VCS Summer 2021 has officially set its start date for June 24, featuring 8 teams including: GAM Esports, Saigon Buffalo, Team Secret, Cerberus Esports, SBTC Esports, Team Flash, Burst The Sky Esports, and Luxury Esports.
Thus, compared to VCS Spring 2021, this summer tournament does not welcome any new names, as BTS and LX have successfully retained their spots after exceeding the VCS Summer 2021 Promotion Round.
One of the most notable updates for the summer tournament is the change in the Playoffs format. Unlike the spring tournament, VCS Summer 2021 Playoffs will apply a double elimination format.
The top 5 teams from the group stage will secure 5 spots in the Playoffs. The 4 teams ranked from 2nd to 5th will play in 2 opening matches. The 2 winning teams will advance, while the 2 losing teams will drop to the lower bracket. Teams will compete in a ladder format, while the 1st place team from the group stage will go directly to the upper bracket finals. The winners of the upper and lower bracket finals will meet in the Grand Finals, securing 2 spots for VCS to represent at Worlds 2021.
The champion of VCS Summer 2021 will earn a direct ticket to the group stage, while the runner-up will receive a spot in the Play-in round. With this format, the team finishing 1st in the group stage will enjoy significant advantages, as they only need to participate in a maximum of 2 matches and just win the upper bracket final to secure a ticket to Worlds.
Meanwhile, the team that finishes in the top 5 in the summer group stage will also qualify for the Playoffs, meaning that even if they maintain the 5th position as they did in the spring tournament, fans of SBTC Esports will no longer have to regret missing out on a Playoffs spot.