Buzz
Slayder won't be competing in the upcoming professional circuit season.
As of the current time in 2024, tournaments are gearing up for a return. Teams are starting to announce their finalized rosters for the new season. Although VCS is slightly delayed due to Lunar New Year, teams like GAM Esports, Vikings Esports... have already begun announcing their lineups. Notably, there have been recent announcements within the player community, with Slayder being a prominent example.
After the controversy surrounding his departure from GAM, Slayder remained relatively quiet for a while. It's only recently that he has made a reappearance by joining the APAC server - a server opened by Riot for professional teams to practice ahead of the new season patches. Speculations suggest that Slayder may have found a new team but has yet to make it public. However, the reigning VCS champion has recently announced that he will take a break in the Spring 2024 season and focus solely on livestreaming.
However, many opinions suggest that Slayder may currently be 'unwanted by any team,' leading to unemployment. According to these opinions, the main reasons stem from Slayder's performance during a season with GAM. Despite being considered one of VCS's top marksmen, Slayder's ego may have been too prominent. Additionally, the team's strategy of 'feeding' the marksman only proves effective if the marksman possesses the skill and awareness to maintain their position and deal damage. However, at the recent 2023 Worlds, Slayder failed to demonstrate these qualities. Furthermore, GAM has never been a team to prioritize 'feeding' the marksman. The backbone of GAM in recent years has been the top lane, with the trio Kiaya - Levi - Kati bringing together talent, experience, and leadership.
Moreover, GAM's videos have frequently shown Slayder wanting the entire team to cover for him and focusing on Slayder's calls. This, in reality, is unreasonable. Levi serves as the team captain and primary shot caller. Meanwhile, Slayder has yet to prove that he can perform well in his role and lead the team as captain.
Slayder's decision to take a break may indeed be a sensible choice. However, finding a landing spot mid-season will be even more challenging. Many fans are also highly skeptical about Slayder's future 'comeback' potential.
