It can be said that at this moment, the match between GAM Esports and Vikings Esports is the focal point of the Vietnamese League of Legends scene. These are two teams considered to have some of the best lineup quality in the current tournament. Moreover, GAM and VKE boast notable players such as Kiaya – Levi (GAM) and Kati – Shogun – SofM (VKE). Particularly, to prepare for the 2024 Summer VCS, GAM has just recruited “Neo” Toàn Trần – a Marksman who has spent time competing in the LCS to “share the burden” with EasyLove. In the recent match against VKE, Neo did not disappoint the GAM leadership or the fans.
Neo’s performance was truly beyond expectations, if not to say the best of the match. In the second game, it was this Marksman’s Baron steal that helped GAM turn the tide and take control of the game. Moving to the decisive third game, Neo simply dominated the opponent with the champion Ezreal. Notably, even when pushed and overwhelmed by VKE in the first game, Neo still showed a rare calmness and confidence, only accepting defeat when VKE decided to push aggressively and finish the game early.
Besides the professional aspect, the intensity and excitement have increased since the official start of the 2024 Summer VCS after the match-fixing scandal, Neo’s performance left VCS fans with mixed feelings. Happy because VCS finally has a Marksman showing credibility and composure without overly relying on teammates. And sad because Neo’s performance, after his “study abroad” stint in the LCS, has shown that he is far superior to his peers. Perhaps only Shogun currently and to some extent Artemis can compete. It is worth mentioning that Neo is not actually a top Marksman of the LCS and his time in North America has been filled with ups and downs.
Neo’s return to the country and helping VCS is a commendable thing. But clearly, Neo also demonstrates that VCS still falls short compared to major regions. While VCS often creates upsets or has shocking victories, those are still just moments and cannot transform VCS into a powerful region overnight.