DPlus KIA defeats T1 and secures third LCK spot for Worlds 2024

Image: Riot Games

Reigning LoL world champion T1 has one last chance to qualify for Worlds 2024 and defend its title.

The pressure is mounting at the League of Legends Championship Korea (LCK) as the top two teams battle for third place in the LCK at the LoL World Championship 2024. After an intense five-game series, it was DPlus KIA who prevailed against T1 3-2 to qualify for Worlds.

DPlus KIA had a solid summer season, finishing third with a record of 13-5, which also earned them a spot in the playoffs. In the playoffs, they defeated FearX 3-1 in the upper bracket quarterfinals, but were then swept 3-0 by tournament favorites Gen.G and dropped to the lower bracket. However, they were defeated 3-1 by T1 in the lower bracket semifinals.

T1, on the other hand, had a difficult summer season, struggling against several teams in the group stage. These challenges seemed to affect the roster, especially when Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok banged his head against a wall in frustration. Despite these difficulties, the team persevered and finished the regular season in 4th place with a record of 11-7, securing them a spot in the playoffs.

T1 started the playoffs strong, defeating KT Rolster 3-1 in the Upper Group Quarterfinals. However, their momentum waned in the Upper Group Semifinals, where they suffered a 0-3 loss to Hanwha Life Esports, which sent T1 into the Lower Group Semifinals. In the Lower Group Semifinals, they narrowly defeated DK Plus 3-1 to make it to the Lower Group Finals.

However, T1 was eliminated 3-1 in the Lower Bracket Final by eventual LCK Summer Champions Hanwha Life Esports, finishing their LCK Summer run in third place and qualifying for the LCK Regional Finals.

DPlus KIA denies T1 third place in the LCK

In the first game, T1 opted for a diving composition with short-range champions, while DPlus KIA opted for safe, front-to-back champions with decent range, diving ability, and crowd control.

Although DK was able to pick up small wins in the early game, T1 was able to keep up with its better macro in the laning phase. Both teams fought hard and had the occasional draw moment that turned the tide against them, while also getting kills and map objectives along the way.

However, the difference was made by Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong's Miss Fortune ults, which allowed him to steal important objectives such as the Dragon. In a decisive battle for the Elder Dragon, DK tried to apply pressure in the bottom lane.

But T1 was able to turn the Elder Drake around and take out DK members while Choi “Zeus” Woo-je was able to defend T1's base. After a long, combative and bloody 42-minute encounter with a 16-15 kill lead, T1 marched into DK's base, destroyed the Nexus and won the first game.

The second game was played at a much slower pace, with T1 being forced into an off-meta Sivir and then a lane switch.

DK took an early lead in the game after destroying two of T1's top lane towers, but T1 was able to pick up minor victories across the map and in skirmishes.

But it was the decisive battle for the dragon that turned things around for DK – with Heo “Showmaker” Su’s Tristana taking off, Ivern’s shield keeping the team afloat, and the Nautilus hook catching Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok’s Corki.

Since T1 failed to break away, they were eliminated by DK in a chase through the jungle, allowing them to destroy T1's base with a 14:10 kill lead after 33 minutes.

In game three, DK continued to rely on Ziggs, Corki and Maokai while T1 focused on Rumble and Sejuani. Both teams were evenly matched in the early game. However, with Maokai on the team and subsequent damage from Ziggs and Corki, T1 struggled in teamfights and DK was able to gain a small gold lead.

But T1 found an opportunity to defeat DK in the mid lane and reclaim the gold lead. T1 continued to make decisive plays all over the map, forcing DK into teamfights, taking the Baron, and threatening to take the Elder Drake.

In a battle for the Elder, T1 was able to eliminate their opponents thanks to Zeus' attack on Showmaker and T1's subsequent crackdown. And after a 45-minute slugfest, T1 destroyed DK's Nexus by a 15-8 kill margin, winning the third game and bringing their team to match point.

In game three, T1 went with Lilia for Oner and Gwen for Zeus. Meanwhile, DK went with the most contested picks like Tristana mid, Ziggs down, and Maokai in the jungle. T1 maintained a sizable gold lead with Zeus' Gwen and Oner's Lilia threat from the early to mid game.

However, DK tried to make decisive plays with Tristana to win Dragons and Barons, taking out T1 with Maokai's ult. By putting pressure on T1 by destroying the bot lane, DK found opportunities to take out members of T1. In the decisive fight in the Baron pit, DK found a way to take out T1 with a clean ace and end the game.

And after an intense 39-minute encounter with an 18-13 kill lead, DK destroyed T1's base, won the fourth game and forced the series into the Silver Scrapes.

In the fifth playoff game, both teams attempted to change their team composition. T1 took an early lead, but it was eventually taken by DK, who punished T1 for overextending and overcommitting in teamfights and re-engaging. Showmaker's LeBlanc and Kim “Aiming” Ha-ram's Ziggs quickly became a problem as their strength continued to grow. And after a 31-minute encounter and a 15-6 kill lead, DK defeated T1's Nexus to win the fifth game and the series.

With their win, DPlus KIA becomes third place in the LCK. This is also the first time DK has defeated T1 in a series since 2021. Meanwhile, T1 has one last chance to make it to Worlds this year, despite being the reigning world champions.