EVOS Esports made its debut in VCS in early 2018 with a roster full of experienced players from competitors to coaching positions. Names like Warzone, Slay, Stark, Yijin, and RonOP were at the peak of their careers, and under the guidance of coach Violet, they convincingly secured the VCS Spring 2018 championship, even performing exceptionally well at MSI 2018 afterwards.
It’s uncertain if their early success (winning the VCS in their first season after being promoted from Division B) led to a slowdown for EVOS, but they indeed struggled for a long time afterward. They often found themselves stuck in mid-table, managing to reach the top 4 but never really being seen as contenders for the VCS title. As this team lacked competitiveness, veterans like RonOP, Slay, and Stark, along with young talents like Dia1, gradually left.
Entering the VCS Summer 2020, with a roster that showed little improvement in quality and strength compared to Spring, many imagined EVOS would struggle to reach the top 4 once again. The team itself is fully aware of its current situation and was forced to make a very bold move to enhance its strength, image, and popularity—acquiring the “Demon King” Zeros.
Since his arrival, Zeros has always been the center of attention in VCS, from his outstanding gameplay to his actions, even facing penalties has garnered immense attention from gamers. Therefore, acquiring Zeros gives EVOS a significant following, and the weight of the name “White Tiger” has increased somewhat. Not to mention, his handsome face is something every team desires for their image.
The above points highlight the influence of media, but what about the professional aspect? How does acquiring Zeros differ from EVOS dismantling its traditional playstyle? Indeed, EVOS Esports has always pursued a control and team-fight style reminiscent of Korean play, but their recent performance shows this style is no longer effective. Even the model they have followed, LCK teams, have significantly regressed.
Consequently, acquiring Zeros is likely part of this team’s plan to shift its playstyle, wanting positions like jungle and mid-lane, and somewhat support, to play more proactively. To do this, you need a player with an aggressive approach in lane who always seeks to create advantages—among the names brought up in the summer transfer window, who is better than Zeros at this?
Moreover, the current game meta does not allow you to play safely; avoiding mistakes does not guarantee victory. The newly released champions bring too many surprises, and the increasingly diverse strategic movements will disrupt traditional control scenarios. EVOS needs to evolve, and they need Zeros to do this as easily as possible.
Although both EVOS and Zeros had dismal performances in week 1 of the VCS, this is the price the team is willing to pay to adapt to the new meta and playstyle. They may have to spend the entire first phase to accomplish this, but once they master the new playstyle, they could emerge as a serious contender for the championship.
