The nightmare season for Kiwoom DRX (KRX), who disappointingly finished the 2026 LCK regular season in 9th place, is now continuing into the secondary league, LCK CL.

In the LCK CL Play-In match held on the 24th, Kiwoom DRX lost 1-3 to DN SOOPers. While they still have a chance remaining through the losers' bracket to avoid final elimination, looking at the team's internal situation, expecting a turnaround seems extremely difficult.

The match loss itself is not the only issue. Earlier during the LCK regular season, Kiwoom DRX traded 'Jiwoo' Jeong Ji-woo for 'Aiming' Kim Ha-ram in an attempt to finish 8th or higher and reach the Play-Ins. However, contrary to expectations, they stayed in 9th place and failed to achieve their goal, with the aftermath spilling over to CL.

Under LCK CL regulations, players who have played 38 or more sets on the primary LCK stage cannot participate in CL matches. Kiwoom DRX, having sent 'Jiwoo' away, were unable to field 'LazyFeel' as well as their new recruit 'Aiming' Kim Ha-ram on the CL stage due to them hitting the set cap.

Ultimately, left without an ADC, Kiwoom DRX hurriedly role-swapped jungler 'Vincenzo' Ha Seung-min to ADC to play against DN SOOPers, but lost 1-3. With the rules dictating that they must play out the remaining CL schedule without a traditional ADC, expecting normal performance is practically impossible.

While DN SOOPers, who had also finished in the lower ranks during the LCK regular season, elevated their form in the latter half of the season and capped it off on a high note by winning the 2026 KeSPA Cup, Kiwoom DRX have ended up in a highly awkward, rock-and-a-hard-place situation.