VCS Spring 2021 is certainly one of the most exciting seasons of League of Legends in Vietnam. Countless surprises have happened, and with the top teams gradually closing the skill gap, the matches are becoming increasingly thrilling.
Among the teams that have made an impressive showing in the first leg of VCS Spring 2021, Saigon Buffalo is undoubtedly a name that has surprised not only the audience but also the experts and casters. Within SGB, Trần “BeanJ” Văn Chính (born in 2003) is regarded as the standout player with an impressive performance despite his young age.
Recently, we had a conversation with BeanJ to hear about his experiences, thoughts, and feelings during his first season competing in the highest level of League of Legends in Vietnam.
Interviewer: Hello BeanJ, congratulations to you and SGB for your excellent performance and achievements in the first leg, and BeanJ was selected as one of the two best lineups of the first leg of VCS Spring 2021. How do you feel about these achievements?
BeanJ: Hello to the readers of GameK. I feel very proud to be chosen by the older players for the best lineup. This is my first time participating in a major tournament, so with everyone paying attention and recognizing me like this, I feel motivated to try even harder. However, I also feel that I am not entirely worthy of the praise from fans and casters, so I sometimes feel a bit of pressure.
Interviewer: When playing for SGB, do you feel pressured to inherit from your predecessor Meliodas? And what have you done to overcome that pressure?
BeanJ: I don’t think about inheriting from anyone, and Ren has taught me to have an independent mindset and my own path. In recent matches, my only pressure has been to think and focus on playing well, avoid repeating past mistakes, and further develop myself. I think Meliodas had his peak time with the old SGB team, and I feel I can take the current SGB even further.
Interviewer: As a jungler, who do you admire the most? And has your jungle style been influenced by anyone, including your idol?
BeanJ: My jungle idol is SofM. And I think any jungler would follow and admire SofM for his gaming mindset. Additionally, SofM always puts effort into researching new playstyles that are both creative and effective.
Interviewer: Currently, SGB’s playstyle is very disciplined macro gameplay. For a young player like BeanJ, what advantages and obstacles does that bring you?
BeanJ: I was recruited by Ren into YB when I had no experience in competitive play or in any other environment. We were taught this playstyle from our time in a small team, so I think it has become our common playstyle. Our team is young, and our skills and experience are not on par with the older players in VCS, so I believe this playstyle will help us gain unexpected advantages and control the personal mistakes we make.
Interviewer: Recently, BeanJ has climbed to Challenger in Korea, which is an impressive achievement. What champion do you play the most when climbing ranks?
BeanJ: The champion I play the most in rank is Udyr. The reason is that Udyr is currently quite versatile in farming, ganking, controlling, and team fighting.
Interviewer: Climbing ranks with your favorite champion or mastering all champions, in your opinion, what is the best way to reach Challenger?
BeanJ: I think the best way to climb ranks is to practice playing champions that fit the meta, as well as choosing champions that suit the team composition. Having a well-balanced team composition will make it much easier to win.
Interviewer: What are the most common difficulties you encounter when climbing ranks? Is the Challenger rank environment in Korea as harsh as in Vietnam?
BeanJ: The most difficult thing when climbing ranks in all regions, I think, is encountering toxic teammates; everything else mostly comes down to the skill difference. The Korean Challenger environment is very harsh. When playing from Vietnam, the ping is high, and I can’t communicate with my teammates, mainly just using pings to let them know what I’m doing. However, they don’t always understand and coordinate correctly. The difference compared to Vietnam rank, I think, is that the skill and seriousness in climbing ranks in Korea are much better, and when they lose, they quickly open the game instead of wasting everyone’s time.
Interviewer: If you had to name two players who could challenge you at this time, who do you think they are?
BeanJ: I think most junglers in VCS have better skills and experience than I do, because my team has a playstyle that supports me a lot, so people see me perform well like this, but in reality, I think I am not as good as anyone in VCS. The player who puts a lot of pressure on me when facing off is Levi, because he always appears where he needs to be and can control the game as he wants. I also want to develop myself like that.
Interviewer: Coach Ren seems to have devoted a lot of attention and care to the young players of SGB, so personally, how has the coach influenced your playstyle, performance, and the current achievements of the team?
BeanJ: Besides selecting me and giving me the opportunity, Ren always cares for us, explaining many things in the game and also in life, such as how to take care of ourselves and bad habits, which makes us grow much more than when we were at home. Ren also sets the playstyle and plans for us before each match, so we are much more confident. I am very grateful to Ren for teaching and guiding me on this path.
Interviewer: If you qualify for MSI or Worlds (or both), which team and player would BeanJ most like to face?
BeanJ: I don’t dare to think that I will achieve such success, but if I eventually earn a spot at Worlds, the team I want to face the most is Suning. I want to compete with SofM and shake hands with him.
Interviewer: Commentator Hoàng Luân once stated that you are the most promising name to “inherit” SofM and Levi. What do you think about this? What are your feelings about these two legendary players of VCS?
BeanJ: I thank Luân for his kind words, but I still feel very inexperienced. The two senior players have had certain successes on the international stage. I will strive to learn and follow the strong playstyle of the two to continue the journey of VCS on the world stage.
Interviewer: Finally, do you have any words of encouragement for young gamers in their rank climbing journey or further, the dream of becoming a professional Esports player?
BeanJ: I wish you all enough strength and determination to pursue your dreams, and you will become the Esports player you desire!
Returning to VCS Spring 2021, this weekend, on March 21, 2021, SGB will have a highly anticipated match against GAM Esports. During this occasion, fans will have the opportunity to witness the two best junglers currently, Levi and BeanJ, face off against each other. In the first leg, GAM, with their experience and talent, secured a 2-0 victory. However, at this point, many fans still believe that SGB and BeanJ can create surprises.