Currently, the SEA Games 31 qualifiers and the VCS Spring 2022 are happening simultaneously. The Vietnamese LoL teams are competing with a packed schedule, but all are focused on the goal of securing spots in these tournaments. If in SEA Games 31, the champion of the qualifiers will be considered the representative of Vietnamese LoL, wearing the national team jersey to compete in Hanoi in May. Meanwhile, in VCS Spring 2022, with the pandemic situation deemed somewhat stable, the opportunity to return to the MSI stage after two years of absence is becoming increasingly clear.
However, a few days ago, there was some news that caused the VCS community to buzz. Specifically, some sources reported that if the same team qualifies for both MSI 2022 and wins the SEA Games 31 qualifiers for LoL, that team can only participate in SEA Games 31. In fact, this could be anticipated as MSI is usually held after the Spring Split ends, which is around early to mid-May. Meanwhile, SEA Games 31 also takes place around the same time. It’s clear that a team cannot participate in both tournaments simultaneously. Therefore, the above information is not surprising but has sparked much debate.
First, SEA Games 31 certainly cannot be compared to MSI in terms of prize money and professional quality. Moreover, according to some VCS viewers’ arguments, international tournaments are crucial to the future of VCS teams. Riot can completely reconsider the participation of VCS teams in international competitions if the representative team does not perform well or cannot attend international tournaments for a long time. This is also a concern for VCS fans. On the other hand, in terms of professional quality, SEA Games 31 will struggle to compare with MSI – a place where truly strong teams, the big names in the LoL world, compete.
However, SEA Games 31 is a matter of national pride and is the responsibility of every athlete, whether traditional or Esports. As we know, LoL is the event that many viewers expect to win gold. This is because VCS is considered the strongest LoL region in Southeast Asia. Moreover, how emotional it is to stand in the ranks of the Vietnamese team, singing the national anthem, proudly telling parents and relatives that playing games can also bring glory to the country. Furthermore, winning gold in LoL can also help change parents’ perceptions to have a more accurate view of Esports in general and LoL in particular.
As most viewers know, a LoL team wants to survive; aside from prize money from tournaments, there must also be salaries for players, facilities… and the owners/investors are responsible for these aspects. The prize money from tournaments will help ease the financial burden on owners, especially after years affected by the pandemic. In this regard, as mentioned above, SEA Games cannot compare to MSI. And the players, while competing in their team’s colors, will also be affected accordingly. In fact, some top teams have shown signs of “giving up” on SEA Games 31, such as CERBERUS Esports only sending their second team, or the contrasting performance of GAM in VCS Spring and the SEA Games 31 qualifiers.
But a question arises: if choosing MSI, are VCS teams or players capable enough to make an impression and achieve high results at this tournament? Currently in VCS, in each position, there are almost no outstanding or stable names, except for a few players like Levi (GAM), EGO, Artemis (CES). However, Levi is 25 this year – an age that can be considered “a bit old” to start rebuilding a career abroad. EGO and Artemis are younger but EGO just faced a major scandal while Artemis demands that the whole team always resources him. Each player has certain shortcomings. Moreover, major regions are not lacking players who can do even better than what EGO and Artemis are currently showing.
Currently, neither the MSI 2022 spot nor the name representing Vietnam at SEA Games 31 has been confirmed, and no one knows if there will be any issues that could affect VCS’s future at MSI 2022 or not. Therefore, everything remains a debate. But clearly, the teams and the players themselves are in a situation where they must make choices that could impact their current and future teams and players. When the game is tied to national missions, every decision must be made with great care and certainty, and whichever choice will spark endless debates among Vietnamese LoL fans.