In the decisive match of the play-in round of Worlds 2021, Beyond Gaming faced defeat against Hanwha Life Esports. However, the 18-year-old ADC Doggo received much praise from fans and experts alike. In his first appearance at Worlds, Doggo demonstrated incredible skill and tenacity. He was the driving force behind BYG’s journey in the tournament in Iceland, and even in the match against HLE, despite the superiority of the Korean team and veteran ADC Deft, Doggo consistently had a strong laning phase against his senior.
Doggo’s talent is undeniable, and many are predicting that after Worlds 2021, he will be one of the hottest names in the transfer market. At just 18 years old, his future is bright, and it’s certain that BYG will struggle to retain their talented ADC.
Meanwhile, in the VCS, Slayder – the former ADC of Team Secret – posted a noteworthy status: “Watching Doggo play while many people say I should go to the LPL or go abroad to get stomped… So sad… but also funny.”
It can be understood that Slayder’s intention in posting this status was simply to express his confidence in his potential to succeed abroad. In the VCS, Slayder is also regarded as a talented ADC and one who embodies the role of carrying the team. Currently, Slayder is a free agent and has had many rumors regarding his potential move abroad. In fact, Slayder has been actively grinding ranks in Korea to seek opportunities in the LPL.
However, beneath the post, many Vietnamese netizens criticized and mocked Slayder. Although some of these comments may have been hidden by him, the general sentiment was that Slayder was being too self-satisfied.
However, the majority of comments agree that Slayder’s confidence is positive and that he has already established his level in the VCS. As for the prospect of going abroad or competing internationally, Slayder has yet to have the opportunity, so it cannot be said that he will fail. With the VCS unable to participate in international tournaments for two consecutive years, Slayder’s talent has not been proven on the international stage, but that does not mean he cannot showcase his skills if given the chance.
Slayder himself also responded to the mixed comments on his status. He stated that his point was simply that Doggo, being young, has already proven himself, coming from a region that is on par with the VCS, so there’s no reason why VCS players cannot do the same. He strongly asserted that “self-deprecating will always keep you behind others.”
In the past, the VCS has often proven its capability whenever given the chance to participate in international tournaments, and several VCS players have had the opportunity to play abroad. While only SofM has achieved success so far, other names like Levi and Noway returned with greatly improved skill and mentality.
Slayder himself is already a very talented name in the VCS, an ADC sought after by many big teams, and he is only 20 years old, with a long career ahead. Slayder has also shown a strong determination and commitment by consistently grinding in Korean ranks, having reached the Challenger tier (currently at 775LP).
The issue of “self-deprecation” from a minority of netizens in the Vietnamese League of Legends community is not surprising, especially when the VCS is considered a weak region in the League of Legends scene. However, the VCS has surprised international friends on many occasions, and with the current level and relentless determination, if Slayder or anyone else gets the opportunity to play abroad in the future, the world may once again witness new SofMs and Levis, bringing pride to Vietnamese League of Legends on the international stage.