Entering the match against CBTC Flying Oyster (CFO), Team Whales was once again underestimated. In the past, VCS has rarely had favorable results against teams from the PCS region. Although they are two “brother” regions, PCS has received significantly more investment in LoL. Moreover, CFO surely learned many lessons after witnessing Team BDS’s defeat on October 11. Therefore, the situation for the TW players would be even more challenging.
However, once again, the TW stars demonstrated that they truly deserve to be at the 2023 World Championship. It was the same familiar scenario: TW fell behind in game 1, the opponents were a bit too complacent in game 2, and finally, TW capitalized on every tiny mistake from their rivals in game 3 to secure the overall victory. With this win, TW officially became the first VCS team to compete for a spot in the Swiss round of World Championship 2023.
Additionally, TW has become the new “youth idol” in the hearts of the international LoL community, especially among neutral fans. Watching TW play nowadays, even the calmest fans might struggle to contain their emotions, especially after the dramatic win just recently. Moreover, some LoL fans boldly stated: “TW’s victory clearly proves that the BO1 format is one of Riot’s biggest mistakes. And they should thank TW for making them wake up. No self-respecting region or reputable tournament should use BO1 anymore. TW’s performance is a game-changer. The miraculous journey of VCS continues!!!”.
Clearly, if the match had only been a BO1, TW might not have been able to deliver such an emotional game. And of course, many fans are recalling how several teams had to exit tournaments regrettably due to the flawed BO1 format throughout history. While each game would be calculated more meticulously, the losing team would almost completely deviate from their plan, if not say they would lose overall.
The excitement and viewership of the matches in the Play-In stage could genuinely serve as a wake-up call for Riot to take stronger actions in the future. As for TW, they simply showcase the quintessential VCS playstyle: vibrant, fierce, bold, and unyielding.