It was expected that the two VCS representatives would perform better in the second round of the group stage of the VCSxPCS friendly tournament; however, on this second day of competition, VCS suffered a devastating loss with four consecutive defeats against the representatives from PCS.
The first match was between GAM Esports and Talon Esports. Although leading significantly, the VCS representative allowed their opponent to secure too many major objectives. In the end, GAM Esports faced a heartbreaking loss.
In the match between Team Flash and Machi Esports, the VCS representative suffered a heavy defeat in a 5v5 team fight. It can be said that the positioning and macro abilities of the opponent were superior to Team Flash, as their damage-dealing core posed no threat to the enemy’s main carries.
By the fifth match, GAM Esports finally secured their first victory in this VCSxPCS friendly tournament. This match was one-sided, but GAM Esports’ opponent was not from PCS but rather Team Flash.
In the final match of the tournament, GAM Esports was completely obliterated by Machi Esports. All plans for team fights seemed to have been seen through and shattered by the champion Mordekaiser. The reason was that whenever Levi attempted to engage using the Crowstorm (R), he would be pulled directly into the Realm of Death (R) of Mordekaiser, losing all area damage as well as the major objectives being contested.
On this second day of competition, the only victory for the VCS teams was GAM Esports’ win over Team Flash, while VCS’s record against PCS was a complete failure.
At the end of the group stage, Talon Esports held firm at the top with five wins. With that top position, this team has directly advanced to the finals awaiting their opponent. Meanwhile, the two teams Machi Esports and Team Flash will meet in the semifinals.
Due to various reasons such as unstable internet connection, team members not having a common voice, and unfamiliarity with the opponent’s playstyle, VCS faced quite a painful defeat against the representatives from PCS. However, one undeniable fact is that compared to the general level of VCS, Talon Esports and Machi Esports are too strong. One team has two members and a coach from Korea, while the other is a dark horse that has dominated the domestic tournament with a 12-match winning streak. So, even though this is a friendly tournament combined with a smaller league, PCS still has many formidable opponents from the old LMS.
After all, VCS still has one last glimmer of hope resting on Team Flash’s shoulders. We hope the reigning VCS champions will showcase their peak performance in the playoffs. Because although this is a friendly tournament, it clearly demonstrates the strength between the regions, a necessary stepping stone for the upcoming 2020 World Championship.