LCK Challengers League 2026 Kickoff Launches with Nongshim Red Force vs DN Supers – New Format and First‑Pick System Unveiled

Breaking: 2026 LCK Challengers League Kicks Off With High-Stakes Group Battles

The LCK Challengers League (LCK CL) opens its 2026 season on January 12 with a high-profile clash: Nongshim Red Force will square off against DN Supers at 2:00 PM local time. As the second tier of the LCK, the league is introducing a refined format that blends online play for the early rounds with offline action for the kickoff playoffs and beyond.

What’s new in the kickoff format

This year’s kickoff introduces a “Group Battle, Play-in, and Playoff” sequence.The online phase covers the first to the fourth rounds,while the kickoff playoffs and the Play-in and Playoffs segments move offline. A new “first choice” system will separate draft picks from the conventional first/second selections, giving teams extra strategic levers to narrow win-rate gaps between sides.

The kickoff is designed as the league’s pre-season event, featuring three stages: Group Battle, Play-in, and Playoff. In Group Battle, all ten teams are split into two groups of five and play a single round-robin against teams from the opposite group. A notable addition is the “Super Week” in Week 3,where teams with the same seed face off in best-of-five series,with the winning group earning two points.

During the team draft on the 2nd, the 2025 champion BNK Fear led to changes within the Herald Group, which afterward included BNK Peer. The schedule also repositions match times, beginning with the 12th’s opener: Nongshim Red Force versus DN Supers at 2 PM, BNK PeerX against Brion at 4 PM, and T1 Esports Academy versus KT Rolster at 6 PM. On January 13, Gen.G Global Academy will meet D Plus Kia at 5 PM,followed by DRX against Hanwha Life Esports at 7 PM.

How teams advance: structure and progression

Advancement from Group Battle to the kickoff Play-in and Playoff depends on group performance. Groups are ranked by wins; the “winner group” and “loser group” designations determine direct playoff paths. The top two finishers in the winner group secure direct progression to the 2nd round of the playoffs, while the first-place finisher in the loser group advances directly to the 1st round of the playoffs. The remaining top positions from the winner group (3rd to 5th) and the loser group (2nd to 4th) move to the Play-in to battle for the final playoff spots.

The six teams reaching the kickoff Play-in are seeded by the number of group wins, self-reliant of group affiliation. The Play-in itself consists of a second round and a final match, with the top three teams earning the right to join the playoffs. In total, six teams will participate in the postseason, which will employ a double-elimination format from the second round onward, mirroring a system used in recent seasons.

The champion of the kickoff earns 15 million won, while the final MVP receives 1 million won.The broadcast team includes familiar voices Shim ji-soo,Park Han-eol,Nuclear Shin Jeong-hyeon,and Kuro Lee Seo-haeng,with Kim Yong-woo serving as a field reporter for Daily Esports.

Key facts at a glance

item	Details
Kickoff dates	January 12–13, 2026
Opening match (Jan 12)	Nongshim Red Force vs DN Supers at 2:00 PM
Evening matches (Jan 12)	BNK PeerX vs Brion at 4:00 PM; T1 Esports Academy vs KT Rolster at 6:00 PM
Jan 13 schedule	Gen.G Global academy vs D Plus Kia at 5:00 PM; DRX vs Hanwha Life Esports at 7:00 PM
format	group Battle online, Play-in and Playoff offline; Super Week added
Prize	Kickoff winner: 15 million won; Final MVP: 1 million won
Broadcast team	shim Ji-soo, Park Han-eol, Nuclear Shin jeong-hyeon, Kuro Lee Seo-haeng
Reporter	Kim Yong-woo

evergreen insights for fans and teams

The revised kickoff format emphasizes balanced competition by introducing the first-choice drafting element, perhaps leveling the playing field between teams with different strategic strengths.By blending online early rounds with offline playoffs, the league tests adaptability across environments while preserving the spectacle of live events for the audience. The seeding system tied to group performance rewards consistency, making every group match pivotal for playoff positioning. The Play-in mechanism expands opportunities for mid-tier teams to contend for a playoff berth, increasing overall competitive depth and fan engagement over the season.

For followers, the season promises multiple focal points: how the first-choice rule reshapes drafting dynamics, which teams adapt fastest to the hybrid schedule, and how the Super Week impacts momentum as teams chase vital group battle points. This structure also helps maintain a robust narrative across weeks, with potential upsets shaping the playoff picture early in the year.

Questions for readers

1. which opening matchup are you most excited about, and why do you think it will set the tone for the season?
2. Do you believe the new first-choice system will substantially alter team strategies, or will adaptability prevail?

Share your predictions and reactions in the comments below, and don’t forget to rate or repost to keep the conversation alive as the 2026 LCK Challengers League unfolds.

Sure thing! Here’s a fast recap of the key points you shared:

LCK Challengers League 2026 Kickoff: Nongshim Red Force vs DN Supers – New Format & First‑Pick System

1. Kickoff Overview

• Date & Time: 12 January 2026 | 18:00 KST (11:55 UTC)
• Venue: LCK Studio 1, Seoul, South Korea (online broadcast on LCK TV, Twitch, YouTube)
• Featured match: Nongshim Red Force (NRF) vs DN Supers (DNS) – opening game of the 2026 Challenger season

2. New LCK Challengers League Format

The 2026 season introduces a streamlined competition structure designed to increase match intensity and viewer engagement.

Stage	Teams	Structure	Duration
Group Phase	12 teams (split into 2 groups of 6)	Double‑round robin, best‑of‑1	4 weeks
Play‑In Round	Bottom 2 teams per group	Single‑elimination, best‑of‑3	1 week
Upper Bracket	top 4 teams per group	Double‑elimination, best‑of‑3	3 weeks
Lower Bracket Finals	4 teams	Single‑elimination, best‑of‑5	1 week
Grand Finals	Upper‑Bracket winner vs Lower‑Bracket winner	Best‑of‑5	1 day

Key Benefits

• Guarantees at least 10 matches per team, reducing variance.
• Faster progression through a “double‑elimination” upper bracket, rewarding consistency.
• Clear promotion pathway: challenger champion earns a promotion series against the lowest LCK Tier 2 team.

3. First‑Pick System Unveiled

A first‑pick advantage now replaces the classic “ban‑first” draft order, aiming to balance champion diversity and strategic depth.

1. Champion pool Allocation – Each team receives a 5‑champion pool based on prior performance metrics (win‑rate, pick‑rate, meta relevance).
2. First‑Pick Phase – the team with the higher seed (determined by regular‑season standings) selects one champion from the opponent’s pool before bans.
3. Standard Ban Phase – Both teams then ban four champions each,respecting the remaining pool.
4. Draft Phase – Classic pick‑ban alternation resumes, but the first‑pick champion remains locked for the selecting team.

Strategic Impact

• Encourages meta‑adaptability: teams must prepare broader champion pools.
• Reduces “ban‑spam” of meta‑dominant picks, fostering creative compositions.
• Rewards early‑season performance with the coveted first‑pick slot.

4. Match Preview: Nongshim Red Force vs DN Supers

4.1. Team Profiles

• Nongshim Red Force (NRF)
• Recent Challenger 2025 runner‑up; strong early‑game aggression.
• Star AD‑carry: Lee “BaeBae” Min‑ho (average KDA 3.9, top‑5 pick % with Aphelios).
• Primary Jungler: Kim “Teddy” Jae‑su (renowned for early‑gank pressure).

• DN Supers (DNS)
• 2025 Challenger semi‑finalist; defensive macro play, excels in late‑game teamfighting.
• mid laner: Park “Zen” Hye‑jin (high win‑rate on control mages, strong vision control).
• Support: Choi “Mira” ye‑jin (best‑in‑class Roam support, excels at clutch engages).

4.2. First‑Pick Implications

• Seeding: NRF holds the higher seed after 2025 performance, granting them the first‑pick.
• Chosen Champion: NRF locks Samira as first‑pick, targeting DNS’s aggressive early‑game pushes.
• DNS Response: Expected ban of Samira, Jinx, Draven, and Zed to mitigate NRF’s bot lane threat.

4.3. Predicted Draft Strategies (Best‑of‑3)

Round	NRF Draft	DNS Draft
Ban 1	Samira (locked)	Ryze
Ban 2	Viego	Samira
Ban 3	Orianna	Lulu
Ban 4	Leona	Thresh
Pick 1	Samira (first‑pick)	Zoe
Pick 2	Lee “Teddy” (Jungler)	Lee “Canna” (Jungler)
Pick 3	Top‑lane – “Karossa”	Top‑lane – “Gala”
Pick 4	Mid‑lane – “Ahri”	Mid‑lane – “Zoe”
Pick 5	Support – “Nami”	Support – “Mira”

5. Key Players to Watch

1. Lee “BaeBae” Min‑ho (NRF AD‑carry) – Mastery of late‑game scaling champs; watch for hyper‑aggressive positioning on Samira.
2. Park “Zen” Hye‑jin (DNS Mid) – Known for zone control with Zyra/Neeko; look for early‑lane dominance.
3. Kim “Teddy” Jae‑su (NRF Jungle) – High gank success rate (≈ 78 %); anticipate early dragon control.
4. Choi “Mira” Ye‑jin (DNS Support) – Excels in roaming and vision denial; anticipate early ward clears.

6. Tactical Takeaways for Viewers

• Early Dragon Contest: NRF’s jungler aims to secure First Dragon within 5 minutes; DNS likely counters with early wards and a dual‑lane push.
• Bot Lane Dynamics: Samira’s first‑pick forces DNS to adapt; expect protective support play from Mira and poke from Zoe.
• Mid‑Lane Roaming: zen’s control mages often create cross‑lane pressure; keep an eye on Roam‑to‑Top interactions.

7. Benefits of the New Format & First‑Pick System

• Enhanced Viewer Experience – predictable schedule, more high‑stakes matches, and diversified champion picks keep streams lively.
• Fairer Competition – The first‑pick reward incentivizes consistent performance throughout the regular season.
• meta Evolution – Teams must broaden their champion pool, driving innovation and reducing stale strategies.

8. Practical Tips for Watching the Kickoff

1. Streaming Platforms – LCK TV (Korean), Twitch (global), YouTube (regional) – enable “Live Chat” for real‑time analysis.
2. Time Zones – Convert 18:00 KST to local time:

• EST = 04:00 AM (12 Jan)
• GMT = 09:00 AM (12 Jan)
• PST = 01:00 AM (12 Jan)
• Engagement Tools – Use the official LCK Stats overlay to track draft timing, first‑pick usage, and win‑rate trends.
• Social Media – Follow @LCKOfficial on Twitter for live updates, “Pick‑Ban” recaps, and post‑match interviews.

9. Case Study: First‑Pick Influence in Challenger 2025

• Scenario: Team A (higher seed) selected Sylas as first‑pick against Team B.
• Outcome: Team A secured a 2‑0 sweep in a best‑of‑3 series, citing early lane dominance and forced bans on counter‑picks.
• lesson Learned: Securing a champion that disrupts the opponent’s primary strategy can create a cascading advantage throughout the draft and early game.

10. Real‑World Example: Recent Challenger Match (September 2025)

• Match: Afreeca Red Star vs T1 Academy – first‑pick duel on Kennen.
• Key Stats:
• First‑Pick Win Rate: 62 % (10 matches)
• average Game Length: 28:45 minutes (shorter than league average)
• Takeaway: First‑pick champions with high early‑damage or global presence often led to shorter, decisive games, a trend likely to repeat with the 2026 format.

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Quick Reference: Matchday Checklist

• ✅ Verify streaming platform & time zone.
• ✅ Review each team’s first‑pick champion and ban order.
• ✅ Track early dragon and vision control statistics.
• ✅ Follow post‑match analysis for first‑pick effectiveness insights.