T1 kept its 2026 LCK playoff run alive with a 3-1 lower-bracket victory over Dplus KIA on September 6. The win at LCK Arena inside Chijijik LoL Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, sends T1 into a rematch with Hanwha Life Esports on September 12 at KSPO Dome in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul.
The match carries a place in the final, where the winner will meet Gen.G for the championship. T1 also secured at least the third seed for the 2026 League of Legends World Championship by defeating DK.
T1’s route to the rematch follows a difficult second-round playoff loss to Hanwha Life. T1 won the first two games of that series before Hanwha Life claimed the next three to complete a 3-2 reverse sweep and send T1 into the lower bracket. The DK victory gives T1 another opportunity against the same opponent.
How T1 Ground Out the DK Series
The series opened with DK taking early control of the bot lane behind Smash’s Lucian, while Paze’s Xayah was repeatedly caught. T1 recovered through Doran’s Rumble and Oner’s Lee Sin on the top side, restoring balance before the deciding late-game fight around dragon. Doran initiated the fight, Oner secured the dragon, and T1 wiped out DK. Paze added a quadra kill as T1 pushed into the base to finish a game that lasted more than 42 minutes.
DK responded in game two. Although T1 secured the Hextech Dragon soul, DK stole Baron and shifted the momentum. With damage focused around ShowMaker’s Ryze and Smash’s Ashe, DK broke T1’s formation and tied the series.
T1 moved back in front in game three after recovering from DK’s early aggression. Faker’s Rok became more influential as the game progressed. In a dragon fight, Doran’s Olaf absorbed the enemy assault while Paze’s Sivir dealt steady damage, and Faker recorded a triple kill as T1 eliminated all five DK players. T1 then won the subsequent fight around Baron to take a 2-1 lead.
Game four again put T1 under pressure. DK built an early lead through kills and dragon control and appeared positioned to force a fifth game. T1 found its opening in mid lane, where Doran’s Camille and Faker’s Galio initiated a play that picked off four DK players and changed the momentum. T1 secured Baron, continued to win the fights that followed, and destroyed the Nexus to complete the 3-1 result.
Resilience, Not Just Talent
The DK series was marked by T1’s ability to recover when the game turned against it. DK established early advantages in both game one and game four, but T1 found coordinated teamfights that brought the series back under control. The game-four mid-lane play, followed by Baron and further teamfight wins, proved decisive in preventing a deciding game.
That response is relevant for the Hanwha Life rematch. Hanwha Life already overturned a 2-0 deficit against T1 in the second playoff round, while T1 has now come through the lower bracket with a win over DK.
Why This Match Carries So Much Weight
The September 12 meeting determines which team advances to the LCK final against Gen.G. The losing side will not reach the championship series. T1 has already guaranteed itself at least third seed for Worlds, while the rematch offers a direct answer to the reverse sweep that placed the team in the lower bracket.
For both teams, the series is also a continuation of a playoff matchup that has already produced a dramatic turnaround. T1’s win over DK ensured that the earlier series against Hanwha Life would not be its final opportunity in the title race.
What Comes Next
T1 and Hanwha Life Esports meet on September 12 at KSPO Dome in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul. It will be the second meeting between the teams this postseason, following Hanwha Life’s 3-2 reverse-sweep victory in the second round. The winner advances directly to the Grand Final against Gen.G.
