In the development journey of the game League of Legends (LoL), the VCS region has faced numerous challenges in every aspect. The reasons stem from the still-young esports scene, insufficient investments from sponsors, and tournaments being put on hold due to objective reasons… In terms of talent, the VCS region is not significantly inferior to many other regions in the world, and may even be a bit better than them.
In the years 2020 and 2021, the VCS region faced countless challenges in developing the game League of Legends. The situation became even more concerning as mobile games began to rise, and the market share of LoL started to decline. Last year, the VCS Summer tournament was even not held, leading many to believe that the lifespan of LoL was no longer long.
However, this year, the VCS region made a strong comeback at the SEA Games, the Mid Season Invitational, and the recent World Championship (Worlds). Although their journey has ended, the image of the VCS region remains etched in the memories of the international community. Now is the time to look back at the journey of Vietnam’s representatives at this year’s World Championship.
VCS Achievements
In terms of VCS’s achievements at Worlds 2022, our region did not fulfill its mission well. From the outset, Saigon Buffalo (SGB) set a goal to reach the group stage of Worlds. As for GAM Esports, they wanted to perform at their best but the team’s ambition was to reach the Quarterfinals of Worlds. However, Saigon Buffalo was eliminated in the play-in stage after losing to MAD Lions with a score of 1-3, while GAM also finished the group stage with a score of 1-5.
Therefore, both VCS teams did not achieve their pre-set goals. However, the opponents that both SGB and GAM faced were very strong; they came from well-developed regions with systematic investment, so this result was not surprising. After 2 years of absence in the international arena, the Worlds 2022 tournament was a test to verify where Vietnam stands on the global LoL map. The result shows that we are stronger than before, but the opponents have not stood still; they have even made further progress. Overall, Worlds 2022 was truly necessary for us to understand our own strength and to find a way to develop esports in the future.
The Spirit of Perseverance
Regardless of the field, the indomitable spirit always flows in every Vietnamese person, including in esports. First, the journey to the World Championship for the two VCS representatives was extremely difficult. While other regions practiced strategies, we had to overcome challenges to resolve visa issues. We had to wait until the last minute for both teams SGB and GAM to receive information that they could travel to Mexico and the US to participate in the tournament. After that, they rushed to catch their flights to arrive at the venue in time, avoiding missing out on an important event.
After much hardship, the Vietnamese teams finally arrived at the competition venue. They did not have much time to practice before the season and to adapt to the weather conditions. However, both SGB and GAM did their utmost to compete against very strong representatives from around the world. With a very young average age of players, they all deserve encouragement from the domestic LoL community.
Spreading the Hospitality and Friendliness of the Vietnamese People
Although arriving in North America quite late, the VCS region still made a strong impression in the international LoL community. First, our region possesses an aggressive fighting style that excites both live audiences and viewers worldwide. From international chat channels and forums, they praised the VCS region, clearly expressing their enjoyment of the gameplay of the Vietnamese representatives.
After each match, the local audience always chanted the names of our players and teams. In response, the interviewees also gave their all to the audience at the venue. Players like Froggy and Levi enthusiastically expressed their gratitude to the international LoL fans, gradually winning the hearts of the audience.
In the media, both SGB and GAM received fond affection from other teams. GAM was always cheered on by the teams in Group C, while SGB was invited to enjoy a buffet meal with fans. The images of VCS representatives at Worlds 2022 provided the international community with a positive view of the Vietnamese people and the country.
An Unforgettable Worlds for Vietnam’s Representatives
Even though the results were not truly outstanding, Worlds 2022 was a memorable tournament for both SGB and GAM. After this event, we will have more competitive experience on the international stage and understand our strength to develop in the future. Additionally, the image of Vietnam in the eyes of international friends is also a notable highlight at the biggest LoL festival on the planet.