Despite GAM Esports’s ongoing efforts to rally support for the #BringVCStoWorld campaign, Riot Games has officially announced the list of 22 teams participating in the 2021 World Championship, along with the draw schedule and expected match dates.
This move could be seen as an unofficial end to the efforts of the representatives of Vietnamese League of Legends to return to the international stage after a two-year absence.
It’s not surprising that players from GAM and those involved in the VCS are once again disheartened by this bitter reality. Recently, Kiaya – the top laner for GAM, even left fans baffled by hinting that he may no longer compete in the VCS in the future.
Specifically, the young player shared a moment from when GAM Esports crowned champions in the VCS Summer 2019 two years ago. This was also the last time the VCS finals were held on a big stage with thousands of viewers. Accompanying this was a caption stating: “What a beautiful photo, and perhaps this will be the last time I get to play on a big stage in the VCS.”
Immediately after, GAM’s coach JackieWind also posted an enigmatic status tagging Kiaya: “Everything is just a memory.”
Some opinions suggest that Kiaya’s sharing is merely a reflection of his frustration at missing out on the World Championship multiple times, leading him to express words that seem desperate and devoid of hope regarding the future of the VCS.
However, with coach JackieWind also speaking out, it seems Kiaya is about to undergo some change in his career. Speculations have arisen that this player may go abroad soon, hence hinting at a farewell to the VCS.
If this is true, it would be great news for Kiaya and VCS fans alike. Since 2019, Kiaya has been regarded as one of the most promising talents among the young players being nurtured by the VCS. Former coach Tinikun also revealed that many foreign teams have expressed excitement about Kiaya, so the day he parts ways with GAM Esports to “swim in the deep sea” may be approaching.
However, some other opinions are not as optimistic, as they fear that GAM Esports or the VCS may even face dissolution or merging with another region after going through many seasons of negative upheaval.
Other streams of debate suggest that Kiaya might retire if GAM or the VCS “faces a change.” Of course, these are just temporary concerns, as there is currently no evidence to support such hypotheses.
One thing is for sure, GAM Esports and the VCS will have to undergo significant changes after the 2021 season concludes. The director of GAM – Khánh Hiệp Izumin, once revealed that the absence of the VCS Summer 2021 led this powerful team to face the risk of dissolution due to the heavy operational cost burden. After two years of turmoil due to the impact of the pandemic, the VCS will likely need a strong restructuring, and let’s wait and see what will happen to the professional League of Legends scene in Vietnam in the future.