NS-BFX trade 'Endgame', to the climax in the upcoming Play-In Round 2

One of the most talked-about storylines in the LCK this year was the blockbuster trade between Nam "" Dae-geun and Kim "" Tae-yoon. Following the move, Nongshim RedForce posted a 2-1 head-to-head record against BNK FearX, ultimately finishing the regular season in second place within the Rise Group.

However, they are set for a fateful rematch in next week's Play-In. The conclusion to this trade saga will be concluded in this upcoming showdown.

By finishing second in the Rise Group, Nongshim RedForce secured the Right of First Selection (RoFS) for Play-In Round 2, granting them an upper hand in side selection and draft strategy. The team that falls in this second round will see their season come to an immediate end, joining DN SOOPers and Kiwoom DRX on the sidelines.

Last year, FearX defeated Nongshim 3-1 in the Play-In to punch their ticket to the Playoffs. At the center of that run was Diable, with LCK Rookie of the Year. However, after being benched earlier this season following controversies, including failing to attend the fan meeting, Diable was shipped to Nongshim in a mid-season trade. Now wearing RedForce colors, he must take down his former team in a do-or-die rematch with their entire season on the line.

BNK FearX will be also putting everything on the line for this Play-In rematch. In their first match after traded, Taeyoon seemed to get revenge with an iconic celebration, but FearX couldn’t sustain the momentum, dropping the next matchups and even conceding POM honors to Diable in the regular season finale.

Meanwhile, with BNK FearX's defeat, Hanjin BRION took first place in the Rise Group. Defying all preseason expectations, Hanjin BRION is now preparing to secure a playoff seed. Although BRION won 2-0 in their last encounter with KT Rolster, the split into groups in the LCK left them with no opportunity to meet in the latter half of the season.

KT Rolster is currently on a five-match losing streak and must secure at least one victory in the Play-In to avoid repeating Nongshim RedForce's path from last year. The team that wins in the first round of the Play-In will directly claim a playoff seed.