On the 3rd, Nongshim RedForce defeated T1 Esports Academy to win the ‘LCK Challengers League’ (LCK CL) Kickoff, lifting the trophy for the first time in three years.

Nongshim RedForce defeated T1 Esports Academy to win the ‘LCK Challengers League’ Kickoff.

In Game 1, Nongshim RedForce seized early control as ‘Setap’ Song Gyeong-jin produced the first kill of the match with a solo kill. T1 Esports Academy then succeeded in striking back with mid-game skirmishes, but RedForce regained momentum through skill usage and combinations. In particular, ‘Mihok’ Kim Ju-hyeong’s playmaking opened up the fights, and ‘Setap’ converted them into kills to widen the gap, closing Game 1 at 15 kills to 1 death.

Game 2 also went to Nongshim RedForce, conceding only a single kill. They secured every objective and tower, executing a near-perfect game plan. Despite a somewhat tricky draft, RedForce neutralized variables in lane and steadily secured control. In particular, ‘Janus’ Eom Ye-jun took down ‘Haetae’ Sim Su-hyeon twice in solo kills, breaking T1 Esports Academy’s game plan. Nongshim executed their poke composition with precision and also held the upper hand in teamfight setups.

In the ensuing Game 3, T1 Esports Academy navigated the game by setting up fights from the outset, driven by the playmaking of jungler ‘Painter’ Kim Eun-hu and support ‘Cloud’ Mun Hyeon-ho. In the top lane, ‘Haetae’ secured lane priority, laying the groundwork for the team’s operations. T1 Esports Academy then seized full momentum and closed out Game 3 with a win.

Final MVP Nongshim RedForce ‘Setap’ Song Gyeong-jin

Up through the final Game 4, Nongshim RedForce displayed overwhelming form. They held the upper hand across all lanes, and ‘Mihok’ in particular stood out with composure uncharacteristic of a rookie. With superior draft execution, laning, and fight setup, Nongshim never lost control and ultimately claimed the title after three years.

Final MVP ‘Setap’ Song Gyeong-jin said, “The jungler performed well too, and I am grateful that people seemed to view Game 1 favorably.” He added, “I check the cheer cards every draft. In-person support gives us great strength and motivation,” and continued, “Please keep supporting us in the regular season, and this year we will deliver results you can be satisfied with.”

Meanwhile, the ‘2026 LCK CL’ is hosted·organized by Riot Games Korea, overseen by the Korea e-Sports Association, with WDG handling broadcast production, and Woori Bank participating as a sponsor. The LCK CL regular season begins on the 30th.