Сluttered attic, nothing more

Historically both teams lost their team identity with OG players that made history with the org leaving. KT in 2019 with Score leaving (KT peaked in 2016-18) and DK (DK peaked in 2020) in 2021 with only ShowMaker and Canyon staying (they were still very good back then), even more after Canyon left in 2023. And being in the same tier with limited budget forced teams to exchange some players between themselves - for example, Deft is normally associated with KT (and DRX) but he had a year with DK (and could've had second based on the stove league rumors from 2024).

Up to 2026 DK nurtured Siwoo and Lucid (and this guy in particular is openly attached to DK and was inspired by DWG's golden year(s) with ShowMaker and Canyon) and combined them with I'll-retire-from-this-team ShowMaker. Smash and Career came from Academy teams of different orgs, you can count it as a fresh start in the LCK. So basically, finally, if you want to be a DK fan, attaching yourself to the players you can be sure they will stay with the team. If not all (things happen), then most of them.

The not-so-fun-fact is DK probably had to sign non-experienced players cause the org has no money and they get low salary. But lemme romantisize that for a bit.

For KT 2026 is better than 2025 in terms of team idenitity for the sole reason that PerfecT became stable and stopped being under a threat of being subbed out (he debuted with Lucid in 2024); I remember seeing comments from 2025 summer that KT should get rid of him, since he was not improving. And now KT also has a good paid-off nurtured child as well as infamous old couple that will (probaly/most likely) retire from KT. Botlane is still whatever at this point of timeline, but even baby FenRir's forced appearance had a positive impact on the fanbase - yes, his average level is barely enough to compete with other LCK's ADC, BUT he's KT's child, he's doing what he can in the position he was forced in and everything's considered he's doing fine. The deal is the same - attaching yourself to the players you can be sure they will stay with the team (more than half in this case). Oh, and KT has Score (head coach) signed till 2029 now and he's their main legacy personality of all time (6 years as a player + 2 years as head coach for KT).

It's a good stabilizing 'start a new legacy' year for both teams, considering they began gaining their feet in 2025. Hell, they can win against T1-GEN-HLE giants trio! DK is doing very good comparing to previous years with players they've raised and spread effort and KT can never have a straightforward road so they're fortifying what they trust in and rely on (even if everything else fails).

Objectively if you put a problem "They're competing for the 4th seed for Worlds. Who should take it?", DK has a more balanced and coordinated team and KT lives off miracle runs aka will they manage to function as a 5-man unit on match's day or nah - DK's chances are much MUCH higher on average, yet KT grabbed they opportunity last year just by winning two matches (BFX + GEN)? Maybe they won't overperform at the right time and make a miracle again or maybe both DK and KT will qualify while one of top-3 teams won't.

Everything in LCK will be resolved in a month. I have my bias and if KT will be absent at Worlds I won't follow it closely (but I still will be hyped if ShowMaker and the kids will win it all) (or maybe even GEN - it's about time they pull themselves up there).

KT didn't even looked happy that they won, it was more like "Somehow it happened...'. Normally you can judge by Cuzz how hard a game was and how satisfactory the results are, but even he was like 'yeah /:' Cuzz reaches out for everyone usually - to give a high five or to pat on the shoulder, but today PerfecT was supporting him:

THOUGH the weirdest part to me is a possibility of Cuzz being subbed out for Sylive which is very real and looming. He's the most expirieneced jungler in LCK right now despite all the shortcomings and 2 reasons I can understand him not playing is 1) trauma, 2) team's playstyle needs to be changed completely and he holds the change back. But you lose so much in the second case, no? Will it really be worth? If that happens I hope he goes on Guma's FMVP arc. He was always overshone in every team except for KDF24 but he's geniuely a very good player who can coordinate a team + very confident Smite user. It's easier to help him change that straight up switch to other player, no?

In many interviews of KT in 25-26 it was stated that scrims are almost always bad. They had horrible results during summer 25 (when they beat Gen.G), during Worlds (undefeated until semis), during spring 26 (they went 8-0 in the first round). They just play better in actual matches. It influences the mood of the team for sure, but to blow up like this right before the start of the season? It's tough. Maybe it is roster changes for scrims and KeSpa Cup that weren't worknig out after all.

Aiming situation is also bad. Clearly the intention was for the first team to play as they are, until everything went downhill so fast they had to call-up FenRir again. The only clue is Aiming unsubscribing from Bdd on insta, who is known for being very direct and straightforward in personal communications and feedback (and also has some authority over roster changes as it can be seen with Way/Peter in early 2025). It's pure speculation at this point what exactly happened there...