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Dplus KIA
Dplus KIA
Dplus KIA
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Dplus KIA (DK), formerly known as DWG KIA and DAMWON Gaming (abbr. DWG), is a South Korean professional esports organization. Its League of Legends team competes in the LCK, the top-level league for the game in South Korea.

Key Information

Dplus KIA won their first LCK title on 5 September 2020 after defeating DRX in the 2020 LCK summer finals.[1][2][3] Eight weeks later on 31 October 2020, Damwon won the 2020 World Championship after a dominant run through the group and knockout stages and a 3–1 victory over Suning in the grand finals.[4]

History

[edit]

2017

[edit]
DAMWON Gaming logo
(2017–2020)

DAMWON Gaming was formed on 28 May 2017 by computer manufacturer Damwon after it acquired the Challengers Korea team Mirage Gaming.[5] The team's initial roster consisted of top laner Lee "Parang" Sang-won, jungler Kim "Crush" Jun-seo, mid laner Kim "TRY" Yeong-hoon, bot laner Cho "BeryL" Geon-hee, and support Ryu "Hoit" Ho-seong. Despite a strong start and the addition of mid laner Park "CooN" Jae-ha midway through the summer split, Damwon Gaming finished fifth in the regular season. The roster was subsequently revamped, with Jang "Nuguri" Ha-gwon, Noh "Alive" Jin-wook, and newcomer Heo "ShowMaker" Su replacing Parang, BeryL, and TRY respectively. The new roster did not see much success at the 2017 LoL KeSPA Cup, and so jungler Son "Punch" Min-hyuk and bot laner Kim "Veritas" Kyoung-min were brought in for the 2018 Spring Split.

2018

[edit]

During the spring regular season, BeryL briefly played for DAMWON Gaming as a substitute bot laner before swapping to support. DAMWON Gaming finished second in the regular season but lost to Ever8 Winners in the first round of playoffs. Crush, Alive, and Veritas left the team shortly afterwards, and bot laner Shin "Nuclear" Jeong-hyeon joined the team to fill in the bot laner position.

DAMWON Gaming dominated the summer regular season, finishing first and losing only a single series to Team BattleComics. DAMWON Gaming later qualified for the LCK after defeating Team BattleComics in the first qualifying match of the 2019 spring promotion tournament.[6]

Rookie jungler Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu was signed to the team prior to the 2018 LoL KeSPA Cup, which he debuted in. DAMWON Gaming was eliminated in the second round of the tournament by Griffin and ended third to fourth. Top laner Lee "Flame" Ho-jong joined DAMWON Gaming as a substitute player after he returned to South Korea from the United States, where he competed for two years. Bot laner Lee "Aries" Chae-hwan also joined from BBQ Olivers, which DAMWON Gaming helped relegate in the aforementioned promotion tournament.

2019

[edit]
DAMWON players competing in 2019 LCK Spring

DAMWON Gaming finished fifth in the spring regular season and fourth in playoffs after losing the third-place match to Kingzone DragonX. Despite receiving praise for his performance in the regular season, Flame was never subbed in during playoffs, a decision which earned the team considerable criticism from fans.[7]

DAMWON Gaming was one of four LCK teams that participated in Rift Rivals 2019; the LCK won the tournament after defeating China's LPL in the playoff stage. The team retained their entire roster for the summer split and finished second in the regular season and third in playoffs, losing to SKT T1 in the third round. DAMWON Gaming later defeated Kingzone DragonX in the final match of the regional finals to qualify for the play-in stage of the 2019 World Championship.[8] This was the first time where a team qualified for both the LCK and Worlds in the same year.[9]

DAMWON Gaming was drafted into Group D of the play-in stage, along with Turkish team Royal Youth and Brazilian team Flamengo Esports. The team finished top of their group undefeated,[10] and later qualified for the main event after defeating Vietnamese team Lowkey Esports in one of the qualifying matches.

DAMWON Gaming was drafted into Group D of the main event as well, along with China's Invictus Gaming, North America's Team Liquid, and Taiwan's ahq eSports Club. The team once again finished top of their group,[11] but were knocked out of the tournament by Europe's G2 Esports in the quarterfinals.[12]

DRX (formerly Kingzone DragonX), which had introduced several rookies to its roster prior to the 2019 LoL KeSPA Cup, eliminated DAMWON Gaming from the tournament in the quarterfinals.

2020

[edit]

Despite their performance in the 2019 LoL KeSPA Cup, Damwon's roster was kept in its entirety going into the 2020 spring split. Damwon later added Jang "Ghost" Yong-jun, an AD Carry player, to their roster in February. The team finished fifth in the regular season and fourth in playoffs, falling to DRX once again in a close series. DAMWON Gaming was one of three LCK teams that participated in the 2020 Mid-Season Cup; the team did not make it out of the group stage and finished fifth to sixth.

Without making any roster changes once again, Damwon placed first in the summer regular season with only two series losses, qualifying the team for the summer finals automatically. DAMWON Gaming swept DRX in the finals and won their first LCK title on 5 September.[1][2][3]

On 31 October, DAMWON Gaming defeated Suning 3–1 in the 2020 World Championship finals to become world champions.[4] Mid-laner Heo "ShowMaker" Su famously remarked "Shanghai library!" as they claimed the match win, acknowledging the stunned silence that their dominant victory had left the Chinese home crowd in.[13]

DAMWON Gaming announced in late December that it had partnered with Kia Motors and would rebrand as DWG KIA prior to the 2021 LCK season.[14]

2021

[edit]
DWG KIA logo
(2021–2022)

Coming into the 2021 season, Damwon Kia made changes to their roster by promoting one of its academy players, Kim "RangJun" Sang-joon as its midlaner, sharing the position with ShowMaker. They also replaced their star top-laner Nuguri with Kim "Khan" Dong-ha as he departed to FPX.[15][16] Nonetheless, they won the 2020 KeSPA Cup on 2 January 2021, sweeping Nongshim RedForce in the finals.

Damwon Kia ended the 2021 Spring Split regular season in first place with a record of 16–2. They were locked into the playoff semifinals against HLE, sweeping them and qualifying for their second LCK finals. They were met by Gen.G in the 2021 spring playoff finals on 10 April, ending the series with another sweep against their opponents. This gave Damwon their second LCK title, punching their ticket to the 2021 Mid-Season Invitational.[17]

Damwon Kia finished their group stage with a 5–1 record with one loss against NA's Cloud9 in the 2021 Mid-Season Invitational group stage. They headed into the Rumble Stage, dropping 2 games to China's Royal Never Give Up, ending with a 8–2 record. This gave them the 1st seed heading into the playoffs and they chose Europe's MAD Lions as their semifinals opponent, managing to narrowly beat them 3–2 to lock in a spot at the 2021 Mid-Season Invitational final on 23 May, facing off against China's Royal Never Give Up, the same team they dropped two games against in the Rumble Stage. Damwon Kia ended up losing the close series with a score of 3–2, crowning China's Royal Never Give Up their second MSI title.[18]

Damwon Kia continued their strong form during the 2021 Summer Split, having a 12-6 record in the regular season, before defeating T1 3-0 in the finals to secure a spot in the 2021 League of Legends World Championship.[19] They finished their group stage during the event with a perfect 6–0 run, completely dominating all competition. In the quarterfinals stage, they faced off against the European team MAD Lions, sweeping them 3–0, continuing their perfect run. Their perfect run would be ended in the semifinals by a fellow Korean team, three time world champions T1, who would become the first team to take games off Damwon, though Damwon did win the series 3–2.[20] In the final match, they faced China's Edward Gaming, who defeated them in a very close 3–2 series.[21][22]

2022

[edit]
DWG KIA at 2022 Worlds Media Day

The team went through various changes before the start of the regular season, with Ghost and BeryL departing the roster, while Khan announced his retirement from professional play as a result of mandatory military service in South Korea. To replace them, the team signed Seo "deokdam" Dae-gil and Kim "Kellin" Hyeong-gyu from Nongshim RedForce, along with top laners Noh "Burdol" Tae-yoon and Yoon "Hoya" Yong-ho. Damwon finished third in the 2022 Spring regular season with a 11–7 record. During the playoffs, The team swept Fredit Brion in the quarterfinals before losing 2–3 to Gen.G in the semifinals, finishing third to fourth overall.[citation needed]

In April 2022, DWG KIA announced the return of Nuguri, while Hoya departed from the active roster a month later.[23] The team put up a similar performance to Spring, finishing 4th following a loss against T1.[24] Due to their combined results, DWG KIA qualified for the Regional Finals, where they secured the third seed for the 2022 League of Legends World Championship by beating Liiv SANDBOX.[25] They finished second in their group, eliminating Evil Geniuses and G2 Esports, before losing their quarter finals match against fellow Korean team Gen.G.[26]

Rosters

[edit]

League of Legends

[edit]
Dplus KIA League of Legends roster
Players Coaches
Role Handle Name Nationality
Top Siwoo Jeon Si-woo South Korea
Jungle Lucid Choi Yong-hyeok South Korea
Mid ShowMaker Heo Su South Korea
Bot Aiming Kim Ha-ram South Korea
Support BeryL Cho Geon-hee South Korea
Head coach

Bae "Bengi" Seong-woong

Assistant coach(es)

Ha "Hachani" Seung-chan
Lee "PoohManDu" Jeong-kyun

Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Substitute player Substitute
  • Injured Injury / Illness
  

Roster updated 25 November 2024.

Tournament results

[edit]
Placement Event Final result (W–L)
5th 2017 CK Summer Split 7–7
9th–12th 2017 KeSPA Cup 0–2 (against Jin Air Green Wings)
2nd 2018 CK Spring Split 11–3
3rd 2018 CK Spring Playoffs 1–3 (against Ever8 Winners)
1st 2018 CK Summer Split 13–1
Qualified 2019 LCK Spring Promotion 3–1 (against Team BattleComics)
3rd–4th 2018 KeSPA Cup 0–3 (against Griffin)
5th 2019 LCK Spring Split 11–7
4th 2019 LCK Spring Playoffs 0–3 (against Kingzone DragonX)
1st Rift Rivals 2019 LCK-LPL-LMS-VCS 3–1 (against LPL)
2nd 2019 LCK Summer Split 13–5
3rd 2019 LCK Summer Playoffs 0–3 (against SKT T1)
1st 2019 LCK Regional Finals 12–4
5th–8th 2019 World Championship 1–3 (against G2 Esports)
5th–8th 2019 KeSPA Cup 0–2 (against DRX)
5th 2020 LCK Spring Split 9–9
4th 2020 LCK Spring Playoffs 2–3 (against DRX)
5th–6th 2020 Mid-Season Cup 1–2 (group stage)
1st 2020 LCK Summer Split 16–2
1st 2020 LCK Summer Playoffs 3–0 (against DRX)
1st 2020 World Championship 3–1 (against Suning)
1st 2020 KeSPA Cup ULSAN 3–0 (against Nongshim RedForce)
1st 2021 LCK Spring Split 16–2
1st 2021 LCK Spring Playoffs 3–0 (against Gen.G)
2nd 2021 Mid-Season Invitational 2–3 (against Royal Never Give Up)
1st 2021 LCK Summer Split 12–6
1st 2021 LCK Summer Playoffs 3–1 (against T1)
2nd 2021 World Championship 2–3 (against Edward Gaming)
3rd 2022 LCK Spring Split 11–7
3rd–4th 2022 LCK Spring Playoffs 2–3 (against Gen.G)
4th 2022 LCK Summer Split 10–8
4th 2022 LCK Summer Playoffs 2–3 (against T1)
1st 2019 LCK Regional Finals 3–1 (against Liiv SANDBOX)
5th–8th 2022 World Championship 2–3 (against Gen.G)

Rainbow Six Siege

[edit]
DWG KIA Rainbow Six Siege roster
Players Coaches
Handle Name Nationality
CATsang Heo Se-woong South Korea
yass Yoo Sang-hoon South Korea
coted Jo Sung-joon South Korea
RIN Jang Byeong-uk South Korea
Woogiman Park Jin-wook South Korea
Head coach

Jang "HoundBird" Gwon-jae

Assistant coach(es)

Park "PJH" Jae-hyun

Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Substitute player Substitute
  • Injured Injury / Illness
  

Latest roster transaction: May 31, 2022.

Valorant

[edit]
DWG KIA Valorant roster
Players Coaches
Handle Name Nationality
Esperanza Jeong Jin-cheol South Korea
exy Park Geun-cheol South Korea
allow Park Sang-wook South Korea
Lakia Kim Jong-min South Korea
Estrella Park Gun South Korea
Wenty Yang Geon-mo South Korea
Head coach

Kang "solo" Keun-chul

Assistant coach(es)

Jung "peri" Bum-ki

Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Substitute player Substitute
  • Injured Injury / Illness
  

Latest roster transaction: March 15, 2023.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dplus KIA

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Dplus KIA is a South Korean professional organization headquartered in , specializing in competitive teams across multiple video games and sponsored by Motors.
Formerly known as DWG KIA and DAMWON Gaming, the organization rebranded to Dplus KIA in January 2023 to emphasize "limitless connectivity and expansive potential" while retaining the "D" to honor its legacy.
Dplus KIA fields professional rosters in titles such as , VALORANT, Rainbow Six Siege, PUBG, and FC Online, with a focus on the Korean esports scene and global expansion through fan-oriented initiatives.
The organization is best known for its division, which competes in the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) and has achieved significant success, including three LCK titles (the 2020 and 2021 Summer Splits and the 2021 Spring Split) and the 2020 .
Under the Dplus KIA banner, the LoL team has continued to contend in the LCK, securing playoff appearances in recent seasons and nurturing talents like mid laner Heo "ShowMaker" Su through long-term contracts.

Background

Formation and Ownership

Dplus KIA traces its origins to May 2017, when it was established as DAMWON Gaming by the Korean company Damwon, a manufacturer specializing in computers and gaming peripherals. The organization was formed through the acquisition of the existing Challengers Korea team Mirage Gaming, marking Damwon's initial venture into professional esports as part of broader investments in the gaming industry. From its inception, DAMWON Gaming focused on building a foundation in , particularly by entering competitive gaming through a academy team in the Challengers league. The ownership structure at the time was primarily under Damwon's control, emphasizing long-term growth in the esports sector without immediate emphasis on multiple titles. This approach allowed the organization to develop talent and infrastructure steadily. A significant shift occurred in December 2020, when DAMWON Gaming secured a multi-year title sponsorship from Motors, leading to the rebranding as DWG ahead of the 2021 season. 's involvement provided substantial financial backing and branding synergy, with the automaker becoming the primary sponsor while Damwon retained core ownership. In January 2023, the organization underwent another rebrand to Dplus , aligning with corporate evolution under the Dplus brand umbrella, which absorbed Damwon's esports operations. As of 2025, Dplus KIA operates as a of Dplus, with KIA Motors continuing as the title sponsor and no major ownership changes reported since the 2023 . The structure remains centered on Dplus's oversight, supporting multiple divisions while leveraging KIA's sponsorship for visibility and resources.

Sponsorships and Facilities

Dplus KIA's primary sponsorship comes from Motors, which entered a multi-year agreement with the organization—then known as DAMWON Gaming—following its 2020 victory, effective from the 2021 season. This partnership prompted the rebranding to DWG KIA and has provided substantial financial backing, including vehicle branding integration across team assets and events. The organization's sponsorship landscape evolved significantly from its inception. Founded in as DAMWON Gaming, it initially operated on self-funding amid modest beginnings in South Korea's esports scene, competing in challenger leagues without major external support. The 2020 Worlds success attracted high-profile partners, leading to the KIA deal and subsequent expansions; by 2023, a further rebrand to Dplus KIA reflected broader marketing strategies under this sponsorship umbrella, emphasizing global outreach. As of 2025, Dplus KIA maintains a diverse portfolio of partners beyond Motors, including hardware provider for gaming peripherals, footwear brand for apparel collaborations, and emerging platform STIX for fan token initiatives launched that year. Additional collaborations feature Digrebee for expansion efforts, supporting content and community engagement. The organization's operational infrastructure centers on its headquarters in , , located at 73 Dosin-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, within the Damwon Building, which serves as the primary office and hub for team activities. This facility supports a youth development system, providing an optimized environment for player training and talent nurturing across divisions. These sponsorships have directly enabled key operational impacts, including the funding of programs like Dplus KIA Youth for emerging talent and expansions into international titles such as and , broadening the organization's global footprint.

History

Inception and Early Competition (2017–2019)

DAMWON Gaming entered the professional scene in May 2017 when the computer hardware manufacturer acquired the Challengers Korea Summer split slot and roster of the up-and-coming team MiraGe Gaming. The initial lineup featured top laner , jungler Crush, mid laner Boroona, ADC BeryL, a promising bot laner scouted from lower-tier play, and support Hoit, marking the organization's debut as an academy-focused squad dedicated exclusively to . In their inaugural season, the team navigated the competitive landscape with a mid-table finish in the regular season, recording a 7-7 series record and placing fifth overall, which excluded them from amid challenges like roster adjustments following mid laner departures ahead of ancillary events such as the KeSPA Cup. By 2018, DAMWON had established a more stable academy roster, integrating emerging talents like mid laner ShowMaker and ADC Nuclear to bolster their Challengers Korea campaign. The team achieved strong results, securing second place in the Spring split regular season with an 11-3 record before earning third in the playoffs after a 1-3 loss to Ever8 Winners. Their momentum carried into the Summer split, where they dominated the regular season with a near-perfect 13-1 record, but a playoff semifinal defeat to Griffin prevented direct promotion to the LCK. Undeterred, DAMWON succeeded in the subsequent LCK Spring Promotion tournament in September 2018, defeating Team BattleComics 3-1 to secure their entry into the top-tier league for the 2019 season, despite ongoing hurdles like limited funding as a nascent organization and frequent substitutions to refine team synergy. DAMWON's LCK debut in the 2019 Spring split showcased their potential with an 11-7 record, finishing sixth and advancing to the , where they fell in the first round to Kingzone DragonX. Later that year, the team qualified for the 2019 World Championship as the LCK's third seed through the regional qualifiers, defeating Kingzone DragonX 3-2 in the final on , becoming the to earn both LCK promotion and Worlds entry in the same calendar year. At Worlds, they advanced undefeated from the Play-In stage but exited in the group stage with a 3-3 record. Amid a history of modest totaling approximately $164,000 across these formative years.

Breakthrough and Dominance (2020–2021)

In 2020, DAMWON Gaming achieved a historic undefeated run in the LCK Summer regular season, finishing 18-0 to secure the top seed for the . They swept DRX 3-0 in on September 5, claiming their first LCK title and direct qualification as the LCK's top seed to the 2020 . At Worlds, the team dominated the with a perfect 9-0 record across three series—3-0 over in the quarterfinals, 3-0 over in the semifinals, and 3-1 over Suning in on October 31—marking the first time a Korean team went undefeated in the tournament's knockout stage and securing Korea's first Worlds title since 2017. This victory represented DAMWON Gaming's inaugural international trophy, propelled by their core roster of top laner Nuguri, jungler Canyon, mid laner ShowMaker, AD carry , and support BeryL, whose synergistic playstyle emphasized aggressive macro and mechanical precision. Building on their momentum, the organization rebranded as DWG in early 2021 following a sponsorship deal with Motors that facilitated broader expansion efforts. The team added top laner Doran and jungler Haru to the lineup, integrating them alongside ShowMaker, , and BeryL for the Spring split, where they captured their second consecutive LCK title by sweeping 3-0 in the finals on April 10. At MSI 2021, DWG advanced to the grand finals but fell 2-3 to , finishing as runners-up. In the Summer split, they extended their dominance with another 18-0 regular season record before defeating T1 3-1 in the finals on August 28, achieving back-to-back-to-back LCK championships and solidifying their status as the era's premier Korean squad. These triumphs generated over $1 million in across the two years, including $556,250 from the 2020 Worlds win alone, fueling organizational growth such as scouting for a division. The success also expanded their global fanbase, with Worlds 2020 viewership peaking at over 3.8 million concurrent viewers during the finals. Media spotlight intensified, including ' documentary series highlighting their Worlds preparation and run, which showcased the team's rigorous training and cultural impact on the scene.

Rebranding and Challenges (2022–2025)

In 2022, operating as DWG , the organization experienced a transitional year in its flagship division, securing third place in the LCK Spring Split before finishing fifth to sixth in the Summer Split, which resulted in qualification for the 2022 Worlds as the third seed from the LCK but no advancement beyond the group stage. During this period, Dplus expanded into mobile by acquiring the Warriors Esports roster in late 2021 and achieving a regional victory at the PMPS 2022 Fall - Korea, marking their entry into the PUBG Mobile Pro League (PMPL). Concurrently, the organization formed a team to compete in VCT 2022: Korea Stage 1 Challengers, establishing a presence in the Pacific region's competitive scene. The organization underwent a significant in January 2023, changing from DWG KIA to Dplus KIA to enhance global recognition, with the update applying across all divisions including , , and Rainbow Six Siege. In , the team faced challenges, missing the LCK playoffs in both the Spring and Summer Splits amid roster adjustments and inconsistent performances. Diversification efforts yielded successes elsewhere: the division claimed second place at the PMGC 2023 League Stage, contributing to regional dominance, while the Rainbow Six Siege team underwent a revamp to align with the new APAC North League format. Across all divisions, Dplus KIA's total earnings exceeded $200,000 in 2023, reflecting the growing impact of these expansions. By 2024, the League of Legends team stabilized with mid-table finishes in the LCK, including a second-place showing at the KeSPA Cup, though it continued to grapple with top-tier contention. The squad achieved a major milestone by winning the PMGC 2024 on December 8 against Regnum Carya, securing $457,250 in prize money and highlighting the division's international prowess. In , the team competed in the VCT 2024 Korea Challengers, reaching the playoffs in Stage 1 but not advancing to the , while the Rainbow Six roster qualified for Six Korea and competed in the APAC League, finishing second in Stage 1 playoffs. As of November 2025, Dplus KIA's division earned third place at the LCK Cup and second at the Invitational, amid ongoing roster changes and fan scrutiny over inconsistent results. The team added A-Tier victories, including the PUBG Pro Series Korea Season 2, bolstering the organization's resilience following the absence from Worlds contention since 2022. Broader developments included expansions to the academy program for talent development and initiatives through Dplus Media for , such as branded videos and streaming partnerships, to engage fans across titles. In January 2025, the Rainbow Six Siege division released its roster and recruited a Brazilian lineup for the APAC League, finishing 2nd in Stage 1.

League of Legends Division

Current Roster and Staff

As of November 18, 2025, Dplus KIA's roster is in transition following the 2025 offseason. Confirmed active players include top laner Jeon "Siwoo" Si-woo, who joined the team in November 2024 after playing for , bringing experience from multiple LCK seasons; jungler Choi "Lucid" Yong-hyeok, acquired in the 2023 offseason and noted for his versatile playstyle in high-pressure matches; and mid laner and captain Heo "ShowMaker" Su, a long-time member since 2019 who has earned multiple honors for his mechanical prowess and game-carrying ability. On November 17, 2025, the team parted ways with AD carry Kim "Aiming" Ha-ram, who had transferred in November 2023 and contributed steady damage output in bot lane duels, and support Cho "BeryL" Geon-hee, who had returned to the organization in November 2024 after stints with other LCK teams, leveraging his veteran shotcalling from prior championship runs. The bot lane positions are currently vacant pending further announcements for the 2026 season. The team maintains a core around ShowMaker, echoing the dominant mid-jungle synergy from their 2020 Worlds-winning lineup, though the current iteration follows a post-2024 rebuild focused on integrating fresh top laners for improved early-game stability, now extended by recent changes. No active substitutes are listed on the main roster, though academy prospects like Kim "Sharvel" Dan-woo provide depth through the Challengers squad. The coaching staff has undergone recent changes, with Kim "cvMax" Dae-ho promoted to on November 18, 2025, after joining as an analyst in June 2025 for his data-driven insights. This follows the departure of former Bae "Bengi" Seong-woong, who joined in November 2024 and brought five Worlds titles from his playing career with SKT T1 to guide macro strategies, along with coaches Ha "Hachani" Seung-chan and Lee "PoohManDu" Jeong-hyeon, both onboard since November 2024 to refine player fundamentals and scouting.

Notable Achievements and Records

Dplus KIA, formerly known as DAMWON Gaming and DWG KIA, achieved its most significant milestone by winning the 2020 in its debut season in the LCK, marking the first time an LCK team accomplished this feat. The team defeated Suning 3-1 in the grand finals after going undefeated in the knockout stage, securing series wins of 3-0 against in the quarterfinals and 3-0 against DRX in the semifinals. This victory earned them over $1,000,000 in , the highest single-tournament haul in the organization's history. Canyon was named Finals MVP for his standout performances, particularly on carry junglers like Kindred in the decisive game. In domestic competition, Dplus KIA secured three consecutive LCK titles from 2020 to 2021, winning the 2020 Summer Split, 2021 Spring Split, and 2021 Summer Split, establishing a period of dominance in the league. During the 2021 season, the team recorded a 16-game win streak across regular season and playoffs, showcasing exceptional consistency. Canyon earned multiple LCK MVP awards during this era, including the 2021 Spring Regular Season MVP and the 2019 Summer Split MVP from his earlier tenure. On the international stage, Dplus KIA reached the runners-up position at the 2021 , falling 2-3 to in the after a hard-fought 3-2 semifinal victory over . The team advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2022 , where they were eliminated 0-3 by . In 2025, they finished second at the Asia Invitational, losing 2-3 to BNK FearX in the grand finals after navigating a competitive group stage. As of November 2025, the League of Legends division has amassed approximately $2.02 million in total earnings from 47 tournaments, reflecting sustained success across regional and global events.

Other Esports Divisions

PUBG Mobile Division

The division of Dplus KIA was established in 2021 under the organization's expansion into mobile , with the team—then competing as DAMWON Gaming—securing a first-place finish in the PMGC 2021 League East Finals on December 24. Following the organization's rebranding to Dplus KIA in January 2023, the division rebuilt its lineup starting in 2022, including the addition of key player Go "OSAL" Han-bin on August 30, which propelled them toward regional dominance in Korean and East Asian circuits. This period marked their entry into consistent high-stakes competition, highlighted by early successes in domestic leagues like the PMPS Korea Spring 2022, where they claimed first place and $11,880 in prize money. As of November 2025, the division's active roster features in-game leader Go "OSAL" Han-bin, entry fragger Song "Nolbu" Soo-an, sniper Jung "chpz" Yoo-chan, and support Kim "FOREST" Ryang-woo, with Park "FAVIAN" Sang-cheol serving as head coach in a playing capacity. The team's composition emphasizes coordinated aggression, with OSAL directing bold early-game engagements to control high-loot areas. Post their landmark 2024 victory, the roster has shown remarkable stability, retaining its core members through 2025 to focus on refining tactics amid intensifying global competition. Dplus KIA's squad achieved its pinnacle in 2024 by winning the PMGC Grand Finals on December 8 in , edging out Regnum Carya Bra Esports by one point for 153 total points, three Chicken Dinners, and 94 eliminations, earning $426,000 from the event's $3 million prize pool. This triumph marked their first PMGC world title, building on their 2021 regional success. In 2025, they continued their strong form with first-place finishes in A-Tier events, including the Pro Series Korea Season 2 on September 28, alongside consistent top performances in weekly series and regional qualifiers. The division has amassed $1,709,418 in total earnings across tournaments from 2021 to 2025, renowned for their aggressive drop strategies that prioritize hot zones for rapid eliminations and resource dominance.

Valorant Division

Dplus KIA entered the Valorant esports scene in 2021, joining the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Korea as part of the Challengers league with an initial roster composed primarily of domestic Korean talents, including players like MaKo and Lakia, emphasizing local talent development in the agent-based FPS title. The team quickly established itself in the regional circuit, focusing on the round-based gameplay that distinguishes Valorant from other FPS genres within the organization's portfolio. The division was active through early 2025 but was disbanded in September 2025. The last known roster prior to disbandment included players such as Park "kAyle" Min-kyu and Kim "Felix" Ji-hoon, supported by coaching staff including head coach Seok. This lineup reflected ongoing roster stability amid competitive pressures, with players contributing to a balanced agent composition suited to VCT's high-stakes matches. The team's competitive record includes a 3rd-place finish in the VCT Korea Challengers Split 2 2024. In early 2025, before disbandment, Dplus KIA achieved placements in regional Challengers events and accumulated approximately $143,000 in total earnings from tournaments. These results highlight the division's growth within Korea's ecosystem before its closure. Dplus KIA's playstyle centered on aggressive entry frags, leveraging duelist and initiator synergies for bold site takes, as demonstrated in a notable upset victory over DRX during the 2024 season. Post-2023, the integrated academy prospects into practice rotations and expanded international efforts to bolster depth, aligning with broader expansion goals. The division was disbanded in September 2025.

Rainbow Six Siege Division

The Rainbow Six Siege division of Dplus KIA entered the competitive scene on January 20, 2021, when the organization, then known as DWG KIA, acquired the roster of GC Busan Spear to establish its professional team. This move marked the division's debut in the APAC League North Division, where the team quickly adapted to the regional circuit. The division underwent a significant in early 2023 alongside the organization's shift from Damwon Gaming to Dplus, aligning with the launch of the League (also referred to as Six Korea League), a dedicated national circuit organized by to bolster Korean infrastructure. As of November 2025, Dplus KIA's active Rainbow Six Siege roster consists of a fully Brazilian lineup acquired in February 2025 to strengthen their APAC competitiveness: Dyjair "Mity" Soares (IGL), Nicolas "NearZ" Fresnel, Kaique "Faallz" Stephano Moreira, "Bullet1" Victor Santos De Souza, and Juliano "Levy" Andrade dos Santos. This roster overhaul was aimed at preparing for international qualifiers, including the BLAST R6 Major , where the team secured qualification through the League 2025 Major Qualifier by finishing third. The division's key achievements highlight consistent regional success. At the Six Invitational 2022, Dplus KIA (as DWG KIA) advanced to the group stage, drawing a peak viewership of 124,181, underscoring their growing international presence in the APAC scene. In 2023, following the rebrand and entry into the League, they dominated domestically by winning both Stage 1 and Stage 2, establishing themselves as a powerhouse in Korean play. The team placed third in the 2024 APAC League playoffs and achieved a top-four finish in the 2025 League season, contributing to total earnings exceeding $593,000 across tournaments. These results reflect the division's focus on tactical depth in operator selection and site defense, particularly against Japanese opponents in APAC North matchups, where they have maintained a strong win rate.

References

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