DK’s Quest for Victory: A 21st Attempt to Overcome the ‘Genji Wall’
For Dplus KIA (DK), formerly known as DAMWON Gaming, 2022 marked the beginning of a frustrating rivalry with Gen.G. What started after DK’s 2012 World Championship runner-up finish has evolved into a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Despite repeated attempts, DK consistently fell short against Gen.G, losing ten matches with the pairing of ‘Canyon’ Kim Geon-bu and ‘ShowMaker’ Heo Su and another ten after ‘Canyon’ joined Gen.G. This losing streak has earned Gen.G the moniker of a “wall” for DK.
The ‘North Expedition’ Meme and the Road to the Playoffs
Fans have playfully compared DK’s struggle against Gen.G to the historical military campaigns of Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi during China’s Three Kingdoms period, dubbing their matchups the “North Expedition.” ‘ShowMaker’ Heo Su even predicted that DK would embark on their 21st “North Expedition” against Gen.G, a prediction that came to fruition.
DK secured their place in the playoffs after a hard-fought 3-2 victory against DRX on February 13th, 2026, overcoming a mid-game slump thanks to the veteran leadership of ‘ShowMaker’ Heo Su. This win propelled them to the playoff round of 8, where they will face Gen.G on February 14th in a best-of-five series.
‘ShowMaker’s’ Performance and Victory Sentiment
‘ShowMaker’ Heo Su, recognized as the Player of the Match (POM) for his performance with champions Joy, Taliah, and Twisted Fate, expressed his relief after the DRX match. “They seemed to have prepared a strategy specifically for us in just six days. It wasn’t easy, but I’m really happy we won,” he stated in the post-match LCK interview.
Acknowledging the unexpected full-set battle, despite predictions of a 3-0 or 3-1 victory, ‘ShowMaker’ explained, “We attempt to gauge our opponents in the first game of a series. We anticipated it might go this long. DRX came at us with aggressive initiations, and their willingness to take risks made it more challenging. By the fifth game, I just really wanted to win. Focusing on that desire helped me play well.”
Reflecting on his performance with Joy in the second game, where he recorded over 66,000 damage, ‘ShowMaker’ noted, “I expected Sylas to go top lane when I picked Joy, but he went mid. That’s why I chose ignite. Joy’s value drops off in the late game, but I felt it went well, and the damage graph confirmed it wasn’t bad.”
Looking Ahead: The 21st ‘North Expedition’
Despite a recent 0-2 loss to Gen.G, ‘ShowMaker’ remains confident. With limited preparation time before their February 14th match, he boldly declared their readiness for the 21st “North Expedition.” “This time, we’ll really try to win. We’ll prepare well and do our best against Gen.G.”
Did you know?
The term “North Expedition” originates from a historical period in China, symbolizing a difficult and repeated attempt to overcome a strong adversary.
FAQ
Q: What is the ‘Genji Wall’?
A: It’s a term used by fans to describe Gen.G’s consistent victories over DK, making them a difficult opponent to overcome.
Q: What is the ‘North Expedition’?
A: A meme referencing historical military campaigns, used to describe DK’s repeated attempts to defeat Gen.G.
Q: When will DK play Gen.G in the playoffs?
A: February 14th, 2026, in a best-of-five series.
Q: Who was named Player of the Match after the DRX game?
A: ‘ShowMaker’ Heo Su.
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