Earthquake in the LCK

Nongshim RedForce (NS) just caused a major upset by defeating their formidable opponent Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) with a dominant 2-0 score.

Zeus and HLE were disappointing. Photo: DailyEsports .

Entering the first game, HLE proactively chose a team composition focused on team fights with Sion, Azir, and Aphelios. On the other side, NS responded with unconventional picks like Jax and Pantheon.

In the early stages, the orange team completely dominated the game. The duo of Kanavi and Zeka constantly pressured, exploiting Scout's position in the mid lane to widen the gold gap. However, NS fought back tenaciously and found a turning point at the Dragon pit.

In the decisive team fight, NS's top laner delivered a spectacular performance. He single-handedly neutralized all of the opposing team's key players, setting the stage for his team to wipe out HLE's lineup. The victory at Baron immediately afterward secured the win for NS, giving them a 1-0 lead.

In the next game, HLE continued to take the lead thanks to Zeka's superior power increase. However, NS remained undeterred. The team consistently won small skirmishes thanks to the mobility of their jungler, Sponge.

The game turned around at the Baron area. Although marksman Taeyoon was taken down early, Kingen made a daring dive, completely reversing the situation against Gwen. With the Baron buff advantage, NS pushed straight down the mid lane, eliminating HLE's main damage dealers and securing a 2-0 victory.

With this result, Nongshim RedForce is brimming with confidence in the race for a First Stand spot in São Paulo, Brazil. Other teams competing for this position include DK, KT, T1, and GenG. This is the first international tournament of 2026 for the top two teams in the LCK Cup.

As for HLE, they extended their disappointing streak with their second consecutive loss, without a win. The loss to T1 could be justified due to the opponent's strength and the advantage in the draft. However, continuing to lose to a mid-tier team like Nongshim, which is still assembling its roster, is unacceptable to fans.

In particular, the orange-clad organization had the most active transfer season, securing the signature of the 2025 World Championship MVP Gumayusi from T1. Additionally, Peanut's replacement, Kanavi, also has many years of experience and a rich history of achievements in the LPL.

Besides individual issues, the lack of cohesion in assembling the team under a new coach is plunging HLE into crisis right from the first week of the season.

Source: https://znews.vn/dia-chan-o-lck-post1620863.html