DPlus KIA, a team in the LCK Challengers League (LCK CL), won the "2026 Asia Masters" held on the 21st, completing the LCK CL's fourth consecutive title at the tournament.
According to the Korea e-Sports Association on the 26th, the Asia Masters is an international tournament featuring top teams from major Asian second-tier leagues, including the LCK CL (Korea), LDL (China), PCS (Pacific), VCS (Vietnam), and LJL (Japan). Since last year, the event has shifted to a year-round operating system, and the number of participating regions this year expanded from four to five. The tournament is operated in connection with the ASCI (Asia Star Challengers Invitational), Asia's top-level second-tier international tournament. With this victory, DPlus KIA also secured a berth in the ASCI to be held in September.
This tournament featured 12 teams, including the top four teams from the first and second rounds of the LCK CL regular season—T1 Esports Academy, DPlus KIA, Nongshim RedForce, and KT Rolster. The tournament proceeded through the Group Stage, the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), and the Bracket Stage. Four teams that advanced through the Group Stage and LCQ competed for the title in the double-elimination Bracket Stage.
All four LCK CL teams advanced to the Bracket Stage. DPlus KIA defeated T1 Esports Academy in the final to win the title.
DPlus KIA defeated T1 Esports Academy by a set score of 3-1 in the final, claiming the Asia Masters title for the first time since the team's founding. T1 Esports Academy took the first set after a close contest lasting more than 40 minutes, but DPlus KIA won consecutively from the second set onward to clinch the title. DPlus KIA secured the upper hand in a dragon teamfight late in the fourth set to close out the match.
The DPlus KIA squad said, "We had disappointing results at the LCK CL Kickoff, but we are pleased to have entered the upper ranks of the regular season and gone on to win the Asia Masters," adding, "We will do our best to show a good performance in the upcoming third and fourth rounds of the regular season."
Meanwhile, the 2026 LCK CL regular season begins its third-round schedule on the 27th of next month. From the third round, teams will be divided into a Challenge Group and a Trial Group, with matches played in a double round-robin format.
