With the eventful 2025 finally behind us, we find ourselves in 2026. The latest off-season was a bit of a homecoming, seeing marquee names like 'Peyz' and 'Kanavi' migrating back from the LPL to the LCK. The trend of favouring proven veterans over raw, high-profile rookies continues, leaving the pool of fresh talent looking rather shallow this time around.

However, there is one dark horse catching everyone’s eye: Shin 'Smash' Geum-jae, the new ADC for Dplus KIA. Even during his stint in T1’s academy squad, he was known for a hyper-aggressive playstyle that hunted for kills rather than waiting for them. He proved his mettle again at the KeSPA Cup last December, forming a surprisingly sharp bot lane pairing with 'Kellin'.

Dplus KIA was once a titan that tasted League of Legends World Championship glory, but the team has been on a downward trajectory since 2022. Critics haven't been kind, suggesting their latest roster lacks the punch of a true contender. There is a genuine worry that relying on rookies might place an unfair burden on their star, 'ShowMaker'. The burning question for the season is whether 'Smash' can step up and spark the revival the team so desperately craves.