Nongshim RedForce make a statement by taking down T1 to lock their spot in the Legends Group for the Summer Split. The group will feature the top five teams from the current regular season. In the second series of the day, Dplus KIA picked up a logical 2-1 win over DN Freecs, keeping their hopes alive for a potential fifth-place finish, which they'll contest with KT Rolster.

A quick look at today's standings: Nongshim currently sit fourth at 10-7 with one series left to play, while T1 are at 11-7, having completed all 18 of their matches. As for Dplus KIA, they're now 9-8, tied with KT Rolster, DN Freecs remain at the bottom of the LCK with a 1-17 record.

A new powerhouse in the LCK

NS are putting together an impressive split. After years spent lingering at the bottom of the LCK standings, the team is finally delivering a high-level regular season. Their potential was already on display during the LCK Cup, where they finished fourth, but what we're seeing now is a whole new level of consistency and performance—perfectly rewarded by today’s win against T1.

And what a win it was. Nongshim swept T1 in two games. In the first, as often, Son "Lehends" Si-woo was decisive—this time on Rakan. The support player has become the team’s metronome, finishing with a 1/1/18 scoreline and over 86% kill participation. Lehends isn’t just solid—he’s vital to the team’s structure. Game two was heavily tilted in NS’s favor, with a standout performance from Hwang "Kingen" Seong-hoon on Jayce, finishing as the game’s top damage dealer.

Dplus KIA stay in the race

Dplus KIA needed a win against the Freecs more than ever — and they got it. They'll face Nongshim next Sunday in a crucial match for fifth place. KT Rolster, on their end, will play DRX on Saturday. The outcome of these two series is critical, as one of these teams will join the Rise Group while the other will qualify for the Legends Group.

In the series between DK and Freecs, it was clearly Jeon "Siwoo" Si-woo who stood out. He opened with a solid win on Gwen, followed by a second game where, despite the loss, the young toplaner topped the damage charts on Yorick but couldn’t carry his team to victory. It was in the third and most crucial game that he delivered once again, this time on Jayce, holding strong against repeated dive attempts and helping secure the win.

For Saturday’s matches, KT will face DRX as they try to keep their hopes alive for fifth place. Then, Gen.G will look to close out their split in the best possible way against OKSavingsBank BRION and finally complete the perfect split.