Recently, GAM Esports bid farewell to another player, specifically Mid Laner Kati. After about 3 years together, the former Team Flash star has left the yellow and black team. It can be said that the time wearing the GAM jersey was a rollercoaster of highs and lows for Kati. He has not achieved as much glory with any other team as he did with GAM. However, there has not been any team that Kati played for that put him under as much pressure as GAM.
However, with Kati’s departure, GAM is left with only 2 players remaining in the top lane: captain Levi and Top Laner Kiaya. At this point, GAM’s issues are becoming more evident: Who will be the names brought in to fill the void left by the departing players? And an even closer danger: GAM may need to prepare for a winless season ahead.
No worthy replacements
In the roles of AD Carry, Support, and especially Mid Lane, it can be said that GAM has parted ways with 3 of the best names currently in the VCS. Notably, while there are still potential replacements for AD Carry or Support, such as Pyshiro or Elio, the Mid Lane position is truly a difficult puzzle. GAM needs a player who can support teammates like Kati, while also being able to deal quality damage when needed. In reality, the best current option after Kati is only Gloryy. The only issue is that Team Whales will almost certainly not let their most important player go.
Therefore, GAM can only look at lower-tier options. However, given that Yado may completely retire from professional League of Legends, and that Artifact, Blazes, and Froggy have all found their destinations, GAM really has very few choices left. Moreover, the Mid Laner will have to adapt to Kiaya and Levi. And this is not an easy task for anyone. If Kati joins Viking Esports as rumored, Blazes could “return home.” But certainly, compared to Kati, Blazes will not measure up.
Even Levi is underperforming
In 2024, Levi will be another year older, and signs of aging have begun to show more clearly in his gameplay, especially this season. Levi remains an important mental support for GAM as well as the main shot-caller. However, it will be difficult for Levi to transition to a supportive role like Faker because simply: Faker also needs a player to assist him (like Oner). In Levi’s case, he cannot demand anyone to play the role of Oner for him.
Throughout the recent matches, especially at Worlds 2023, when Levi stumbled at times, Kati and Kiaya became the support for Slayder to unleash his skills. But now, only Kiaya stands alongside Levi. However, Kiaya is merely a solo lane player, and surely, as other superstars from GAM have left, analyzing and neutralizing Kiaya will not be difficult for GAM’s opponents.
Other opponents have strengthened
This is a reality that is becoming increasingly clear as the final transfer period is still unfolding vigorously. TW will certainly continue to do everything possible to retain their core players, except for Bie, who may take a break for health reasons. Meanwhile, GAM has yet to show that they can bring in any superstars in the near future. The reason, as mentioned, is that GAM also has very few replacement options.
GAM will need to recruit many players to be able to compete for titles in the upcoming season. But the most important question is: Who will they recruit? Who will be capable of wearing the yellow and black jersey of the reigning VCS champions? Because it must not only be a player with high expertise but also someone with a strong mentality to withstand the pressures of being on the number 1 team in the current VCS.