The focal point of last Sunday evening was not Zeros’ first victory upon joining EVOS Esports, but rather the heated exchange on Facebook between former coach Tinikun and GAM Esports’ Director Izumin. Without discussing who is right or wrong, this incident is likely to lead to a series of extremely negative consequences for GAM Esports, both in terms of performance and the organization’s reputation.
Firstly, regarding the psychological aspect of the players, practicing and competing in the midst of such drama will make it difficult for the young gamers to focus on their performance. Remember that in the professional arena, mentality is an incredibly powerful weapon, and the more steadfast competitor is often the one who triumphs. When the mind is not focused, the hands of GAM Esports’ players will struggle to perform at their best.
Everything has changed significantly in the VCS Summer 2020 season, as not only Team Flash and Team Secret are in the mix, but also Cerberus Esports, which is steadily improving and directly competing for the championship against GAM. Annoying opponents like Percent Esports or Saigon Buffalo could also topple the gold-black team on a good day.
With so many threats from opponents and GAM Esports lacking a stable mindset, it’s not surprising if they fail in the upcoming weeks of competition. If this drama drags on, it’s very possible that GAM Esports will falter somewhere in the playoffs and miss out on a ticket to the World Championship. This would have a very serious impact on the brand value of GAM Esports.
Returning to the salary dispute, if things are not resolved soon, a talent drain will occur, causing GAM Esports to lose many of its stars. Players like Kiaya, Levi, and Dia1 are always sought after by other teams in the VCS, and acquiring these names would make GAM’s opponents even stronger. Conversely, they won’t be able to recruit quality personnel because who would want to join an organization with a history of salary disputes?
Moreover, without stars in the lineup, it will be very difficult for them to maintain their brand and attract investment from sponsors. Not far from home, FTV Esports recently disbanded due to poor performance and lack of sponsorship. If GAM Esports experiences a talent drain, their performance declines, and they lose their value, it’s entirely possible they could follow in FTV’s footsteps.
Hopefully, this drama at GAM Esports will be resolved soon so that the “dark” scenarios above do not come to pass. No fan wants a large, traditionally rich team like GAM Esports to swiftly fade away due to being engulfed in drama and backstage controversies.