Kt Rolster Eliminated From 2026 LCK Cup as Coach ScoreTakes Responsibility for Upset Loss

Why It Matters

The early exit underscores the volatility of LCK competition and pressures Korean franchises to refine coaching and tactical depth, affecting sponsorship and fan engagement.

Key Takeaways

• kt Rolster lost to DN Supers in Play‑In Round 1.
• Coach Score cites poor draft preparation and vision control.
• Team squandered 10,000‑gold lead in Game 1.
• Loss highlights need for better closing strategies.
• Coach pledges accountability and improvements before regular season.

Pulse Analysis

The League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) Cup serves as the season‑opening showcase for the world’s most competitive esports market. Featuring the top Korean franchises, the tournament not only offers prize money but also sets the strategic tone for the upcoming regular season. In 2026, the Cup attracted heightened viewership as teams experimented with meta‑shifting drafts and aggressive early‑game pacing. Consequently, early‑stage upsets have become a barometer for organizational depth, coaching acumen, and roster adaptability.

kt Rolster’s abrupt exit illustrates how tactical missteps can outweigh raw mechanical skill. After building a 10,000‑gold lead in Game 1, the squad faltered during vision‑clearing and failed to transition that advantage into objective control, allowing DN Supers to stage a comeback. Head coach Go “Score” Dong‑bin openly blamed insufficient draft preparation and a lack of decisive closing play, highlighting a broader issue of scrim performance translating poorly to high‑stakes matches. Such self‑critical post‑mortems are rare in Korean esports, where coaches often shield teams from public scrutiny.

The ramifications extend beyond a single franchise. Sponsors and broadcasters monitor LCK Cup outcomes to gauge brand exposure, and an early elimination can diminish a team’s marketability for the season. Moreover, the incident may prompt other organizations to reassess their coaching structures, invest in analytics, and prioritize mental resilience training. As the LCK continues to set global standards, the pressure on Korean teams to deliver consistent, high‑level performances will intensify, making strategic depth as crucial as individual talent.

kt Rolster Eliminated from 2026 LCK Cup as Coach ScoreTakes Responsibility for Upset Loss

By Yeonjae “Arra” Shin · Feb 6, 2026

kt Rolster were eliminated from the tournament on the 6th after losing to DN Supers in Game 2 of the Play‑In Round 1 at the 2026 LCK Cup, held at LoL Park in Jongno, Seoul. Despite expectations that favored kt Rolster, the team allowed a massive upset: after surrendering a comeback from a 10,000‑gold lead in Game 1, they went on to lose Game 2 in a listless fashion, sealing their exit.

Speaking to reporters after the match, head coach Go “Score” Dong‑bin bowed his head and said,

“I’m very sorry that we weren’t able to show a sense of solid performance or good draft preparation all the way through the end of the LCK Cup.”

He continued,

“This is the second time in the LCK Cup that we’ve suffered a severe comeback loss. Our scrim results haven’t been good, and that showed in the tournament as well—we were especially lacking in how we closed out games.”

He went on to analyze the decisive moments:

“In Game 1, the opponent didn’t really have many tools for initiation, so there was no need for us to rush objectives and introduce unnecessary variables. We could have just applied pressure through the lanes, and that makes it all the more disappointing. Also, when we were ahead, we made mistakes during the process of clearing enemy vision, which meant we couldn’t even think about snowballing the lead further. I think that became the main reason for the loss.”

In closing, Score added,

“Just like last year, our overall performance in the LCK Cup itself was very poor, so we’ll need to figure out ways to raise our level by the time the regular season begins.”

He emphasized accountability, saying,

“I believe the responsibility lies most heavily with me as the head coach. I’ll do everything I can to show a much better level of play before this year is over.”

This article was translated from the original that appeared on INVEN.