The opportunity for Vietnamese League of Legends players to compete abroad is undoubtedly one of the most noteworthy events, especially if that environment is South Korea – home to one of the most developed Esports scenes, particularly in League of Legends, where numerous names have long dominated the national game, most notably T1 (formerly SKT T1) with the legend Faker.
This morning, June 11, 2021 (Vietnam time), the Vietnamese League of Legends community was stirred when Gen.G Esports – the runner-up of the LCK Spring 2021 – announced on their official website that they were recruiting players for all positions from Vietnam to strengthen their Gen.G Academy team and to compete in the LCK Challengers League (the second tier of the LCK region).
A number of well-known players and figures in the Vietnamese League of Legends scene eagerly shared this information. Notably, names like Dia1, Yijin, and coach Ren half-jokingly expressed their desire to apply for this recruitment.
In fact, while Yijin may be too old for the recruitment, Dia1 is fully capable of becoming a member of Gen.G’s academy. Coach Ren, known for his ability to discover and train young players who shone in the Saigon Buffalo team during Spring 2021, has even led some to envision the possibility of seeing the “Buffaloes” donning the Gen.G Academy jersey, as they all meet the selection criteria of the Korean team.
Some opinions suggest that Gen.G mainly wants to promote its image, as currently, the LCK does not allow foreign players to compete, and the chances for Vietnamese players to reach the highest world-class tournaments are almost nonexistent. However, this is still a great opportunity for young players to gain exposure to one of the most professional Esports environments.
Regardless of the reasons, those who have the opportunity to go to South Korea will undoubtedly learn a lot and enjoy better income compared to the general standards of the domestic Esports scene. And who knows, among those names, there might be another SofM, helping to elevate the VCS region on the world stage.