As known, on the evening of November 13, GAM Esports officially said goodbye to player Slayder after just one season together, not even a year. This separation is indeed quite surprising, especially since Slayder was not underperforming while wearing the yellow and black jersey. Although at the Worlds for the first time in his career, he did have some shaky moments, but Slayder gave it his all and is one of the few players to achieve a Pentakill in this tournament.
The split between GAM and Slayder is even more surprising as Slayder himself had previously stated he would stay long-term with GAM: “I’m sure I will stick with GAM for a long time. At least until the end of next year (2024). I’m not going anywhere.” He even “begged” in a way, saying “don’t transfer me anymore.” Because of this, when GAM announced Slayder’s departure just after nearly six months together, many fans were incredibly surprised.
However, according to what former coach Tinikun shared in a recent stream, Slayder might be leaving because he still harbors hopes of going abroad. But former coach Tinikun also noted that it is almost impossible for the LPL/LDL to recruit GAM’s AD Carry, as the skill gap is too significant. Therefore, Slayder could only potentially move to the LEC or LCS if he still wants to play internationally.
Moreover, former coach Tinikun also expressed that GAM’s announcement of Slayder’s departure was quite odd. Because if he wanted to play abroad, the proper process would be for GAM to make an announcement while Slayder also confirms a new destination with GAM’s support. But this did not happen. Meanwhile, in the current VCS, top teams have no need to transfer an AD Carry. Only Viking Gaming might recruit Slayder, but it’s very likely this team will reinstate Shogun from the old Saigon Buffalo.
Additionally, former coach Tinikun emphasized the importance of improving language skills. This is understandable since one doesn’t have to be a professional player to know that if you want to succeed abroad, you must be fluent in the local language. Especially in professional League of Legends, where communication is extremely crucial.
For his part, aside from saying goodbye to the GAM members and those who have supported him, Slayder hasn’t made any new moves yet. And perhaps, VCS fans can only wait until Slayder makes an official announcement.