by Another intense playoff matchday in the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) Cup 2025 saw Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) battle Dplus KIA (DK) in a high-stakes best-of-five series.
With both teams vying for a spot in the grand final, the series delivered electrifying moments, unconventional drafts, and nail-biting gameplay.
Ultimately, HLE emerged victorious with a 3-2 series win, sending DK to the lower bracket.
THEY CANNOT BE STOPPED IN GAME 5! ??@HLEofficial win in Round 3 and are first to advance to the 2025 #LCK CUP FINALS! pic.twitter.com/81pZD0ttBf
— LCK (@LCK) February 19, 2025
Game 1: Viper’s Xayah Dominates
HLE kicked off the series with a commanding 17-4 victory.
Park “Viper” Do-hyeon’s Xayah was the driving force, delivering a flawless 7/0/6 performance while topping the damage charts.
Kim “Zeka” Geon-woo also shined on Yone, posting a 3/1/10 KDA and controlling the mid lane.
With calculated team play and superior macro, HLE secured an early lead in the series.
Game 2: DK Strikes Back with Aiming’s Varus
DK answered in dominant fashion, securing a crushing 29-7 victory to even the series.
Kim “Aiming” Ha-ram’s Varus (11/1/9) spearheaded the assault, relentlessly dismantling HLE in team fights.
Choi “Lucid” Yong-hyeok on Lillia (8/1/7) controlled the jungle with aggressive pathing and objective control.
DK’s superior execution set the stage for a fierce contest.
Game 3: DK Takes Control
The momentum stayed with DK in game three, as they overpowered HLE with a 25-11 win.
Aiming continued his stellar form, this time on Zeri (9/1/11), while Heo “ShowMaker” Su’s Ryze (6/3/13) orchestrated crucial plays from the mid lane.
DK’s early-game dominance and precise coordination in team fights secured them a 2-1 series lead, putting them on match point.
IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL IT'S REALLY OVER!
AIMING & LUCID GO 2v5 AND ACE!! #LCK pic.twitter.com/iRHdoztMnI— LCK (@LCK) February 19, 2025
Game 4: Zeka’s Sylas Forces a Decider
HLE refused to back down, delivering a clinical 12-5 win in game four.
Viper’s Ashe (3/1/4) provided consistent pressure with long-range poke, while Han “Peanut” Wang-ho’s Nidalee (5/1/5) played an aggressive jungle style that kept DK on the back foot.
However, the defining moment came from Zeka’s Sylas, who executed a brilliant backdoor play to force game five and keep HLE’s hopes alive.
Zeka starts up SILVER SCRAPES with a BACKDOOR! #LCK pic.twitter.com/RlCtMk0kjf
— LCK (@LCK) February 19, 2025
Game 5: HLE Closes the Series in Epic Fashion
With everything on the line, the final game was a spectacle of strategic depth and mechanical brilliance.
DK surprised with an unconventional draft featuring ShowMaker on Kled, Aiming on Mel, and Choi “Zeus” Woo-je on Olaf.
The game remained razor-thin even past the 30-minute mark as both teams traded objectives and kills.
The turning point came when HLE secured Baron Nashor and their third drake.
Seizing the moment, Zeus’s Olaf charged into DK’s backline, eliminating Aiming and relentlessly hunting down Jeon “Siwoo” Si-woo’s Gragas.
His performance proved pivotal in securing HLE’s 18-13 victory, sealing the series and earning him the MVP title.
With this thrilling victory, Hanwha Life Esports advanced to the LCK Cup final, just one step away from claiming the inaugural championship.
Meanwhile, Dplus KIA now awaits the winner of the Gen.G vs. Nongshim RedForce match as they fight for another chance at the title.
