Thus, the VCS Spring 2024 season has concluded with GAM Esports crowned champions. It can be said that after a turbulent season like this Spring, the fact that the tournament could end as smoothly as possible with a commendable performance from all four teams in the playoffs is somewhat of a consolation for the Vietnamese LoL audience. However, currently, alongside teams and players training for MSI or resting after a stressful season, fans are eagerly waiting for the upcoming tournament in China, but there are likely still questions awaiting answers from VCS organizers and Riot.
Will VCS participate in MSI?
This is a question that likely arose right after GAM won the VCS Spring 2024 championship. Although Riot’s media outlets have announced that GAM is the team qualified for MSI 2024, under the current conditions, no one can be certain that GAM will make it to China. This uncertainty stems from the allegations of wrongdoing, and it is almost certain that Riot will impose appropriate penalties on Vietnamese LoL, as all eight teams have players under additional investigation.
The penalties could include a reduction in the number of World Championship spots for VCS or a hefty fine. However, it could also involve banning VCS teams from participating in MSI 2024. Furthermore, the GAM roster that won the tournament is a patched-up team, not necessarily the strongest possible. Therefore, if VCS is banned from participating in MSI 2024 to facilitate the investigation and punishment, it would be understandable.
Will players under additional investigation retain their titles or MSI 2024 eligibility if cleared?
Among the 32 individuals under additional investigation, there may be some who are innocent and entirely unrelated to the wrongdoing. If they return, it means they will restore their status as players and be able to compete again. But will the titles (if any) that they missed during the investigation period be restored, and can these players participate in MSI 2024 (in the cases of Blazes and Pyshiro) or not?
According to a statement on his stream channel, caster Hoàng Luân believes that the aforementioned players, once verified as innocent, can normally receive their titles and MSI spots. However, this is merely information from the caster and not from VCS organizers or Riot. Therefore, everything remains uncertain and can only be known upon an official announcement from the tournament organizers.
When will VCS organizers and Riot announce the final results of the match-fixing investigation?
At this point, as VCS Spring 2024 has concluded, it can be believed that nearly all attention from the Vietnamese LoL audience will be focused entirely on the allegations of wrongdoing weighing on the entire region. It is highly likely that VCS organizers and Riot will make an announcement before MSI 2024 begins so that teams have enough time to prepare for the tournament, such as GAM. Moreover, the investigation process will likely require utmost thoroughness, especially since the incident could change the landscape of Vietnamese LoL forever.
The audience of both domestic and international LoL, as well as professionals and the media, are all very concerned about the situation. And as everyone understands, “waiting is not scary, what’s scary is not knowing how long to wait.” Perhaps the moment we wait for VCS organizers and Riot to provide the final announcement is as tense as watching LoL matches to date.
Conclusion
The answers provided by VCS organizers and Riot will change the landscape of Vietnamese LoL. However, regardless of the outcome, the audience needs announcements and solutions for the allegations of wrongdoing. Only then can the Vietnamese LoL ecosystem develop healthily in the future.