In the days leading up to the VCS Spring 2022, while leagues like LCK and LPL have yet to return after the Lunar New Year, Vietnamese League of Legends fans haven’t lost their excitement. All attention is focused on the SEA Games 31 qualifiers – where 8 VCS A teams and 8 VCS B teams compete to select the best representative to showcase Vietnam’s colors at the upcoming SEA Games 31, which will take place right in the S-shaped country.
While the results of the first day were largely predictable, with VCS A teams, especially GAM Esports and Saigon Buffalo, showcasing their strength compared to the rest, AS Esports emerged as an interesting underdog as they, along with Luxury Esports, dominated Group B. However, despite being a new name, ASE boasts players who have previously competed in VCS A like EasyLove and Zin… With the skill level of these players, they remain superior to teams from the B League who have never faced the rigorous challenges of Vietnam’s top League of Legends tournament.
However, on the second day, an unexpected event occurred. In a spectacular afternoon, SGB defeated GAM Esports – the reigning VCS Winter 2021 runner-up. Notably, during the Winter season, SGB even faced a decline in performance. No one recognized them as the VCS Spring 2021 runner-up anymore. In fact, SGB’s performance in the Winter season was worse than LX or Burst The Sky Esports (the two teams sharing the 3rd and 4th places).
Of course, just one loss on the second day does not put GAM in a difficult position. Moreover, this loss may help the star-studded yellow-and-black team recognize their shortcomings. However, it demonstrates that SGB is also very serious about their goal of participating in SEA Games 31 this time. Compared to the effort to secure a spot at MSI 2022 in VCS Spring 2022, earning a ticket to the SEA Games is even more significant, as it is an honor for any team to represent Vietnam’s Esports.
In Group B, after the second day of competition, only Luxury Esports continued to maintain their unbeaten record. ASE, led by EasyLove, faced defeat and lost to 3 out of 4 opponents, including SKY, LX, and Team Flash. Their only victory was against SBTC Esports – a team that is currently struggling with a 4-3 record despite being in a relatively ‘light’ group. Another name that is making a strong impression is TF. Despite being known as “Slayder and Friends”, TF currently holds a record of 6 wins and 1 loss. Their only defeat came against the unbeaten LX.
With the current standings, if SGB and LX perform well in the matches on the third day (the start of the second round), they can secure the first two spots in the top 8. GAM and TF also have a strong chance, while teams like CES and SKY will need more time. SE, led by Teacher Ba, is not entirely out of hope, but they will have to work much harder in the upcoming matches, especially as ASE is proving to be a formidable name in the SEA Games 31 qualifiers this time.