The LCK resumed with Week 5, kicking off with two best-of-threes. Nongshim RedForce extended their winning streak to three and climbed to third place in the standings, continuing their strong run. Hanwha Life Esports made quick work of BNK FEARX to hold on to second place. The day’s MVPs were Kim "GIDEON" Min-seong and Choi "Zeus" Woo-je, both delivering standout performances in their respective games.

The surprise of the split

Nongshim pulled off a big upset by taking down Dplus KIA and securing third place in the LCK Round 1-2 standings. It was an impressive showing from start to finish, even though they dropped the opening game. Game 1 was a close contest that lasted just under 40 minutes, with Nongshim holding a steady gold lead for most of the match. However, a decisive Elder Drake fight turned everything around—Dplus KIA secured the buff and immediately won the ensuing teamfight, erasing a 7,000 gold deficit to steal the game. Despite the loss, Nongshim remained composed and came back stronger in the following matches.

Game 2 saw a similar early lead for Nongshim, but this time they didn't let it slip. Hwang "Kingen" Seong-hoon once again topped the damage charts, just as he had in the first game, playing a key role in stabilizing the team and pushing them toward victory. During Game 3, Nongshim opted for a more aggressive draft centered around Gideon’s Lillia and Jung "Jiwoo" Ji-woo’s Miss Fortune, supported by Lulu. The composition allowed them to take control early and keep up the pressure, while Dplus KIA’s Skarner pick failed to make an impact. Their draft was harder to execute, and Nongshim punished every misstep to close out the series with confidence.

Eight wins in a row for HLE

Only Gen.G is doing better. Hanwha Life Esports is now on an eight-game winning streak, and once again, today's series against FEARX was anything but close. Both games were heavily influenced by the toplane, with Zeus leading his team in damage in each. In Game 1, Zeus delivered an almost flawless performance on Gwen, finishing with a 7/1/6 scoreline. The match ended on a decisive teamfight around the drake, where FEARX attempted to secure the soul, but HLE completely wiped them out with a clean ace before closing the game.

Game 2 was also largely one-sided in favor of HLE, despite a momentary stumble where they lost a 6,000 gold lead in a single fight. Still, they quickly regained control and wrapped up the series convincingly. Early in the game, Kim "Zeka" Geon-woo solo killed Lee "VicLa" Dae-kwang—a familiar sight from the HLE midlaner, who continues to shine on Sylas.

Tomorrow at 10 AM CET, Gen.G will face off against KT Rolster in a matchup that heavily favors the LCK leaders. Meanwhile, at the bottom of the standings, OKSavingsBank BRION and DRX will clash in a crucial battle with significant implications for the playoffs race.