Dplus KIA faces Nongshim Red Force in a pivotal LCK Cup 2026 Group Battle match on January 21, 2026. With both teams fielding significantly revamped rosters, this Best of 3 clash pits ShowMaker's veteran experience against Scout's return to Korean esports.
Current Situation
The LCK Cup 2026 serves as the qualifying tournament for League of Legends' first international event of the year, First Stand in Brazil. Dplus KIA competes in the Elder Group alongside Hanwha Life Esports, KT Rolster, BNK FEARX, and DRX, while Nongshim Red Force battles in the Baron Group with Gen.G, T1, DN Supers, and BRION.
Team Analysis
Dplus KIA 2026 Roster
| Position | Player | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Siwoo | Second consecutive year with DK |
| Jungle | Lucid | Entering third season |
| Mid | ShowMaker | Veteran franchise player |
| ADC | Smash | Former T1 substitute, first full LCK season |
| Support | Career | LCK rookie, won LCK CL with BNK FearX Youth |
Dplus KIA enters 2026 after a disappointing season that saw them miss Worlds for the first time since joining the LCK in 2019. The organization parted ways with former world champions Aiming and BeryL, replacing them with the untested Smash-Career bot lane duo. Coach cvMax took over the head coaching role following Bengi's departure.
Nongshim Red Force 2026 Roster
| Position | Player | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Kingen | Experienced top laner |
| Jungle | Sponge | Recruited from DRX |
| Mid | Scout | 2021 World Champion, returning to LCK after 9 years |
| ADC | Taeyoon | Returns from LPL stint with Team WE |
| Support | lehends | Veteran support |
Nongshim Red Force made the marquee signing of the offseason, acquiring Scout from JD Gaming. The 2021 World Champion returns to Korea after spending nine years in the LPL, where he originally began his career as a substitute to Faker at SK Telecom T1. Head coach DanDy, himself a former World Champion, leads the revamped squad.
LCK Cup 2026 Performance
| Team | Record | Recent Results |
|---|---|---|
| Nongshim Red Force | 2-0 | Beat FearX 2-0, Beat Hanwha Life 2-0 |
| Dplus KIA | TBD | 3rd place KeSPA Cup 2025 |
Nongshim Red Force enters this match undefeated in the LCK Cup 2026, having swept both FearX (2-0) and Hanwha Life Esports (2-0) in dominant fashion. The Scout-led roster has shown strong early cohesion despite multiple roster changes.
Key Matchup: ShowMaker vs Scout
The mid lane matchup between ShowMaker and Scout represents a clash of generational talent. ShowMaker, the 2020 World Champion, remains Dplus KIA's franchise cornerstone despite the team's struggles. Scout, returning to Korean soil after his championship run with EDward Gaming, brings LPL experience and proven international success.
Prediction
Direction: Bearish (Dplus KIA)
Probability: 52%
Horizon: 1 day (January 21, 2026)
Answer: No
Nongshim Red Force holds a slight edge heading into this matchup. Their 2-0 record in the LCK Cup demonstrates immediate synergy under the Scout-DanDy combination, while Dplus KIA's new bot lane pairing of Smash and Career remains unproven at the highest level. The Polymarket prediction market reflects this uncertainty with odds essentially at a coin flip, but Nongshim's momentum and veteran coaching staff provide a marginal advantage.