GAM is currently the focus of the VCS community
Normally, when the official season ends, which is around the time after the 2024 World Championship concludes, the transfer market becomes lively. However, due to significant changes expected in VCS starting 2025, many personnel plans have already surfaced. Among them, the first “shots” come from GAM Esports, the team that recently returned from the 2024 World Championship, as they announced that AD Carry Neo would be looking for a new home.
Additionally, in recent days, there have been reports about GAM potentially recruiting Chika, a Vietnamese player currently competing at DRX Academy within the LCK academy system. However, the controversy arises from the fact that GAM already has Emo, who is considered to have significant potential and has performed at least adequately since replacing Blazes during the “32-player scandal” earlier this year.
Does GAM Need Chika?
Hypothetically, if the rumors are true, having two players in the same position is not unusual for a team. However, for some teams, aside from increasing competition, there is almost no other reason. GAM is one such case, especially with the recent addition of Neo. Neo’s playstyle does not fit GAM, and clearly, the Vietnamese AD Carry has had almost no opportunity to play since joining the reigning VCS champions, except for one match in the Summer 2024 group stage.
In GAM’s current lineup, Emo is already present. Therefore, if they recruit Chika, Emo will face a significant challenge. Each player has their own advantages, but clearly, Emo, having only played for six months, will have to face a formidable direct competitor for the starting position, which could create invisible pressure for him.
As for Chika, while he has performed well in the DRX colors, he is still only at the academy level. Bringing Chika in too early and forcing him to compete in a professional environment could have adverse effects. Despite any gap between GAM or VCS and LCK, the professional environment is entirely different from that of youth training. Some opinions suggest that GAM does not even need any new factors to perform well in APAC. It may be best to allow Chika some time to prove himself if he gets the chance to join the Challengers team in LCK.
Every recruitment decision made by GAM will be carefully considered. However, sometimes that choice may not be beneficial for the players themselves, even though GAM is currently the strongest team in VCS.