The VCS teams in League of Legends were once known as one of the greatest wildcard regions. At every international event they attended, the drawing of Vietnamese team in any group posed a major threat. The region as a whole was known for upsetting LCK/LPL titans with off-meta picks and hyper aggressive playstyles. After the breakup of the LMS, the regions divided into the PCS and the VCS. The signature Vietnamese playstyle only codified further in their own isolated region.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed nearly every aspect of life around the globe. Few countries were hit as hard by the sudden onset of the virus as Vietnam. Even now, numbers only continue to grow and travel restrictions have severely limited the ability for citizens to enter and exit the country. Naturally this national crisis has extended into the esports realm and severely inhibited the region.
Along with missing Worlds 2020 and MSI 2021, the region was also just announced to have canceled their entire Summer Split. Previously, the top two teams were promised a spot at Worlds despite the sudden end of their season. Recently, the change of regions from China to Europe complicated the situation, and it was announced that the VCS would once again miss an international event. This is just one in a long string of disappointments for Vietnam, however this could have serious repercussions.
Faces of the VCS, such as Do “Levi” Duy Khanh, expressed their frustration with this decision as months of practice ultimately led to nothing. The LPL is no stranger to taking players from their immediate vicinity. Players from South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam have all made the journey to China to compete on one of the largest domestic stages. Just last year Le “SofM” Quang Duy made history by becoming the first Vietnamese player to make the World finals with Suning Gaming.
With the decision to cut the Summer Split and the region missing their second straight Worlds, we could see more players flocking to the LPL. The region is not lacking in talent however that talent is currently being massively under utilized. The top players in this region could easily find new homes in the LPL and even potentially the LCS. This would seriously damage the development of new talent in Vietnam, as new players would get little stage or international experience.
Over the years, large organizations have entered the VCS after their split from the LMS. Organizations such as Team Secret entered the scene because of its promising growth, which clearly has taken a hit in the past year. In the worst case scenario, we may start to see the biggest names and investors pull out of the VCS due to their international irrelevance. This would only speed up the downard tailspin of the region, and financially leave the region in a much worse state.
Ultimately, the fate of the VCS is at a crossroads at the moment. This most recent cancellations have left players, organizations, and fans frustrated with their current situations. The consequences of these decisions could be deleterious.
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