KT reverse sweep headlines the LCK Road to MSI after KT Rolster completed a 3-2 comeback over Dplus KIA, eliminating DK in a five-game playoff series that swung from a likely sweep to one of KT’s biggest wins of the split.
Dplus KIA had the series in their hands after winning the first two games. KT somehow dragged it back, first through Aiming’s Game 3 pentakill, then with a late Game 4 comeback that brought out Silver Scrapes, and finally with the Elder Dragon steal that decided Game 5.
| Game | Winner | Key moment |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Dplus KIA | DK controlled the opener and made the series look one-sided early. |
| Game 2 | Dplus KIA | DK reached match point after another controlled win. |
| Game 3 | KT Rolster | KT stayed alive, with Aiming ending the game on a pentakill. |
| Game 4 | KT Rolster | KT survived a large deficit, won around Elder Dragon, and forced Silver Scrapes. |
| Game 5 | KT Rolster | KT stole Elder Dragon, won the fight, and finished the reverse sweep. |
KT Rolster came back from 0-2 down to win 3-2, ending Dplus KIA’s Road to MSI run.
The Game 5 highlight captures the whole swing of the series: DK setting up to close, KT finding one last opening around Elder, and the match flipping in seconds.
KT’s post-match interview showed relief more than celebration
KT’s post-match interview made the reverse sweep feel even heavier. The players did not describe the win like a clean performance. They talked about exhaustion, pressure, staying focused, and the relief of surviving a match that nearly ended after the first two games.
PerfecT was surprised to receive Player of the Match
PerfecT was named Player of the Match, but his first answer pointed toward Aiming, whose Game 3 pentakill had become the biggest highlight of the comeback.
I actually thought Aiming would get the POM. But it does feel really nice.
- PerfecT
That answer matched the wider story of the series. PerfecT received the official recognition, while Aiming gave KT the moment that changed the energy of the match.
Effort said KT stayed locked in at 0-2
KT’s expressions barely changed even when they were two games down. Effort said there was no secret to staying calm. He was simply locked in on his role and what he had to do next.
I think I was just so focused on doing my own job.
- Effort
Effort did not spend much time celebrating. His answer quickly turned toward Gen.G, the next obstacle in KT’s Road to MSI run.
Gen.G, come out! I think we had a brutal 3-0 by Gen.G, so I think we just want to showcase the best we can against Gen.G.
- Effort
Cuzz explained the Elder Dragon steal
Cuzz gave one of the most direct answers of the interview. Cuzz said the win was a relief, but not a reason for KT to relax. After a series that exhausting, he felt they still had a lot to fix before facing Gen.G.
It just felt like, if we stay on this path, then it might actually not be good enough, so I really want to prepare well for the next match.
- Cuzz
Asked about the Game 5 Elder Dragon steal, Cuzz said the moment was not really about feeling confident. For a jungler, sometimes the only option is to commit.
Whether you are confident or not, you just have to go in. As a jungler, everything sometimes depends on that one smite.
- Cuzz
Cuzz delivered when KT needed him most, but he did not sound satisfied with his own series.
Personally, I feel a bit disappointed. I feel kind of depressed about my own performance, but I’m really happy that we were able to pull off today’s victory.
- Cuzz
Bdd said Game 3 was the turning point
Bdd also made it clear how physically and mentally draining the series became. After KT fell behind 0-2, Game 3 was the point where the entire match could have ended.
It was looking pretty grim in the beginning, and to be honest, from Game 3 my vision was getting a little blurry, but I’m happy we were able to win.
- Bdd
I think Game 3 could have ended right there, so I think that game was very crucial for today’s victory.
- Bdd
Aiming’s pentakill stopped the sweep
The first two games made the series look close to finished. Dplus KIA were cleaner, faster, and more stable, while KT struggled to find enough control to make the best-of-five feel competitive.
Game 3 changed that. KT found stronger fights around the map and finally gave Aiming enough room to take over the finish. His pentakill did not complete the reverse sweep, but it made the reverse sweep possible.
The moment was captured in RiftDaily’s short from the series.
From that point, the series stopped feeling like a DK sweep and became a test of whether KT could survive one more game, one more fight, and one more objective setup.
Game 4 and Game 5 turned on late objective fights
Game 4 made the comeback real. KT were behind by a huge margin, but they kept the game alive long enough to punish DK around the late-game objective setup. The Elder Dragon fight gave KT the opening they needed, and the win sent the match to Silver Scrapes.
Game 5 followed a similar pattern. DK had Ocean Soul, won a fight that helped them take Baron, and built another lead. KT still found one final chance around Elder Dragon, where Cuzz stole the objective before KT won the fight and ended the game.
It was the kind of ending that makes a reverse sweep feel even more painful for the losing side. DK did not simply lose control early. They had several chances to close the series, then watched KT turn the most important objective fight of the day into the final push.
The result matters for LCK Playoffs and MSI
This was an elimination match in the LCK Playoffs Road to MSI, which makes the result much bigger than a single comeback. Dplus KIA are out, while KT move forward in the official LCK Road to MSI bracket with Korea’s Mid-Season Invitational places still on the line.
The LoL Esports schedule lists MSI as one of the major international events of the season, making every Road to MSI round crucial for teams trying to reach the global stage.
KT now face Gen.G, which gives the reverse sweep immediate consequences. KT showed they can handle pressure when everything is falling apart. Against Gen.G, they will need to show they can turn that fight into something more stable.
The official KT Rolster team page now points to a roster still alive in the MSI race after one of the most dramatic series of its season.
KT’s season has already been a roller coaster
The reverse sweep also fits KT’s wider split. They started the split looking almost untouchable, going undefeated early and giving KT fans a rare stretch of calm. That form did not hold. Losses followed, confidence dropped, and KT entered the Road to MSI needing to prove their best version was still possible.
Beating DK from 0-2 down does not erase the rough stretch, but it changes the direction of the story. KT are no longer only trying to recover. They are now the team that eliminated Dplus KIA after being one game away from elimination themselves.
That is why the fan reaction around KT often feels less like watching and more like surviving.
This series had almost every KT ingredient: a disastrous start, a sudden swing, a late-game objective steal, and just enough chaos to keep the Road to MSI alive.
Frequently asked questions about KT reverse sweep
Did KT Rolster reverse sweep Dplus KIA?
Yes. KT Rolster defeated Dplus KIA 3-2 after losing the first two games of the best-of-five.
Who was Player of the Match in KT vs Dplus KIA?
PerfecT was named Player of the Match after KT’s 3-2 reverse sweep over Dplus KIA.
Did Aiming get a pentakill?
Yes. Aiming ended KT’s Game 3 win with a pentakill, giving KT the first game they needed to begin the comeback.
How did Game 5 end?
Game 5 ended after KT stole Elder Dragon, won the following teamfight, and pushed to finish the series.
What happens next for KT Rolster?
KT’s reward for surviving Dplus KIA is a much tougher test against Gen.G in the next round of the LCK Road to MSI.
What was on the line in KT vs Dplus KIA?
The series was part of the LCK Road to MSI, with Korea’s Mid-Season Invitational spots still up for grabs. For DK, the loss ended that run. For KT, the win kept it alive.
KT keep their Road to MSI alive
KT’s reverse sweep over Dplus KIA may have saved their season. It came down to two moments DK could not recover from: Aiming’s pentakill in Game 3 and Cuzz stealing Elder Dragon in Game 5.
Now KT move on to Gen.G, where they will have to prove this was more than one wild escape in the Road to MSI. Follow more esports updates and news on RiftDaily as the LCK bracket moves closer to deciding its MSI representatives.
