Buzz
(Homeland) - It's highly probable that GAM and SGB will be the two representatives from the VCS region at the 2022 World Championship.
On August 24th, the first playoff match of the VCS Summer 2022 took place between Team Secret (TS) and Saigon Buffalo (SGB). The result surprised many as SGB claimed an easy victory over TS in just over 2 hours (including breaks and drafting time).
Following SGB's performance, many spectators almost lost faith in the possibility of another team competing against SGB and GAM Esports (GAM) in this season. Although it's still too early to confirm whether SGB and GAM will be the two representatives of VCS at the upcoming 2022 World Championship (Worlds 2022), this speculation is entirely justified.
Extended Period of Consistent Performance
It's undeniable that GAM and SGB had a tough start to the season with losses to opponents they were expected to beat. GAM was even rumored to have no chance of competing for the championship, let alone qualifying for Worlds 2022. Meanwhile, SGB dropped to the bottom half of the standings, prompting coach Ren to pledge resignation if he couldn't take SGB to Worlds 2022.
However, after their setbacks, GAM and SGB bounced back, maintaining their top form consistently. GAM only suffered 3 losses at the beginning of the season and won all remaining group stage matches. Meanwhile, from the second half of the group stage to their recent playoff match against TS, SGB only lost 2 games, one of which was against the strongest contender for the championship - GAM.
The Fortitude of Top Teams
Some may refer to this as the DNA of champions, but in this case, it can be said that GAM and SGB are the almost sole teams demonstrating the fortitude of contenders at Worlds 2022. SGB has proven their worth among the top 6 teams in MSI 2022 after crushing TS. Even when TS showed signs of superiority in game 3, SGB players remained unfazed and subsequently secured a dominant victory.
As for GAM, they remain the most formidable force in the Vietnamese League of Legends (LMHT) scene. Witnessing GAM's comeback, defeating all VCS teams after stumbling at the start of the season, the community is becoming increasingly enthusiastic. Besides believing that GAM will successfully defend the VCS championship title, many fans also hope that Vietnam's representatives can make a deep run at Worlds 2022.
Other Teams' Lack of Competitiveness
Before the playoffs officially began, even though TS had lost both legs to GAM, many fans still believed that TS could compete evenly with SGB and GAM for the championship title and the Worlds 2022 spot. However, issues surfaced during the TS vs. SBTC Esports (SE) match. Subsequently, TS suffered a crushing defeat against SGB on the first day of the VCS Summer 2022 playoffs.
Regarding SE, they continue to exhibit noticeable instability after a few initial strong performances this season. Similar to their performance in the SEA Games 31 qualifiers or VCS Spring 2022, after a period of soaring highs, SE has come crashing down in an unexpected manner. In fact, SE almost missed out on the playoffs spot altogether. A team that had to wait until the very last matches to know their fate may still lack the capability to compete for a spot at Worlds 2022 this time.
Conclusion
However, it's still too early to draw any conclusions. But if SE and TS fail to show a brighter side, then the championship race in VCS Summer 2022 and the spot for Worlds 2022 will likely be dominated by SGB and GAM alone.
