KT Wiz Hold Off Late Rally to Defeat Samsung Lions in Korean Series Opener

The KT Wiz secured a hard-fought 8-7 victory against the Samsung Lions in Game 1 of the 2026 Korean Series on October 3 at KT Wiz Park in Suwon. While the regular-season champions appeared to be in complete control with an eight-run lead, a late-game surge from Samsung transformed the contest into a tense battle that was not decided until the final pitch.

KT established dominance early, scoring consistently through the first six innings. Sam Hilliard provided an early spark with a two-run double in the first, followed by a two-run home run from Ahn Hyun-min in the third. Further contributions from Han Seung-taek and Kim Hyun-soo extended the lead to 8-0 by the end of the sixth inning, putting the Wiz in a commanding position.

The momentum shifted dramatically in the seventh inning when the Samsung Lions began a fierce counterattack. Koo Ja-wook ignited the rally with a two-run home run, and the team continued to capitalize on defensive lapses and timely hitting to plate five runs in the frame. By the top of the eighth, Samsung had narrowed the gap to 8-6 with the bases loaded, forcing KT manager Lee Kang-cheol to call upon his closer, Park Young-hyun, earlier than anticipated.

Park Young-hyun, who had previously faced criticism for a high-profile postseason loss three years ago, delivered a stellar performance under pressure. Despite allowing a run on a wild pitch shortly after entering the game, he managed to escape the eighth-inning jam. In the ninth, he struck out three consecutive batters to seal the win, later describing his slider as the best of his professional career.

The victory provides the KT Wiz with a significant historical advantage, as statistics indicate that the winner of the first game in a Korean Series goes on to claim the championship approximately 73.8% of the time. For the Samsung Lions, the loss was a disappointing conclusion to a game where they showed resilience but ultimately failed to complete the comeback.

Both teams are now preparing for the remainder of the best-of-seven series. KT manager Lee Kang-cheol expressed confidence in his bullpen, while Park Young-hyun emphasized that his focus remains entirely on securing the championship title rather than individual accolades. The series continues with the Lions looking to level the score in Game 2.