The first team to qualify for the LCK Playoffs on Friday, September 5, comes as a bit of a surprise in this Play-In stage: BNK FearX. Finishing second in the Rise Group, they were the first to lock in their spot after edging out Dplus KIA 3-2 and then defeating Nongshim RedForce 3-1 today. Notably, DK had topped the Rise Group while NS placed fifth in the Legend Group. With FearX through, only one Playoffs slot remains, to be contested by DK, NS, and OKSavingsBank BRION.

After a tough series proving they could beat teams considered stronger on paper and in the regular season, FearX are brimming with confidence, and their win over NS confirms it. Game 1 started well for Hwang "Kingen" Seong-hoon and his squad, but early on, Jeon "Raptor" Eo-jin, FearX’s jungler, changed the pace with Wukong, while Nam "Diable" Dae-geun calmly dealt exactly 30,000 damage. The second game was a complete stomp, with NS looking unrecognizable compared to their Spring Split form, as FearX secured their first match point thanks to another standout performance from Raptor on Xin Zhao.

Hope for NS, then dominance from FearX

The third game was a rollercoaster. Nongshim led for much of the match, but Diable fought fiercely to turn the tide, and a brilliant Pop Blossom engage from Son "Lehends" Si-woo's Neeko sealed the win to keep Nongshim alive. In the final game, two contrasting drafts clashed: NS opted for scaling with Smolder midlane and Senna as AD Carry, while FearX went early-to-mid-game with Lee Sin jungle and Twisted Fate mid. Every early gank from Raptor resulted in kills, giving FearX complete map control and ending the game in 28 minutes, with neither Smolder nor Senna even reaching three items.

The upcoming matches of the Play-In stage are now set. On Saturday, September 6, BRO and DK will face off, each trying to eliminate the other for a chance to play the final last-chance match against NS on Sunday, September 7. The LCK Playoffs will then resume on September 10, with T1 choosing their opponent between FearX and the other team that qualifies through Play-Ins, while the remaining team will face KT Rolster the following day. The LCK Playoffs will continue up to the final on September 28, not only to crown the sole LCK champion of 2025 but also to determine the four teams that will represent the league in China at Worlds.