Buzz
VCS Winter 2021 is on the brink, heralding a myriad of emotions.
New Faces, Fresh Changes
Rarely has there been a transfer season with such personnel shake-ups in VCS. From coaching benches to player rosters, scarcely any team retains the same core lineup from VCS Spring 2021. Take Team Flash, for instance, they practically dissolved their entire squad by parting ways with 3/5 of their players, namely Pake, Meliodas, and Divkid, bid farewell to coach Sergh as well. Even GAM Esports - the reigning VCS Spring 2021 champions - made two new additions, namely TomRio and Divkid.
Current VCS teams are honing in on young talents (Saigon Buffalo, Burst The Sky Esports… ) or the fusion of youthful prospects and seasoned veterans (SBTC Esports, FL… ). With the impressions SGB showcased in VCS Spring 2021, the Vietnamese LoL community is immensely captivated by these young prodigies. It could be argued that they embody the future of VCS. If these names are cultivated and coached diligently like SGB, VCS could undoubtedly aspire to go far on the international stage in the future. There might even be numerous cases akin to SofM's ascent to international tournaments in the Major regions of the LoL scene.
Furthermore, teams like Team Secret, CERBERUS Esports, Luxury Esports, and SE all possess the potential to spring surprises. A notable anticipation for this VCS Winter is that Kim “Poss” Min-cheol of CES will also have the chance to debut as the first-ever foreign import in the premier tournament history of the Vietnamese LoL scene. As for SE, following their unsuccessful endeavor with an all-star lineup in Spring, this time they opt to experiment with a blend of veterans such as Celebrity, Artifact, and CBL alongside raw talents like TH, K1thy1, DK… SE fans are hopeful that under the guidance of experienced seniors, the fledgling talents of SE will exhibit a radiant and spirited display in the impending tournament.
Additionally, VCS Winter ahead will also see the absence of some familiar names like Meliodas, Slayder… and these absences will leave much regret within the VCS community.
Amidst Lingering Concerns
At the current moment, as the 2021 season gradually concludes, the VCS Winter tournament is set to begin. According to the competition format, this could be considered the most frantic VCS season in Vietnamese LoL history - lasting only a mere one and a half months. This means teams will have little time for rest and studying their next opponents after each match. This could affect the quality of each match, especially for teams with many young players, not yet accustomed to the harsh environment of VCS.
Another factor is beyond prize money; to provide young players with more experience and serve as a lifeline for teams to avoid losing sponsorship due to lack of tournaments, VCS Winter at the current moment holds little other significance. And this could significantly impact the competitive drive of teams in the upcoming VCS.
Moreover, not long ago, some teams proposed skipping the Winter season, advancing VCS Spring 2022 earlier to prepare for MSI 2022 visa requirements, but it seems this proposal wasn't approved. If so, for the 2022 season, teams will have to expedite their visa application process even more urgently to ensure the rights of the VCS region in international tournaments.
In summary, organizing VCS Winter can be seen as a significant effort by the organizers, teams, and players. However, the organization and management work of responsible individuals and organizations must be truly professional and meticulous to ensure the tournament runs smoothly. Ultimately, regardless of what happens, the ones who will suffer the most will be the players and the Vietnamese LoL community.
