Gen.G eliminates Nongshim Redforce from the LCK Cup, securing their place in the Lower Bracket Final against Dplus KIA. Despite Nongshim’s efforts, they couldn’t overcome Gen.G’s superior teamplay and adaptability, ending their tournament run. Now, Gen.G stands just one step away from a shot at the Grand Final, but they will have to face a battle-hardened Dplus KIA in what promises to be an intense showdown for a place in the ultimate match of the tournament.

An expected top-three

Only three teams remain in the race for the LCK Cup: Dplus KIA, Hanwha Life Esports, and Gen.G, who secured their spot today by defeating Nongshim RedForce in a tough 3-2 victory. The series kicked off with a dominant Game One from Gen.G, largely dictated by Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk’s Ezreal, who finished with a 6/1/13 scoreline and over 85% kill participation, leading his team to a convincing win on the red side. The second Game was a much closer battle, with Nongshim dictating the pace for most of the match, proving that they could go toe-to-toe with Gen.G and wouldn’t be swept without a win. With the reigning MSI champions’ base in flames, all inhibitors down, and their Nexus exposed, Gen.G managed to find the perfect teamfight at the Elder Dragon, wiping out the entire NS roster and sealing the game in a dramatic comeback.

The comeback

Nongshim managed to secure a win in Game Three of the series, but it was far from an easy victory. They nearly found themselves reliving the nightmare of the previous game, with Gen.G constantly threatening a comeback. However, the Lillia pick continued to prove its effectiveness in the LCK, boasting a 75% win rate, and Kim "GIDEON" Min-Seong made his mark with a highly proactive performance on the AP jungler, helping NS stay alive in the series. The Fourth game went smoothly for NS, as Gideon’s surprise Zac pick caught Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu off guard and perfectly synced with Lee "Fisher" Jeong-tae’s Orianna. NS secured the equalizer, setting up an incredibly tense Game Five between the two teams and casting the looming threat of a reverse sweep over LoL Park.

The fifth and final game started well for the black-and-red squad and the upset that had seemed unlikely before the series was suddenly within reach. However, the slim lead NS had built vanished in an instant thanks to a single game-changing play from the MVP of the match. Jeong "Chovy" Ji-hoon’s flawless three-man Emperor’s Divide on Azir shattered NS’s defenses, creating the perfect opening for Gen.G to charge through and secure both the game and a hard-fought BO5 victory.