Dplus KIA emerges as LoL EWC 26 winner

• In a dramatic game against Karmine Corp, Dplus KIA won the League of Legends at EWC 26 Grand Final
• Besides their first Esports World Cup title, Dplus KIA won the $600,000 grand prize
• Bot laner Shin "Smash" Geum-jaewas recognized with an award for his exceptional performance

The League of Legends at EWC 26 Grand Final wrapped up over the weekend, pitting two underdogs against each other.

Despite being identified as underdogs, Dplus KIA and Karmine Corp made it to the final, and the former ultimately emerged as the winner of the prestigious esports tournament.

Dplus KIA wins EWC title

Dplus KIA dominated the League of Legends EWC 26 Grand Final after an overwhelming victory of 3-0 against its biggest rival in the game, the French team Karmine Corp.

Ahed of the Grand Final, both teams were thought to be the weakest within their respective region.

However, eliminating famous adversaries such as Gen.G, Bilibili Gaming, Hanwha Life Esports, as well as T1, proved the resilience of Dplus KIA and Karmine Corp.

Dplus KIA’s Bot laner Shin "Smash" Geum-jae was recognized for his exceptional performance at the recent tournament, earning Sony MVP honors.

Smash recorded 8.1 KDA, 69.8% kill participation, as well as 836 damage per minute and was responsible for 28.4% of his team’s total damage within the series.

In a press release by the Esports World Cup, Smash shared his excitement saying: "It’s actually my birthday today in Korea. I think today will be the happiest birthday I’ve ever celebrated."

His teammate, jungler Choi "Lucid" Yong-hyeok, was similarly excited with Dplus KIA’s win and outstanding performance.

"There were a lot of boos from the KC crowd when we entered the arena, but it didn’t affect me," the esports player explained, adding that he remained confident that Dplus KIA could win over French fans with its play style and solid performance.

Considering that the League of Legends EWC 26 Grand Final was played in Paris, France, Karmine Corp enjoyed strong support at its home-field.

When Karmine Corp appeared on the stage, the crowd was screaming with joy, but once Dplus KIA emerged, boos were heard.

Still, this didn’t stop Dplus KIA, who demonstrated exceptional skills, resilience, and maintained their confidence despite the pressure.

Besides its first Esports World Cup title, the team won the tournament’s grand prize for a sweet $600,000 payday.

Image credit: Esports World Cup