The highlight of the second week of the VCS Summer 2020 is none other than the clash between “White Tiger” EVOS Esports and “Cerberus”. Whether by coincidence or some form of rivalry, these two teams are currently at completely opposite extremes when it comes to playstyle, team cohesion, and their performance in the summer league.
In terms of team cohesion, it can be said that Cerberus is currently the most unified team in the VCS. They may not have a standout star player, but their ability to support each other and move as a cohesive unit in team fights is truly astonishing. We no longer see a Cerberus that gains an early advantage only to throw the game away; instead, there is a remarkable level of stability.
A significant upgrade for Cerberus this season is their ability to quickly adapt to the meta, especially in the top lane. While other players are still practicing common champions like Mordekaiser or Aatrox, Cerberus has researched and brought Fiddlesticks to the top lane, fully equipped with armor and magic resistance for competitive play. In fact, the way they utilize this scarecrow shows that they have thoroughly practiced with him.
In contrast to Cerberus’s synergy, EVOS is still struggling to find the most suitable playstyle with their new elements, especially Zeros. Previously, EVOS Esports was a team that played methodically, looking to scale into the late game and win through team fights; they played not much differently from an LCK team.
However, with Zeros, a top laner who leans towards skill and always creates bursts of impact in lane, EVOS is having to adapt to his style. The most affected player is likely Sorn, who previously only needed to focus on vision and objectives, but now has to spend extra time in the top lane to support Zeros. Due to the unfamiliar jungle rhythm and new playstyle, Sorn had a very poor performance in week 1, in stark contrast to the outstanding performance of Xu Hao from Cerberus.
It is hard to expect EVOS to immediately find a suitable playstyle after just one week; they might even spend the entire first phase to shape their gameplay. Meanwhile, Cerberus has been together for so long, and the synergy among the members is extremely good. EVOS may have more stars and be stronger in the future, but in the upcoming matchup, it will be very difficult for the “White Tiger” to stop Cerberus’s winning streak.