Whereas the power of groups and whole areas are continually evolving, it’s particularly exhausting to gauge the power of the VCS in comparison with different leagues world wide. That is primarily because of the lack of appearances from the VCS / Vietnamese groups in giant world tournaments.
VCS teams were forced to withdraw from 3 of the key world League of Legends occasions previously 2 years; Worlds 2020, MSI 2021 and Worlds 2021. Whereas the VCS had qualifying groups, they have been unable to compete because of the nation’s journey restrictions which forestall gamers from leaving and re-entering the nation.
This 12 months, we lastly noticed the VCS at MSI, though with their #2 seed. At Worlds ’22 we lastly get one of the best Vietnam has to supply.
Warning for VCS talent ceiling after MSI 2022
The 2022 League of Legends Mid Season Invitational was the primary time in two years now we have seen a VCS group compete in opposition to prime worldwide groups.
GAM Esports had utterly dominated the 2022 VCS Spring Season, going undefeated with a 14-0 document within the group stage. Because of the format of the occasion, GAM Esports had been instantly seeded into the finals of the playoffs. They then proceeded to brush their opponents as soon as once more, taking down Saigon Buffalo 3-1 within the finals. This earned them the highest spot to characterize the area at MSI 2022. Nonetheless, in a stunning twist of occasions nobody noticed coming, GAM Esports had forfeited their qualification to MSI 2022.
GAM Esports had opted to compete in one other occasion, the thirty first Southeast Asian Video games – Esports. This non Riot affiliated occasion had attracted numerous groups throughout South East Asia. Given the Southeast Asian Video games had been hosted in Vietnam, GAM Esports probably believed its participation would achieve larger publicity for the group. This determination paid off for them, with GAM Esports having one more good run not dropping a single match all through the Bo1 in teams, or Bo5 in finals.
Turning down participation to MSI 2022 allowed the Saigon Buffalo to qualify, the group who positioned runners up within the Spring Season of VCS 2022. Regardless of being the runners up, the Buffalos didn’t let down the area, simply qualifying by means of the group stage. Their 4-2 document in Group A demonstrated whereas they have been clearly behind prime established groups like T1, they have been capable of simply defeat groups from the lesser areas. Sadly, their weaknesses in opposition to prime groups from the bigger areas had been obvious within the rumble stage, scraping some wins, however in the end ending 2-8 on the backside of the leaderboard.
How sturdy is the VCS actually?
As demonstrated by Saigon Buffalo, even the VCS runner’s up group had been capable of decimate opponents from different minor areas. Whereas the Saigon Buffalos fell in direction of prime groups from main areas, they in the end don’t characterize the highest power from the VCS. Not solely was GAM Esports the strongest VCS group in Spring, they have been leagues forward of the others.
They have been as soon as once more the champions of the VCS within the latest Summer season Break up. Whereas much less dominant than earlier than, they nonetheless managed to take the highest spot within the teams stage, and take down the Saigon Buffalos 3-0 within the finals.
GAM Esports because the VCS’s prime group had been seeded in group C alongside Rogue and High Esports. Whereas it is going to be an uphill battle in opposition to two prime 2 groups from the LEC / LPL, GAM Esports can’t be utterly counted out. Then again, Saigon Buffalo after having an excellent run in MSI and all through the VCS, that they had been seeded with extraordinarily powerful competitors; DRX, Royal By no means Give Up and MAD Lions. This makes it unlikely for the group to make it previous Play-ins at Worlds.
I nonetheless suppose, GAM is robust sufficient to make it out of Teams and even upset a group within the first stage of Knockouts. This could be the 12 months the VCS makes a deep run within the bracket and eventually present that Vietnam is again on the massive stage.
