LCK Cup 2026 Playoffs Bracket Breakdown

As the dust settles on the Play-In stage, six elite teams remain in contention for LCK Cup glory: BNK FearX, DN SOOPers, Dplus KIA, DRX, T1, and Gen.G. With all matches shifting to high-stakes best-of-five series, the path to São Paulo's First Stand tournament runs through Hong Kong's Kai Tak Arena.

The Playoff Landscape

• Gen.G enters as tournament favorites after a flawless group stage (5-0) without dropping a single Nexus
• T1 mirrors Gen.G's 5-0 record but with slightly less dominant performances
• Dplus KIA and DRX emerge as dangerous dark horses from the Play-In gauntlet

Strategic Advantage

Gen.G's perfect group stage grants them first-pick privilege in opponent selection between winners of:

• BFX vs DNF
• DK vs DRX

The remaining team will face T1, creating fascinating LoL Predictions scenarios for strategic bettors.

Betting Implications

• Gen.G (1.40) and T1 (1.60) lead championship odds
• Dplus KIA (4.75) presents highest upset potential with veteran roster
• DRX (6.50) offers sneaky value after eliminating KT Rolster
• Bracket path crucial - teams avoiding Gen.G/T1 until finals gain valuation boost

Credit: LCK/Riot Games

Tournament Format & Global Context

The LCK Cup features 16 best-of-five matches - more than any major region except LPL (20 BO5s). This volume creates:

1. Greater sample size for AI Predictions models
2. More live betting opportunities across extended series
3. Increased potential for underdog comebacks in elongated formats

Road to Hong Kong

The Kai Tak Arena will host the February 28 Lower Bracket Final and March 1 Grand Final - both offering First Stand qualification. This marks:

• First LCK international event in Hong Kong since 2022
• Potential for meta shifts with 10-day break before finals
• Live audience factor that historically boosts Korean teams' performance

For updated odds and expert analysis, visit our Prediction Leaderboard tracking top prognosticators.

Key Takeaways for Bettors

1. Gen.G's draft advantage could create lopsided semifinal matchups
2. T1's international experience makes them dangerous in elimination scenarios
3. Dark horse DK boasts highest championship odds among non-group winners
4. Hong Kong finals add travel variable absent in group stage

Catch all LCK Cup matches as Korea's elite battle for regional supremacy and global seeding.