start after being swept by KT earlier in the playoffs.
This time, Dplus KIA responded.
Game 2 levels the series
The second map developed into the longest game of the series.
DK and KT remained close throughout a 42-minute battle, but Dplus KIA eventually secured a 15:11 victory to level the match at 1:1.
That win completely changed the direction of the series.
Dplus KIA take control
Game 3 was far more one-sided.
DK overwhelmed KT 19:4 in just 26:51, moving from a 0:1 deficit to match point in less than two games.
The victory also put Dplus KIA one map away from Worlds.
Smash helps close the series
KT found first blood in Game 4 after catching Lucid 's Vi during a counter-jungle attempt, but Dplus KIA held the stronger lane state.
Their bottom lane steadily created a CS advantage before Lucid helped produce a double kill that further destabilized KT's bot side.
Both teams continued trading around the map, including a 2-for-2 fight around Dragon.
The decisive advantage again came through DK's bottom lane.
During a top-side skirmish, Career 's Neeko connected Pop Blossom while Smash positioned Miss Fortune's Bullet Time directly over the fight, allowing DK to take the exchange cleanly.
Dplus KIA gradually opened the map from there and closed Game 4 17:10 in 31:09.
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Game 1 — KT Rolster 19-5 Dplus KIA — 31:37
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Game 2 — Dplus KIA 15-11 KT Rolster — 42 minutes
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Game 3 — Dplus KIA 19-4 KT Rolster — 26:51
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Game 4 — Dplus KIA 17-10 KT Rolster — 31:09
Smash leads DK to Worlds
Sin "Smash" Geum-jae was the standout player for Dplus KIA across the series.
He averaged a 5.6/1.6/5.6 KDA with 76.8% kill participation and 27.3K average damage per game.
Smash was also named Player of the Match after strong performances on Lucian, Jhin and Miss Fortune across DK's three victories.
The win confirms Dplus KIA as the LCK's final representative at Worlds 2026.
Gen.G Esports, Hanwha Life Esports and T1 had already secured the region's other qualification positions.
Dplus KIA now move on to face T1 in the lower bracket, while KT Rolster 's playoff and Worlds campaigns come to an end.
