At ASIAD Hangzhou recently, the Vietnam League of Legends team only made it to the top 4 overall and returned empty-handed. Of course, this was somewhat expected, as all three opponents above Vietnam are very strong teams in the Asia region. Excluding China and Korea, Taiwan’s team has 4 out of 5 members competing in the LPL for renowned teams. Meanwhile, the remaining member of this team who does not play in the LPL, Hanabi, is a very familiar name in the PCS region.
Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that Vietnam’s League of Legends has shown excellent performances beyond expectations, especially in the match against the Chinese team. In fact, at one moment in the decisive game 3, many thought a victory for the players from Vietnam was imminent. However, the talented and experienced LPL stars, along with a Knight who was far superior to the rest, turned the tide. The loss to the Chinese League of Legends team was even more regrettable as the Vietnamese players had a much clearer playstyle.
One of the biggest shortcomings of Vietnam’s League of Legends is the lack of composure during crucial moments. In fact, in game 1, even when leading with significant advantages, the young ADC Artemis made two extremely irresponsible and inexperienced moves that led to being “shut down”. If they hadn’t been fortunate enough to gain an advantage early on, Vietnam might not have even made it to game 3.
An even more significant shortcoming is that the VCS lacks top-tier coaches like SofM. Of course, there are no shortages of coaches from the VCS background, such as Archie or Yuna. But clearly, compared to those seniors, SofM, although he lacks extensive experience, possesses a rich understanding of League of Legends. As coach Tinikun once stated, SofM is one of the most knowledgeable about League of Legends in Vietnam.
Moreover, SofM’s history as a key player, a true legend of the LPL, and a runner-up in the 2020 World Championship has helped him build a certain reputation and respect. In the Vietnam League of Legends team, SofM is younger than Levi. However, he has clearly succeeded in stabilizing the team and guiding players according to the strategies he has devised. Of course, the talent of the players is also a crucial factor. But it cannot be denied that SofM has been quite “lucky” in his first “career shift”.
Talented coaches like SofM will eventually emerge, and the composure of the players will be honed with more opportunities. But at this current moment, with the existing factors, the VCS teams must also put in effort. The immediate focus is on the 2023 World Championship, where VCS is being significantly underestimated compared to the region’s past performance.