Near the end of VCS Spring 2021, it was indeed a terrible time for SBTC Esports. The team, which had just been established, was in turmoil after losing their key player Zeros due to a punishment for inappropriate remarks. Shortly after, they also lost Dia1 – the team’s Mid Laner – due to “match-fixing” behavior. Fortunately for SE, Dia1 has the opportunity to return to the professional scene as his ban only lasts for one year.
Recently, on May 28, SE officially announced Dia1’s return in the “Pink Chicken” jersey. Of course, his position will still be Mid Laner since not long ago, SE parted ways with 2T – the main Mid Laner of the team in VCS Spring 2022. Although 2T’s departure is a disappointment, many believe it is also a good move for him. This is because 2T would find it hard to compete for a starting position with Dia1. While Dia1 has not played for an entire year, SE will surely prioritize a player who has proven his talent. In the same video, SE also confirmed that Celebrity has not retired.
Right below SE’s announcement about Dia1’s return, the League of Legends community in Vietnam, especially the fans of the “Pink Chicken,” are extremely thrilled and excited. Many comments praise SE’s content creation abilities and express confidence that Dia1’s return will help improve SE’s performance in the upcoming Summer split. SE even stated that their goal is to secure one of the two slots for Worlds 2022 in the VCS region.
However, there are also many opinions suggesting that Dia1 is returning after nearly a year of not playing professionally. During that time, many teams have changed, and SE’s competitors in the race for the Worlds 2022 slot (GAM, Saigon Buffalo, CERBERUS Esports, Team Secret) have all become noticeably stronger. Currently, GAM is the “undisputed champion” of the VCS, while SGB made a strong impression at MSI 2022. Therefore, the question remains whether Dia1 can shine and “carry the team.”
But still, Dia1 is a quality player who has proven his talent. Whether he can help SE improve their performance and have a chance at competing for a Worlds 2022 slot will only be seen when the VCS Summer 2022 begins, and fans will be able to have the most accurate perspective.