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LCK Cup 2025 - the first tournament of the revamped LCK 2025 format - is gaining momentum. 10 clubs are divided into 2 baskets and fight for 6 slots in the play-offs.
We are talking about Group A, where Kwangdong Freecs and Nongshim RedForce will play, among others. They will play their opening match in a face-to-face Bo3 confrontation.
We are trying to find out who will be stronger in the match Kwangdong Freecs - Nongshim RedForce and take important points to their advantage.
Let's go.
Form Kwangdong Freecs
We open the analysis of the match Kwangdong Freecs - Nongshim RedForce with the analysis of Kwangdong Freecs form. In this match they will play as favourites with odds to win at around 1.7.
Freecs are one of the weakest teams in South Korea, although they are one of the oldest. They have been playing on the LCK since 2016, but they have failed to achieve any kind of performance.
The most successful year can be called 2018, when Freecs were twice in the top 3 at LCK (2nd place LCK Spring 2023, 3rd place at LCK Summer 2018) and made it to Worlds 2018. And there managed to reach the play-offs, but Ledgeili Cloud9, finishing in the top 8.
In the following years, they managed to reach the top 4 of LCK series tournaments four times. They finished Top-4 at the 2019 LCK Regional Finals, LCK Summer 2020, Top-3 at the 2020 LCK Regional Finals, and Top-4 at the 2022 LCK Spring.
In 2023, the Freecs failed in both LCK splits. First they finished in the top 7 at LCK Spring, failing to make it out of the group, and then in the last, 10th, place at LCK Summer 2023.
- Freecs roster: DuDu, Pyosik, BuLLDog, Berserker, Life.
Freecs in the new season decided to strengthen Cuzz. The other four played for the club last season and the season before.
Freecs will make their debut at LCK Spring 2024 with a match against T1. Obviously, they simply have no chance of winning there. Next up is HLE. Freecs have a busy calendar, nothing to say.
However, a difficult Long Corner did not prevent Freecs from reaching the LCK Spring 2024 play-offs. It was difficult, but they took 7 matches out of 18 played, took the top 6 and got to the main stage. However, we didn't manage to go further than the first round: as a result - LCK Spring 2024 TOP-6.
At LCK Summer 2024 Freecs finished in the top 7, which was about the result we should have expected. During the off-season, they changed the roster
Freecs' most popular champions
The most frequent guest is KSante (10 games, 8 wins). Gnar (6 games, 50% wins), Sion (2 games, 100% wins) and Renekton (2 games, 50% wins) appear less frequently.
The ubiquitous Maokai is ignored in the forest (he appeared only once and lost). But Vi (6 games, 100% wins), Elise (6 games, 60% wins), Sejuani (4 games, 75% wins) get quite a lot of attention.
The centre line is occupied by Syndra (7 games, 85% wins), Ryze (4 games, 0% wins), Talliyah (3 games, 66% wins).
From shooters like Lucian (5 matches, 80% wins), Varus (4 games, 75% wins), Zeri, Sivir and Caitlyn appeared 3 times each and only Sivir didn't win a single game.
Sapports: Nami (7 matches, 85% wins), Ashe (4 matches, 50% wins), Yummi (3 matches, 33% wins).
Nongshim RedForce uniforms
We continue our analysis of the match Nongshim RedForce vs Kwangdong Freecs with the analysis of Nongshim RedForce's playing form. In this match they will play as an outsider with odds to win at around 1.9.
Nongshim Red Force is a team with no stars from heaven. It is a solid "mid-table" team in Korea, but rather one of the worst teams in the best region.
In the arena LCK Nongshim RedForce have been in the LCK Nongshim arena since 2021. It also became the best in the not yet long history of this particular tag: at that time Nongshim RedForce managed to take Top 6 at LCK Spring 2021 and Top 4 at LCK Summer 2021, and there was also Top 3 at Regional Finals, but it was not enough to pass to Worlds.
Things started to get worse in 2022. Nongshim RedForce finished top-8 at both LCK Spring 2022 and LCK Summer 2022.
In the 13 competition season, Nongshim RedForce can be called the worst team in the region. At LCK Spring 2023 the team took the last, 10th place, and at LCK Summer 2023 they were not far away - TOP-9.
- Nongshim RedForce roster: Kingen, Sylvie, Fisher, Jiwoo, Lehends.
The only member of Nongshim RedForce from last season is Jiwoo. The remaining 4 players are new to the team.
Nongshim RedForce will play against DRX in the first match. In that match I expect Nongshim RedForce to win. Next will be a game against Gen.G, where RedForce has no chance not only to win, but to take at least a map.
At LCK Spring 2024 Nongshim RedForce were ranked in the top 8. The LCK 2024 summer split was not better than the spring one: the final top 8 and the change of the line-up in the off-season.
Most Popular Nongshim RedForce Champions
The most popular champion on the top line is Gnar (10 games, 90% wins). Jayce appeared 8 times and had a winrate of 87%. Kenen was played 4 times and won all matches, KSante 4 times and 3 wins, Renekton 4 times and 2 wins.
In the forest were Vi (11 matches, 72% wins), Sejuani (10 games, 80% wins), Wukong (7 matches, 85% wins), Le Sin (6 games, 83% wins).
On the centre line it was Azir (13 games, 69% wins), Gragas (6 matches, 100% wins), Kassadin (5 games, 100% wins), Viktor (4 matches, 75% wins).
The most popular ADC is Lucian (12 matches, 83% wins). Next are Varus (8 games, 87% wins), Caitlyn (5 games, 100% wins), Zeri (4 matches, 75% wins).
Nami (13 matches, 84% winrate). Ashe and Lux have 4 games and 4 wins each.
History of head-to-head meetings Kwangdong Freecs - Nongshim RedForce
In the season 2024 the teams played each other 4 times out of which 3 matches were won by Kwangdong.
Predicted result of Freecs vs Nongshim RedForce at LCK Cup 2025
I am expecting a close game in this match. Both teams look equally "average" to me and have gone through the offseason about the same. That's why I'm expecting bo3.
Bottom line: total +2.5.
Hanwha Life Esports
Nongshim Red ForceWatch match
