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LCK Cup 2026 Match Review: HLE Earns an Uncomfortable Win

ByDevin Morris

Earlier this week, Hanwha Life Esports and DN SOOPers earned their first victory of the LCK Cup. They came into the match looking to even up their series scoreline. It would be HLE that earned the win today. However, it was not in a comfortable fashion. They lost game two and had to recover in the first game. With Gen.G Esports looming, HLE will need to improve further.

LCK Cup 2026: Hanwha Life Esports Versus DN SOOPers

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

Game One Draft

DN SOOPers – Blue Side

  • Rek’Sai
  • Jarvan IV
  • Orianna
  • Sivir
  • Alistar

Hanwha Life Esports – First Pick

  • Sion
  • Xin Zhao
  • Azir
  • Varus
  • Rakan

Game One Summary

Both teams fight over the bot river crab. HLE earns the First Blood on Kanavi, but they lose two members. DNS manages to secure two additional kills after the Void Grubs are gone. Pyosik and Peter step too far forward on the top side of the map. Delight and Zeka punish the mistake to even out the gold lead. HLE secures two more kills on the third Drake and denies the Drake stacking. The fights continue to go in HLE’s favor as they take Baron and build a gold lead. DNS almost turned around the second Baron fight, but Zeus and Gumayusi stand tall. DNS forces onto Gumayusi on the Infernal Soul, but he does not die.

Total Apex Ratings

Hanwha Life Esports

  • Zeus – 8
  • Kanavi – 5
  • Zeka – 6
  • Gumayusi – 9
  • Delight – 6

DN SOOPers

  • DuDu – 5
  • Pyosik – 5
  • Clozer – 7
  • deokdam – 6
  • Peter – 6

Player of the game – Gumayusi

Game Two Draft

DN SOOPers – Second Pick

  • K’Sante
  • Wukong
  • Ahri
  • Ezreal
  • Neeko

Hanwha Life Esports – Red Side

  • Aurora
  • Vi
  • Taliyah
  • Corki
  • Bard

Game Two Summary

Despite being in a losing matchup, DuDu stays even with Zeus and then solo kills him for First Blood. DNS’s proactivity earns them another significant gold lead and the third Drake. deokdam steps too far in the mid-lane. He dies, and HLE picks up another kill and more plates to even out the gold lead. After a scrappy Hextech Soul fight, the teams reset. Everyone returns to the Drake pit, and Pyosik steals the Drake to get the Hextech Soul. Kanavi steals Baron to slow the game down. DNS wins the Elder fight, but can not end with the buff. DNS utilizes Exodia to close out the game. However, it looked shaky despite having everything they needed.

Total Apex Ratings

Hanwha Life Esports

  • Zeus – 4
  • Kanavi – 5
  • Zeka – 6
  • Gumayusi – 6
  • Delight – 4

DN SOOPers

  • DuDu – 8
  • Pyosik – 6
  • Clozer – 7
  • deokdam – 6
  • Peter – 7

Player of the game – DuDu

Game Three Draft

DN SOOPers – Blue Side

  • Aatrox
  • Hecarim
  • Cassiopeia
  • Aphelios
  • Rell

Hanwha Life Esports – First Pick

  • Renekton
  • Trundle
  • Ryze
  • Ziggs
  • Nautilus

Game Three Summary

Clozer survives an early gank Delight. He earns a solo kill on Zeka after both mid-laners reset. DNS wins the second Drake fight through perfect coordination and ultimate usage. deokdam dies twice in the space of a minute after he has no summoner spells. DNS overplay on the mid-tower, losing two members, including another death for deokdam. HLE all of a sudden has a 3k gold lead. With the lead, they slowly bleed DNS out of the game. Every tower, kill, and objective goes to HLE. DNS goes for a desperation fight on HLE’s Baron push. Expectedly, it fails, and HLE wins the series.

Total Apex Ratings

Hanwha Life Esports

  • Zeus – 7
  • Kanavi – 7
  • Zeka – 6
  • Gumayusi – 7
  • Delight – 6

DN SOOPers

  • DuDu – 6
  • Pyosik -4
  • Clozer -6
  • deokdam – 5
  • Peter – 6

Player of the game – Kanavi

Series Summary

HLE beat DNS 2-1 in the LCK Cup
Image of HLE beating DNS, courtesy of the LCK/Riot Games

HLE managed to earn their second series victory of the LCK Cup. However, similar to their series against HANJIN BRION, it was not a clean win. HLE needed a third game to win against DNS. The coordination between Delight and Kanavi is still off. Kanavi’s performance was better today, in the sense that he did not permanently click forward.

Gumayusi was the standout improvement for HLE as he remained consistently good throughout the series. DNS remains inconsistent, as they have moments in-game where they dominate. Pyosik is often the root of those issues. In the second game, he stole Hextech Soul, but followed it up by losing the smite battle on Baron. Both teams will need to improve their consistency to challenge the likes of T1, Dplus KIA, and Gen.G Esports.

Total Apex Series Ratings

Hanwha Life Esports

  • Zeus – 6.3
  • Kanavi – 5.7
  • Zeka – 6.0
  • Gumayusi – 7.3
  • Delight – 5.3

DN SOOpers

  • DuDu – 6.3
  • Pyosik – 5.0
  • Clozer – 6.7
  • deokdam – 5.7
  • Peter – 6.3

Player of the series – Gumayusi

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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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