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LCK Cup 2026 Match Review: DRX With a Narrow Victory

ByDevin Morris

DRX and HANJIN BRION had the opportunity to kick off the Super Week in the LCK Cup. Both teams needed a win to improve their standing. BRO were the first team to move to match point in the series, but they failed to close it out. DRX fought back from a 2-1 deficit to win. BRO is guaranteed fifth in Group Baron. They require the rest of their group to succeed to qualify for the LCK Cup Play-Ins.

LCK Cup 2026: HANJIN BRION Versus DRX Match Review

Jax in League of Legends played in the LCK
Image of Jax, courtesy of Riot Games

Game One Draft

DRX – Blue Side

  • Gnar
  • Xin Zhao
  • Taliyah
  • Yunara
  • Bard

HANJIN BRION – First Pick

  • Renekton
  • Pantheon
  • Ryze
  • Ezreal
  • Braum

Game One Summary

Casting and GIDEON earn the First Blood kill on Rich. However, DRX responds to the play and gets two kills for Willer in trade. It goes from bad to worse for BRO, as they give over four more kills before getting one back. BRO manages to fight back in the third Drake fight. They get a couple of kills, but it is not enough to earn the Drake straight away. Both teams reset, and DRX emerged victorious. GIDEON won the smite battle. DRX moved to the Baron and secured the objective.

DRX uses the Baron push to build a 4k gold lead. Despite BRO securing three Infernal Drakes, they can not reach the Infernal Soul fight. DRX closed out game one after chasing Teddy.

Total Apex Ratings

HANJIN BRION

  • Casting – 4
  • GIDEON -3
  • Roamer – 5
  • Teddy – 4
  • Namgung – 3

DRX

  • Rich – 6
  • Willer – 9
  • Ucal – 8
  • Jiwoo – 7
  • Andil – 9

Player of the game – Andil

Game Two Draft

DRX – Blue Side

  • Ambessa
  • Vi
  • Orianna
  • Kai’Sa
  • Neeko

HANJIN BRION – First Pick

  • Gwen
  • Jarvan IV
  • Azir
  • Sivir
  • Karma

Game Two Summary

First Blood goes over to BRO once again. Fortunately for BRO, DRX did not trade back any kills this time. BRO steps up their play in the second game. At 17 minutes, they have already built a 3k gold lead. On top of that, they have two Drakes. DRX manages to stop the Drake stacking with better positioning. BRO catches DRX on the top side and earns three kills. That leads to Baron for BRO. BRO wins another teamfight, and the gold lead balloons. DRX tries to make desperate plays, but it is not enough. BRO secures the Chemtech Soul and the Baron. BRO put themselves on the board with a game two victory.

Total Apex Ratings

HANJIN BRION

  • Casting – 7
  • GIDEON – 8
  • Roamer – 7
  • Teddy – 7
  • Namgung – 7

DRX

  • Rich – 6
  • Willer – 5
  • Ucal – 6
  • Teddy – 5
  • Andil – 3

Player of the game – GIDEON

Game Three Draft

HANJIN BRION – Blue Side

  • Aurora
  • Trundle
  • Sylas
  • Aphelios
  • Thresh

DRX – Second Pick

  • Zaahen
  • Wukong
  • Ahri
  • Zeri
  • Alistar

Game Three Summary

For the third time in the series, BRO earns the First Blood kill. After 14 minutes, BRO has six kills to three and a 3k gold lead. Part of that lead comes from achieving the First Blood Tower. The game explodes in favor of BRO, cresting 7k gold at 18 minutes. 3k gold of that sits on Teddy’s Aphelios. BRO takes a confusing fight and ends up losing four members. The game stagnates until the Hextech Soul fight. Willer wins the smite battle to deny BRO’s Soul. Roamer carries the fight on Sylas to ensure that BRO wins. BRO take Baron and end the game.

Total Apex Ratings

HANJIN BRION

  • Casting – 7
  • GIDEON – 7
  • Roamer – 9
  • Teddy – 6
  • Namgung – 8

DRX

  • Rich – 5
  • Willer – 4
  • Ucal – 4
  • Teddy – 5
  • Andil – 3

Player of the game – Roamer

Game Four Draft

HANJIN BRION – Blue Side

  • Yorick
  • Sejuani
  • Akali
  • Kalista
  • Renata Glasc

DRX – First Pick

  • Jax
  • Malphite
  • Viktor
  • Xayah
  • Rakan

Game Four Summary

The side lanes for BRO win in isolation. Once again, BRO earned the First Blood kill. It is the latest First Blood of the LCK Cup. Casting takes the First Blood Tower at 12 minutes. BRO overchase on the Mountain Soul point fight. Willer and Rich punish with a four-player Malphite ultimate and Jax Stun. The gold lead for BRO evaporates, and now DRX is at a 1k lead.

The next Drake fight is DRX’s turn to misplay. They lose all five members and the Drake. BRO secures the Baron, but Roamer and Namgung die. In the end, BRO’s Baron Powerplay is at a negative. DRX wins two fights in a row to end the game and send us to Silver Scrapes.

Total Apex Ratings

HANJIN BRION

  • Casting – 6
  • GIDEON – 5
  • Roamer – 6
  • Teddy – 4
  • Namgung – 4

DRX

  • Rich – 8
  • Willer – 6
  • Ucal – 7
  • Jiwoo – 6
  • Andil – 5

Player of the game – Rich

Game Five Draft

DRX – Blue Side

  • K’Sante
  • Aatrox
  • Syndra
  • Jhin
  • Nautilus

HANJIN BRION – First Pick

  • Sion
  • Nocturne
  • Zoe
  • Tristana
  • Rell

Game Five Summary

The First Blood in every game of the series goes in favor of BRO. Both teams earn further kills, but neither builds a significant advantage. Rich solo kills Casting in the tank matchup, and gets a Tower for himself. Andil manages to land a hook onto Teddy. He lives, but the rest of BRO die. DRX finds a gold lead in the next fight. Despite having the map and gold advantage, DRX can not progress in the game. BRO thinks they have the engagement after Roamer lands the poke on Ucal. However, it was a step too far, and DRX punishes them. Eventually, DRX closed out the game to win the LCK Cup series.

Total Apex Ratings

HANJIN BRION

  • Casting – 5
  • GIDEON – 5
  • Roamer – 5
  • Teddy – 4
  • Namgung – 4

DRX

  • Rich – 9
  • Willer – 7
  • Ucal – 6
  • Jiwoo – 6
  • Andil – 7

Player of the game – Rich

Series Summary

DRX beat BRO 3-2 in the LCK Cup
Image of DRX Beating BRO, courtesy of the LCK/Riot Games

DRX soared to an advantage with a victory in game one of the series. They had a dominant win, and BRO needed to respond. They did that in the second and third games, putting themselves on match point. It seemed like BRO would be the one to close out the series, but they faltered. In the final two games, they had leads but were unable to convert them into victories. Game four was the more egregious loss as they walked into a four-player Malphite ultimate. Andil had a polarizing series, carrying in game one, but then floundering until game five. DRX has given themselves a chance at qualifying for the LCK Cup Play-In stage.

Series Ratings

HANJIN BRION

  • Casting – 5.8
  • GIDEON – 5.6
  • Roamer – 6.4
  • Teddy – 5.2
  • Namgung – 5.2

DRX

  • Rich – 6.8
  • Willer – 6.2
  • Ucal – 6.2
  • Jiwoo – 5.8
  • Andil – 5.4

Player of the series – Rich

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I am a gaming fanatic from little old South Africa. I have had a passion for gaming and writing from a young age. My early favorites were Age of Empires, FIFA and Need for Speed games. As I grew older I moved into more competitive gaming, focusing on Overwatch, League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics. I also sink way too many hours into Destiny 2!

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