As of now, following their loss to Golden Guardians, GAM Esports has only one chance left to keep their hopes alive at MSI 2023. If they defeat Movistar R7, GAM will have another chance to face GG – the team that just lost to Bilibili Gaming in the upper bracket finals. Therefore, it’s safe to say that the match against R7 will be a do-or-die game for GAM at this year’s MSI.
However, GAM cannot underestimate R7 just because they are a wildcard team. In fact, many fans of VCS have already considered a worst-case scenario, which is GAM being eliminated early at MSI this year. If that indeed happens, several future outcomes have been discussed by many Vietnamese League of Legends fans.
GAM’s Roster May Change
This is a highly likely outcome if GAM does not perform well at MSI this year. The current roster will still dominate VCS completely. However, if the players fail to prove themselves on the international stage, domestic titles will gradually lose their significance. Therefore, changes will be inevitable, both to bring fresh energy and to make VCS truly more vibrant.
Of course, there won’t be many options for GAM at this moment. However, it’s likely that GAM management understands they need to do something for the black and yellow team to actually achieve something in international tournaments after MSI, such as Worlds 2023.
Pressure May Mount on Players in Upcoming Tournaments
Kati and especially Levi have received quite a bit of criticism after the loss to GG. In particular, it seems Kati – a player who shone in Spring – continues to underperform when stepping onto the international stage. This was evident at Worlds 2022 last year, and this has been Kati’s inherent weakness.
This season, alongside MSI 2023 and Worlds 2023, Vietnamese League of Legends players also have to face ASIAD – another international-level competition, representing the nation. The likelihood of Kati being selected again is very high. If the pressure from MSI continues to haunt him, many fans are concerned that Kati will not perform well at ASIAD, especially when, apart from China and South Korea, Taiwan also has a very formidable lineup featuring many players competing in the LPL.
This Could Be Levi’s Final Journey
In terms of age, Levi can be considered no longer young compared to the average career age of League of Legends players. Players who shone in the GG – GAM match, like Licorice and Stixxay, are already referred to as “veterans” and both are the same age as Levi. Of course, the departure of Levi from GAM is something no one wants. But perhaps Levi has also considered this issue.
In reality, GAM and Levi still have the Summer Split and ASIAD as well as Worlds 2023 ahead. Levi himself is an indispensable factor in GAM’s championships. However, many fans are also worried that if the performance at MSI is poor, it will affect Levi’s decisions. He himself may also feel the pressure and did not perform as expected in the recent match against GG.
Conclusion
No Vietnamese League of Legends fan would wish for GAM to be eliminated early from MSI 2023 or for the above scenarios to occur. But the players must strive with all their might to determine their own fate and not let the VCS fans down.
