Nongshim RedForce's Dominant 2-0 Victory: Kingen's Nidalee Shines as BNK FEARX Struggles
Nongshim RedForce Breaks Their Losing Streak with a Convincing Victory
On April 23, 2025, Nongshim RedForce (NS) delivered a commanding 2-0 victory against BNK FEARX (BFX) at the LCK Arena in Jongno-gu, Seoul. This win not only ended NS's two-game losing streak but also propelled them to fourth place in the standings with a 4-3 record, surpassing T1. The match showcased NS's superior team coordination and individual brilliance, particularly from their top laner Kingen (Hwang Seong-hoon).
BNK FEARX, who failed to continue their winning momentum, now stands at 3-4 for the season. Their performance throughout both games was described as 'lifeless' by their own coach Yoo Sang-wook, highlighting the team's struggles against NS's coordinated gameplay.
Game 1: NS's Dominant Early Game Control
The first game set the tone for the entire series, with NS securing a decisive victory in just 27 minutes. The damage difference between the teams was substantial, with NS accumulating 59.0k gold compared to BNK's 48.9k.
NS's jungler Gideon (Kim Min-sung) played a crucial role in establishing early game control, finishing with an impressive 6-1-10 scoreline. The bot lane duo of Jiwoo and Lehends also performed exceptionally well, with Jiwoo securing 7 kills and Lehends contributing 5 kills and 12 assists.
A key turning point came early in the game when BNK faced an unexpected situation that coach Yoo later described as an 'unforeseen accident.' This early mishap allowed NS to snowball their advantage, systematically taking down towers (11 vs. 2) and securing objectives across the map. BNK's support Kellin particularly struggled, ending with a 1-9-4 scoreline that significantly impacted their team's performance.
Game 2: Kingen's Nidalee Masterclass
The second game featured a standout performance from Kingen on Nidalee in the top lane – only the second top Nidalee pick of the 2025 season after Zeus's earlier selection. Facing off against a Sion, Kingen executed the matchup brilliantly, applying constant pressure and creating side lane advantages throughout the 29-minute game.
NS continued their dominance with a 15-3 kill advantage and a substantial gold lead of 58.6k vs. 47.9k. Fisher in the mid lane stepped up with a 3-1-10 performance, while Jiwoo remained flawless with a 6-0-6 scoreline. The coordination between Gideon (1-1-9) and Lehends (3-1-9) was particularly noteworthy, as they facilitated plays across the map.
BNK's mid laner VicLa had a difficult game, going 0-3-1. Coach Yoo later mentioned a critical moment when VicLa lost his Flash and subsequently died in mid lane, which was a turning point where BNK should have been more aggressive but instead collapsed under pressure.
Kingen: The Humble Veteran Leading NS's Resurgence
In his post-match interview, Kingen displayed remarkable humility despite his stellar performance. "I don't think my individual form has improved. It feels like Gideon and Lehends are giving me wings. That's why I might appear to be performing well," he stated, crediting his teammates for his success.
Regarding the match against BNK, Kingen noted, "BNK prefers aggressive play, with their bottom lane usually being the foundation for their plays. Nongshim has the opposite style, with me as the top laner often having more aggressive picks and plays. I wanted to create a clear exchange dynamic, and things worked out as planned."
On his Nidalee pick, Kingen explained, "It's a predictable champion. The main strategy is to gain lane advantage and then target the side lanes later. It's similar to top Fiora. The outcome varies depending on the player's proficiency. Details like spear accuracy and positioning after crossing walls are crucial."
Community Reactions: Praise for NS, Concerns for BNK
The Reddit community's reaction to the match was overwhelmingly positive for Nongshim while expressing concern about BNK's performance. Many fans praised Lehends for his innovative support play, with one commenter noting, "Lehends and Keria are alternating in their efforts to shake up the LCK support champion pool with their unique strategies."
BNK received harsh criticism, particularly regarding VicLa's performance. One fan commented, "BNK's performance is remarkably poor, almost to the point of being noteworthy. If they continue with Vicla on the roster, they might end up as the worst team in LCK history." Others defended Diable as a bright spot on the team, suggesting that with better mid lane performance, BNK could improve significantly.
Korean community sites like Inven and DCInside showed similar reactions, with many fans expressing surprise at Nongshim's continued strong performance this season compared to their 8th place (5W-13L) finish in Summer 2024.
Looking Ahead: BNK Faces DN FREECS, NS Aims Higher
Following this defeat, BNK FEARX is scheduled to face the bottom-ranked DN FREECS on April 26. Coach Yoo acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating, "If we perform like we did today, it won't be easy," and promised to prepare diligently for the match.
For Nongshim, this victory represents another step in their remarkable transformation this season. After reaching the semifinals in the 2025 LCK Cup and now sitting at 4-3 in the regular season, expectations are rising. However, Kingen remains grounded: "When everyone on the team views the game from the same perspective, I believe we can beat any team. But we're not in a position to discuss that right now. We're still lacking. We need to be more humble, unite internally, and improve our skills."
He concluded with cautious optimism: "Currently, Nongshim is a team that can lose at any time but also win. It depends on how we develop. We have enough confidence." This balanced perspective reflects the team's mature approach as they continue their journey in the 2025 LCK Spring Split.