GAM Made an “Unforgivable Mistake”
The match against Fnatic can be seen as one of GAM Esports’ last chances. If they win, they would have at least two more matches (including possibly one BO3) to keep their hopes alive for advancing to the Quarterfinals of the 2024 World Championship. However, if they lose, GAM will have only one match left to save themselves. FNC is also a team that has a long-standing rivalry with GAM. But in a BO1 match where GAM is nearly cornered, no one can predict the outcome. The only problem is that while holding an advantage, GAM ended up “shooting themselves in the foot.”
According to SofM’s analysis while watching GAM’s match, the team made a critically fatal mistake. They chose Kai’Sa and Smolder, both of which are extremely hardcore champions. Alongside them was Jax to at least hold his own against Gnar from FNC. However, instead of accepting that Kiaya might lose his lane, GAM continued to funnel resources into Kiaya as a habitual practice.
In the first few minutes, GAM attempted a lane swap. But just five minutes in, when EasyLove hadn’t yet fully pressured Gnar in the lane, GAM reverted to their original setup with Kai’Sa back in the Bottom Lane. A champion like Kai’Sa, despite being a ranged champion, struggles against Ziggs. GAM may have a very strong Kiaya due to resource allocation, but when Smolder and Kai’Sa are rendered ineffective, these two champions are no different than minions. GAM also lacked a solid tank to absorb damage, making their subsequent team fights easy to lose.
GAM’s Playstyle Affected by Its Own Harmful Habits
Perhaps everyone understands that GAM’s playstyle has revolved around the Jungle – Top Lane axis for many years. A fortunate aspect for GAM is that they have Kiaya, who is currently in peak form and skill. However, when GAM even chose a hard carry champion for EasyLove, they seemingly “forgot” how to allocate resources to him. A strong Jax from Kiaya may not guarantee victory for GAM, but if Smolder and Kai’Sa fall behind their opponents, GAM is destined to fail.
At this point, GAM has only one last opportunity left. The VCS champions will still have the support of their home fans, but they must prepare mentally and perform at their best to save themselves.