The Dive | Driven by Kia - A League of Legends Esports Podcast

On this episode of The Dive Driven by Kia, our hosts welcome Dardoch back to the LCS. With his history on a… not insignificant number of teams, the question remains: has he truly changed? Tune in to Dignitas' match on Sunday to find out!

Another blast from the past just warped in: Triumphant Ryze! Riot has updated its LoL Esports Community Guidelines, making it easier than ever to organize grassroots tournaments. Along with those changes, the exclusive champion skin has returned as a reward— your very own in-game trophy. Meteos also shared some of his own experiences competing in community events and even pitched the idea of an ARAM Mayhem tournament… so who’s going to make it happen?!

Interested in running your own tournament? Click the link below to learn more:

https://lolesports.com/en-US/news/lol-esports-community-competition-guidelines

Last but never least, Azael, Kobe, and Meteos recapped last week’s matches, broke down two standout plays, and shared their own analysis of the pros’ decision making. Looking ahead, they made their predictions for this week’s games as teams continue their push toward Finals in Georgia— and ultimately, a spot at Worlds.

Thanks for tuning in and we’ll see you in chat!

Timestamps:

0:00 - “Hello Dardoch, Goodbye Exyu”

12:37 - LoL Esports Community Guidelines Update

22:17 - DIG vs C9 Recap

32:51 - DSG vs FLY Recap

45:19 - SR vs LYON Recap

1:03:46 - TLAW vs SEN Recap

1:17:38 - Summer Week 3 Lookahead

Welcome back to The Dive Driven by Kia! This week, Azael, Kobe and Meteos give their thoughts on League Classic, Patch 26.15 and Summer Week 1 Matches. This episode kicked off with a discussion on the most recent patch. While there was an entire dissertation of adjustments, we can thank RiotPhroxzon for his thorough summary (https://x.com/RiotPhroxzon/status/2082516264170447262). A key point: Locke, our newest champion, has had some changes (ahem, nerfs.)

After, our hosts recapped the LCS matches from this past week. The FLY vs LYON series was an absolute bloodbath (despite Armao subbing in for Inspired), while DIG was able to take a game off of Sentinels and avoid a clean sweep. TL’s Quid showed us just why Locke needed those nerfs, and our hosts remain confused about Cloud9 Kia’s 7-man roster.

Azael, Kobe, and Meteos leave us with one final question to ponder ahead of this week’s matches: what does “underdog” even mean?? Leave your best guesses in the comments below!

Tickets to the Summer Finals in Georgia are going quickly, don’t miss your chance to the Championship LIVE! https://www.ticketmaster.com/lcs-summer-finals-twoday-bundle-duluth-georgia-10-03-2026/event/0E0064F0E6BF3CB6

Timestamps:

0:00 - League Classic

10:27 - RiotPhroxzon’s Patch Breakdown

26:10 - Patch 26.15

40:43 - Summer Finals Tickets are on sale now!

41:45 - FLY vs LYON Recap

54:38 - DIG vs SEN Recap

1:07:05 - TLAW vs C9 Recap

1:25:29 - SR vs DSG Recap

1:33:34 - Week 2 Predictions

Welcome back to the Dive Driven by Kia! In this episode, we talk League Classic, the upcoming TSM vs CLG Showmatch, and Summer Split Power Rankings with special guest Emily Rand! 

Kobe, Meteos and Emily kicked off with some nostalgia as they give their thoughts on League Classic and who they’re excited to see in the upcoming showmatch. Tickets for that are sold out already, but will be streamed right here on the LCS Youtube and Twitch channels.

Next, we jumped into the Summer Split Power Rankings and did a  deep dive into each team’s status going into the split. With LYON’s Inspired taking a break, will this upcoming match give FlyQuest the chance to make a move against them? Can Shopify Rebellion finally create a team of NA superstars? And who will make it to Worlds? Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts and who you think will take the first victory of the split!

Opening week tickets are still available for this Sunday, 07/26! Click the link below to claim your spot and we will see you there!

http://lcs.tixr.com

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro & Welcome to Emily!

2:48 - NA Classic Showmatch

6:32 - Summer Split Power Rankings

9:06 - LYON & Inspired’s Break

16:50 - Team Liquid Alienware Deep Dive

28:56 - Cloud9 Kia Deep Dive

38:25 - FlyQuest Deep Dive

45:24 - LCS tickets for Sunday are still available! http://lcs.tixr.com

45:47 - Sentinels Deep Dive

54:54 - Shopify Rebellion Deep Dive

1:07:32 - Disguised Deep Dive

1:12:21 - Dignitas Deep Dive 

1:16:40 - Opening Week Predictions!

The Dive Driven by Kia comes to you straight from Korea as Azael and Kobe break down the MSI Finals! The gaps between regions continue to shrink, with international series becoming more competitive, longer, and filled with players who can go toe-to-toe in lane. The Finals delivered a thrilling back-and-forth battle, and the hosts were still buzzing from the action. With an unexpected ending, this series quickly earned a spot among Azael’s all-time favorites.

Turning the spotlight to LYON, the team has shown exceptional growth over the past few months. While they didn’t get the opportunity to go up against TOP Esports or T1 at MSI, that chance could come sooner rather than later. The Dive hosts are looking forward to watching LYON’s continued development as they fight to qualify for Worlds. 

The past few days have been an emotional, adrenaline-filled ride, and The Dive will return ahead of the LCS Summer Split! In the meantime, leave a comment below with predictions or questions for Azael, Kobe, and Meteos to discuss on the next episode! We can’t wait to be back home with our LCS teams. See you there!

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro, MSI Finals: BLG vs HLE

7:06 - Drafting at MSI

10:45 - Road to Worlds

20:13 - LYON’s Growth

27:22 - LYON vs HLE

36:47 - LCS is so back!

40:06 - LYON vs G2

*Bracket Stage continues July 8th at 8PM PT with LYON vs TSW, followed by G2 vs T1.

Reporting live from Korea! On this episode of The Dive Driven by Kia, Azael and Kobe break down everything happening at MSI and look ahead to the rest of the tournament.

Our hosts note that, while Pyke may not be a frequent page in LYON’s playbook this split, each game in LYON’s series against BLG remained competitive. When matches come down to clutch moments, they make for some of the most exciting series to spectate. TLAW unfortunately bowed out of MSI, and while T1 definitely taught them some tough lessons, they were still able to put together a dominant series against KC. From there, our hosts shifted their focus to the performances of the other regions, with a particular attention given to Europe.

International experience itself seems to be playing a major role this year, impacting teams from every region. Do those long, rigorous hours competing in front of global audiences against the world’s best truly prepare players for high-pressure moments like these? And can untested rookies make up for that lack of experience and still find success on the international stage?

Looking ahead, only three matches have been decided thus far. First up is TSW vs. LYON, a matchup that could play into LYON’s preferred style (though Pun is looking especially dangerous in the top lane). Next comes G2 vs. T1, where the biggest questions are: Who will rise to the occasion? Which team will adapt its strategies to exploit the other’s weaknesses… if any can be found. Finally, HLE vs. BLG promises to be a fast-paced showdown unlike any other. According to Azael and Kobe, the deciding factor is simple: which talented roster performs better on the day.

To wrap up this episode, our hosts revealed their ideal MSI matchup but tell us in the comments below: what matchup would you like to see before the tournament comes to a close?

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

1:30 - LYON at MSI (so far)

8:40 - Pressure at The Top

15:02 - Play-In Recap (TLAW)

18:24 - Circling Back to LYON

21:59 - TOP Esports

26:29 - Europe’s MSI Showing

31:59 - TSW vs LYON Lookahead

40:32 - G2 vs T1 Lookahead

51:41 - HLE vs BLG Lookahead

Welcome to the MSI Preview presented by The Dive Driven by Kia! If you’ve only been following the LCS so far this year, this episode provides all the background you need as our teams head to Korea and face off against the world’s top talent.

The first game of MSI features TLAW vs T1. T1 has been a consistently dominant force but peak TLAW has pushed them to competitive series in the past. The question is whether TLAW can reach that level once again. Jose, in particular, has been a standout performer this split, but TLAW will need every player firing on all cylinders if they intend to defeat T1 and advance to the bracket stage.

On that note, MSI main-stage brackets have yet to be released. In the meantime, our hosts analyse each region’s no.1 seed. These teams represent the very best their regions have to offer: the sharpest tools in the shed, the brightest bulb on the chandelier, the cream of the crop. The result? Consistently exciting, aggressive, fast-paced, and entertaining matchups between the elite teams. The road ahead will be difficult, but our hosts remain optimistic about LYON’s chances for success.

Azael, Kobe, and Meteos also gave their opinions on the latest and greatest T1 Worlds Skins (and, to quote, “they go hard”). The striking team colors and rich history behind the designs make for detailed and eye-catching skins. Beyond their visual appeal, the skins feature additional sound effects that may just inspire you to play, and win, like T1! As impressive as these fresh skins are, we’re curious about your opinion: do you feel like skins are deviating too far from the original silhouettes of champions? Let us know in the comments below!

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of The Dive Driven by Kia! We’ll be back on July 6th to break down all the action and excitement from the first week of MSI. Until then, enjoy the games, and we’ll see you there!

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro & T1 Worlds Skins Reactions

8:31 - MSI Play-Ins

10:55 - T1 Analysis

23:11 - TLAW vs T1

33:37 - KC vs DCG

47:51 - BLG Analysis

57:52 - TES Analysis

1:07:35 - HLE Analysis

1:15:07 - G2 Esports Analysis

1:22:19 - LYON Analysis

1:27:18 - TSW Analysis

1:32:44 - FURIA Analysis

RiotPhroxzon joins us for a special episode of The Dive Driven by Kia! He shares behind-the-scenes insight into the development of Locke, League’s newest champion, including the core goals that shaped the champion’s design and abilities. Our four hosts also debated whether the new mid-lane assassin is likely to make an impact in professional play or if he’ll be a solo queue menace.

Looking ahead to MSI, the conversation turns to the upcoming patch and how its changes could influence the competitive meta. Fearless Draft remains a major topic of discussion, but the experimentation may be far from over (Freljord-only draft, anyone?).

Azael, Kobe, and Meteos also break down the Arizona Spring Finals. C9 had a difficult series against TLAW, only for TLAW to suffer a similar fate against LYON the following day. While the hosts argue that pro-level games are often decided by team fights, what do you think are the key factors that separate the top teams from the rest?

With the Spring Finals now complete, LYON advances directly to the MSI Bracket Stage, while TLAW heads to the Play-In Stage, where they’ll face T1 on the first day of matches. Be sure to join us next week on The Dive Driven by Kia as we take a closer look at MSI’s Play-In and Bracket Stages. Thanks for tuning in!

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro & Locke w/ RiotPhroxzon

20:28 - MSI Patch

37:47 - Top Lane in Pro Play

44:51 - LCS Spring Finals Recap

47:16 - Cloud9 Kia Spring 2026

1:01:54 - Spring Grand Finals (TLAW vs LYON)

1:23:22 - MSI Play-In Lookahead

This is it… the final Dive Driven by Kia episode before Spring Finals, and BOY is there a lot to unpack! First up: the highly anticipated Kia MVP reveal! Our hosts discuss the winner, the runners-up, and take a look at how the voting unfolded. What set the MVP apart from the rest of the players, and just how close was the race?If you’ve been keeping up with the latest champion announcement, then you’ve already heard about Locke, our favorite Ashen Exorcist. Meteos gave us a closer look at some of Locke’s abilities, but there’s even more to come! Next week, we’ll be joined by a member of Locke’s development team, who will provide deeper insight into his design and how he could impact both solo queue and professional play.Next, our hosts broke down Week 3 of Playoffs. The Fearless format continues to prove that success at the highest level requires more than just mechanical skills on the Rift. TLAW came in with a smart draft strategy, targeting Gryffinn’s top picks and forcing FlyQuest into some questionable compositions. Fans also got to see how the legacy C9 roster fared against a later season LYON squad. The LYON players might be apex predators, but is there something else shaking C9’s when the stakes are highest? And how will they show up when they face TLAW in Arizona?With Spring Finals just days away, now is the time to secure your seat at ASU’s Mullett Arena. Don’t miss your chance to witness the battle for North American dominance. Single-day and weekend tickets are still available, and be sure to check out the Spring Finals Fan Guide before heading to the event. Click the links below, and we’ll see you there! https://lolesports.com/en-US/news/fans-guide-to-the-lcs-spring-finalsTimestamps:0:00 - Intro1:04 - On Locke8:09 - Kia MVP Reveal 21:40 - FLY vs TLAW Recap 44:50 - C9 vs LYON Recap 1:14:12 - Finals Lookahead1:32:10 - Grand Finals Predictions

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Kia All-Pro Teams are ready to be revealed! Azael, Kobe, and Meteos couldn’t be more hyped to announce them live on this episode of The Dive Driven by Kia! Our hosts also take a closer look at each role and break down the voting results— some major decisions came down to fan votes, giving one player the edge over another.

Other major news: there’s only one more weekend before the roadshow at ASU’s Mullett Arena! Don’t forget to get your tickets! Single-day and two-day passes are still available, so don’t miss your chance to see LCS’s top 3 teams battle for the title and the opportunity to represent North America at MSI. https://mullettarena.com/event/legendschampionship/

Returning to our current season, these past two series flew by, but our experts still found plenty to discuss. From champion picks to team fights, they break down what worked, what didn’t, and why a favorable lane matchup doesn’t always translate into a winning team comp.

The race to secure the third spot in Arizona is still on. Will the pressure get to LYON? Will APA decide to take his chances in /all chat? Can TLAW achieve the goals set for themselves, or will FlyQuest earn the opportunity to compete internationally?

See the action in person as the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles welcomes fans back for another weekend of high stakes competition. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are going fast, and you don’t want to miss these riveting series. We’ll see you there! https://www.tixr.com/groups/lcs/

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro & Arizona Tickets!

1:36 - Gryffinn’s Hype Comms

9:04 - Kia All-Pro Team Reveals

10:48 - Kia All-Pro Support Breakdown

18:52 - Kia All-Pro Bot Lane Breakdown

21:35 - Kia All-Pro Mid Lane Breakdown

27:44 - Kia All-Pro Jungle Breakdown

37:18 - Kia All-Pro Top Lane Breakdown

41:12 - FLY vs SEN Recap

55:24 - C9 vs LYON Recap

1:08:30 - Winners Semis + Lower Round 2 Lookahead!

You still have time to get your tickets to Spring Finals!

https://mullettarena.com/event/legendschampionship/

Patch 26.11 is here, and Azael, Kobe, and Meteos have a LOT of opinions. On this episode of The Dive Driven by Kia, the crew kicks things off by discussing the most recent game-changing adjustments, namely enchanter nerfs and some long-overdue tweaks to under purchased items. They also dive into the Quinn buffs but, rest assured, Kobe isn’t worried about it (or so he says).

On the LCS front, both series from Week 2 of Playoffs went the full five games, delivering plenty of gameplay for the gang to unpack. TLAW’s CoreJJ seemed determined to push Inspired’s buttons, forcing him to pivot through aggressive tactics. FlyQuest continues to show up with high energy and creative strategies, entertaining audiences and casters alike. C9, on the other hand, showed a masterclass in team coordination, highlighted by a game-winning Ashe play by Zven.

Looking ahead, Week 3 begins with a competitive face-off between FlyQuest and Sentinels. We already know the SEN roster is stacked with talent, but will the fearless Bo5 format open the door for FlyQuest’s inventive drafting to steal the spotlight? We’ll find out this weekend! LCS is back on stage and tickets are available now— we hope to see you there!
https://www.tixr.com/groups/lcs/

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro & Ticket Callout

1:16 - 2026 Coaching Staff of the Split

5:29 - Patch 26.11

29:58 - FLY vs C9 Recap

53:48 - LYON vs TL Recap

1:24:51 - FLY vs SEN Lookahead

1:36:58 - TLAW vs SR Lookahead