Nongshim RedForce's Dominant 2-0 Victory Over DN Freecs: Jiwoo's Perfect Game Steals the Show
Nongshim RedForce Takes Commanding Victory Against DN Freecs
In a highly anticipated matchup on April 5, 2025, Nongshim RedForce continued their impressive run in the LCK Spring Split with a convincing 2-0 victory over DN Freecs. This victory propels Nongshim to the top of the group standings, showcasing their growing strength as serious contenders this season. The match featured exceptional performances across both games, particularly from Nongshim's bot laner Jiwoo, who delivered a perfect KDA in the second game that had fans and analysts alike singing his praises.
This series further cements Nongshim RedForce's position as one of the teams to watch in the LCK 2025 season, while raising serious questions about DN Freecs' form and strategic direction moving forward. Let's dive into the details of this captivating series that demonstrated the growing gap between the middle-tier teams in Korea's premier League of Legends competition.
Game 1: Strategic Superiority from Nongshim RedForce
The first game of the series lasted 44 minutes, with Nongshim RedForce taking a calculated victory through superior macro play. NS drafted a well-rounded composition with Kingen on Rumble in the top lane, GIDEON on Naafiri in the jungle, Fisher on Azir in mid, Jiwoo on Kai'Sa as ADC, and Lehends on Leona as support. This balanced combination offered strong teamfighting capability with multiple engage options.
DN Freecs responded with DuDu on Jayce top, Pyosik playing Vi in the jungle, BuLLDoG on Taliyah mid, Berserker on Corki ADC, and Life on Rakan support. Their composition aimed for pick potential and poke damage, but lacked the cohesive teamfighting that Nongshim's lineup provided.
The early game remained relatively even with both teams trading objectives across the map. DuDu's Jayce was a standout performer for DN Freecs, finishing with an impressive 9-3-9 KDA and creating significant pressure in the top lane. However, as the game progressed into the mid and late phases, Jiwoo's Kai'Sa began to take over teamfights, ultimately finishing with a dominant 9-3-5 scoreline.
The decisive moment came around the 38-minute mark when Nongshim secured a crucial Baron buff after winning a teamfight near the pit. This advantage allowed them to systematically break open DN Freecs' base and close out the game with a final gold lead of 87.4k to 83.8k, despite DN Freecs securing slightly more kills (22-20).
Game 2: Jiwoo's Perfect Performance Seals the Deal
If Game 1 showed Nongshim's strategic prowess, Game 2 was a pure display of individual brilliance from their bot laner Jiwoo. Nongshim adjusted their draft, selecting Kingen on Gnar for top lane, GIDEON (listed as Sylvie in some reports) on Skarner in jungle, Fisher on Galio mid, Jiwoo on Zeri ADC, and Lehends on Nautilus support. This composition focused on enabling Jiwoo's Zeri with multiple forms of engage and peel.
DN Freecs opted for DuDu on Aatrox top, Pyosik on Xin Zhao jungle, BuLLDoG on Ahri mid, Berserker on Ezreal ADC, and Life on Rell support. Their composition offered dive potential but lacked the damage consistency that Nongshim's draft provided.
From the opening minutes, Jiwoo showcased exceptional positioning and mechanical precision on Zeri. Despite DN's attempts to shut him down, he consistently outmaneuvered his opponents in teamfights. The mid-game phase saw Nongshim take control through superior objective control, with GIDEON's Skarner creating pick opportunities that allowed Jiwoo to clean up fights.
The most impressive aspect of the game was Jiwoo's flawless performance, finishing with an extraordinary 14-0-7 KDA. His perfect positioning and damage output made it impossible for DN Freecs to win any significant teamfight. The game concluded after 39 minutes with Nongshim holding a substantial gold lead of 79.4k to 70.9k and a decisive kill advantage of 22 to 15.
Key Players: Jiwoo's Star Turn
While several players performed admirably across both games, Jiwoo emerged as the undisputed MVP of the series. His performances on Kai'Sa in Game 1 (9-3-5) and particularly his perfect 14-0-7 Zeri game were the primary factors in Nongshim's victory. What made his Zeri performance especially remarkable was not just the flawless KDA, but the way he controlled teamfights, consistently outputting damage while remaining untouchable to DN Freecs' dive attempts.
For DN Freecs, Berserker showed glimpses of his potential despite the team's struggles. He maintained solid performances on both Corki (6-2-11) and Ezreal (7-2-5), suggesting that DN Freecs might find more success if they can better enable their bot laner in future matches.
GIDEON's jungle performance for Nongshim deserves special mention as well. His Skarner play in Game 2 was particularly effective, creating crucial pick opportunities with 16 assists that enabled Jiwoo to shine. The synergy between GIDEON and Fisher's Galio (13 assists) demonstrated Nongshim's improving team coordination as they rise in the standings.
Strategic Evolution: Nongshim's Growing Strength
Nongshim RedForce's victory showcased their strategic evolution since the beginning of the season. Their draft adaptations between games demonstrated a deep champion pool and flexibility in approach. In Game 1, they leaned on Fisher's Azir and Jiwoo's Kai'Sa as dual carries, while Game 2 saw them fully commit to a protect-the-Zeri composition that maximized Jiwoo's impact.
The team's improved objective control was evident throughout both games. They secured key neutral objectives at critical moments, particularly in Game 2 where their vision control allowed them to dictate the pace of the match. This marks a significant improvement from their earlier performances in the season, where objective setups were sometimes lacking.
For DN Freecs, the series highlighted consistent issues with their teamfight execution and strategic direction. Despite individual bright spots like DuDu's Jayce in Game 1 and Berserker's performances across both games, they struggled to translate individual advantages into cohesive teamfighting. This has been a recurring theme for the team throughout the 2025 Spring Split, suggesting deeper systemic issues that need addressing.
Fan Reactions: Growing Support for Nongshim
The Korean community's reaction to Nongshim's victory was predominantly positive, with particular praise for Jiwoo's performance. Comments on Reddit and other platforms highlighted excitement about Nongshim's trajectory, with fans expressing hope that they could maintain this form into the playoffs. One fan noted, "Absolutely, let's support Jiwoo! It's crucial for him to keep up his steady performance. Come on, Nongshim, let's make it to the Legends group!"
DN Freecs supporters expressed disappointment with their team's showing, with comments like "DNF is really disappointing! I recall how hopeful I was about them at the beginning of the season." Some fans called for coaching changes, with one commenter suggesting, "Let's bring CvMax back! The team was definitely more engaging under his leadership."
There was also discussion about champion balance, particularly regarding Zeri. Despite Jiwoo's impressive performance, some viewers found the champion itself underwhelming to watch, with one Reddit user commenting, "Honestly, Zeri continues to be dull to watch even after all this time. Jiwoo performed admirably, but Kaisa brought far more excitement compared to this tedious champion."
Post-Match Interviews: Confidence and Reflection
In the post-match interview, Jiwoo addressed his perfect Game 2 performance with characteristic humility: "I'm grateful to my teammates for creating so much space for me to operate. GIDEON and Fisher were setting up perfect engages that made my job much easier. I just had to position correctly and follow up on their plays."
When asked about Nongshim's rise to the top of the group standings, team captain Lehends expressed measured optimism: "We're taking it one match at a time. Today's victory is important, but consistency is what matters in the LCK. We've made significant improvements in our communication and objective setup since the beginning of the split, but we still have areas to refine before playoffs."
From DN Freecs' side, coach Kim acknowledged the team's struggles: "We need to address our teamfight coordination issues. Individually, players like Berserker and DuDu are performing well, but we're not translating those advantages into cohesive late-game decision making. We'll be reviewing these games carefully and making adjustments before our next match."
Berserker, despite the loss, maintained a positive outlook: "It's frustrating to lose when I feel like I'm playing well, but this is a team game. We need to improve our synergy and communication in high-pressure situations. I believe in our roster's potential, but we need to work harder to realize it."
Looking Ahead: Playoff Implications
This victory positions Nongshim RedForce at the top of their group in the LCK 2025 Spring Split, significantly strengthening their playoff prospects. With their balanced playstyle and Jiwoo's emergence as a elite carry threat, they present a challenging matchup for any team in the league. Their next match against T1 will be particularly telling about their championship potential.
For DN Freecs, this defeat raises serious questions about their playoff hopes. Currently sitting in the lower half of the standings, they'll need to address their teamfighting and strategic issues quickly if they hope to make a late-season push. Their upcoming match against BNK FearX becomes nearly must-win for their postseason aspirations.
As the LCK 2025 Spring Split progresses into its crucial middle phase, the gap between top contenders and middle-tier teams appears to be widening. Nongshim's ascension suggests they belong in the former category, while DN Freecs must fight to avoid slipping into the latter. With several weeks of competition still remaining, both teams have time to evolve, but Nongshim's trajectory clearly points upward after this convincing series victory.
Contextual Significance: Roster Changes Bearing Fruit
To fully appreciate Nongshim RedForce's rise, it's important to understand the context of their roster construction. After a disappointing 2024 season, the organization underwent significant changes, most notably acquiring veteran support Lehends from Gen.G. This move was met with mixed reactions initially, as some fans questioned whether Lehends could maintain his high level of play outside the star-studded Gen.G environment.
The acquisition of Jiwoo, a relatively unproven talent at the LCK level, was similarly questioned. Today's performance serves as validation for Nongshim's scouting department and management, demonstrating their ability to identify and develop talent effectively. The synergy between Lehends' veteran presence and Jiwoo's mechanical skill has created one of the most formidable bot lanes in the current LCK.
For international fans less familiar with the LCK ecosystem, this match represents the league's traditional strength in developing new talent while maximizing veteran contributions. The story of Nongshim's 2025 campaign thus far exemplifies the region's resilience and depth, as new contenders continue to emerge and challenge the established hierarchy in Korean League of Legends.