On the evening of December 26 (Vietnam time), the finals of VCS Winter 2021 took place with a showdown between GAM Esports and CERBERUS Esports. This was the third time these two teams had the opportunity to face each other, and in the previous two encounters, “Thần Khuyển” had the upper hand with two convincing victories. Notably, in the return leg of the group stage, they did not allow GAM to secure any game wins.
However, GAM also led CES twice after the first three games. But in the two decisive games that followed, they were unable to close out the match and had to watch CES claim the championship, marking their third consecutive defeat against this team within the VCS Winter 2021.
Witnessing their team’s defeat, GAM fans were understandably very disappointed. However, it must be acknowledged that the main issue in VCS Winter 2021 was that GAM’s positions struggled to maintain their peak performance throughout the tournament. Even the GAM players themselves admitted that some members were experiencing mental pressure after their loss to CES in the return leg.
Additionally, fans of this team pointed out that GAM lacks a truly skilled AD to compete with CES’s Artemis. The “Thần Khuyển” lineup is noticeably more balanced, and especially, whether EGO shifts to the top lane or the bottom lane, he can maximize CES’s strength. As for the ADC Artemis, it goes without saying. As long as enough resources are allocated to him and he reaches his power threshold, Artemis can take on the world.
GAM’s playstyle has always been focused on the top lane, which fits the meta, but as a result, they lack a truly quality ADC. Sty1e is only at an average level while Divkid remains inconsistent. This issue has become evident when facing teams with strong bot lanes, like CES, which serves as a prime example.
GAM can view this defeat as a valuable lesson to reflect on, learn from, and prepare well for the upcoming Spring 2022 season. CES deservedly won, but surely, the yellow-black team will return stronger, just as they have after previous setbacks.