In the LCK KesPa Cup, the group stage is almost over. On the last day of matches, T1 from Group C debuted in the K Cup against Japan’s JPN team. The team concentrated their efforts on the bottom lane, and Peyz exceeded expectations by having a minion kill lead of more than 30 during laning. With their gear advantage, T1 crushed team fights and ended the match in 26 minutes, earning their first win. Peyz’s stats were 5 kills, 1 death, and 7 assists, securing the MVP award.

There was a small incident in this game: at 11 minutes, Doran on Excavator tried to dive under tower to solo kill the veteran player but overestimated his damage and was counter-killed by the Japanese top laner. This play had a bit of Bin’s style—somewhat entertaining but didn’t affect the final outcome. Meanwhile, in Group B, DK played two matches on the same day against BRO and DRX, winning both games.

After consecutive losses to North American and Vietnamese teams, the third uncle (San Shu) gave up on participating. When the second team’s jungler stepped in, there was no improvement. GEN lost again to BFX, bringing their record to 0-3 with only one match left. Since the top two teams advance, GEN is officially eliminated. In their final match, GEN will face HLE and, barring surprises, will finish with a 0-4 record.

In the remaining matches, HLE easily defeated the Vietnamese team to achieve their third win. Currently, HLE in Group A and DK in Group B both hold 3-0 records, securing their spots in the top two early. HLE only has GEN left to play, and both teams with 2-1 records have lost to them. Even if HLE loses the last match, they can still claim first place in Group A based on tiebreakers. DK’s situation is similar, having already secured first place in Group B.

The K Cup format allows group winners to advance directly to the semifinals, while second-place teams from three groups compete for the final semifinal spot. The qualification picture in Groups A and B is clear: HLE is guaranteed to advance, while MVKE (1-3) and GEN (0-3) are already eliminated. The second-place spot will be decided between C9 and BFX, who face each other next. The winner will claim second place, with BFX having a higher chance to win given their strength.

In Group B, DK qualified first, and BRO with a 1-3 record is eliminated. KT and DNF still have hopes to advance but their 1-2 records make it unlikely. DRX currently stands at 2-1, and if they beat DNF in the last match, DRX will secure second place. Group C has only four teams; T1 and NS have both earned a point. The upcoming matches between NS and T1 will decide who finishes first.

If there are no surprises, T1 should take first place in Group C, which means the teams directly advancing to the semifinals will be HLE, DK, and T1. The three teams likely competing for the last semifinal spot are BFX, DRX, and NS. The upcoming matches are highly anticipated. It seems only the HLE vs. T1 match-up remains, and the final champion is expected to come from these two teams, as they have full main rosters and significantly stronger lineups than others.

After two consecutive losses, the third uncle (San Shu) truly withdrew, which is a bit surprising. Although GEN’s two carry players are missing and their strength has declined, it’s still unexpected for them not to win a single group stage match. Kiin has tried his best, but his influence on the top lane is limited, and Duro is in a similar position. This highlights how important having both carry players is. However, since the K Cup is an entertainment tournament, it doesn’t fully reflect GEN’s strength. Once the main star returns, they will show their true power.

Conclusion:

HLE has shown a distinct level of strength in this K Cup, easily defeating every opponent. Hopefully, they will face T1 in the semifinals, which would make the matches more exciting. The K Cup’s double-elimination format allows each of the four teams one loss margin. My personal prediction is that the champion will be either HLE or T1.

What are your thoughts on GEN’s 0-3 performance?

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