source: lolesports flickr

While several competitions have started (notably; LPL, LEC and LCS), the VCS is about to start on the last day of January. The eight participants of the competition will play a double round robin with best of three matches to determine the winner. Once the regular split is done, the top four teams will battle each other in the play-offs, while the bottom two will play against the top competition of the VCS B (second tier). Before we delve into the VCS, let’s look at the off-season from all teams competing.

CERBERUS Esports

CERBERUS Esports

Roster:

Top: LL, YT Jungle: Xuhao Mid: Yado Bot: Artemis, Zeldris Support: RonOP Coach: Icarus, Archie

Summary:

CERBERUS Esports had an awful summer split were they finished up bottom of the table, which resulted them into promotion/relegation matches against Adonis Esports and QTV Gaming. With that in mind they made quick several changes for their line-up.

CERBERUS Esports picked up multiple players from the VCS. The first change they made was trying to solve their jungle problem by releasing both of their junglers (Success and Potm) and grabbing Bùi “Xuhao” Hoàng Sơn Vương from Dashing Buffalo. The second change they made was an addition to their staff by bringing over Trân “Archie” Minh Nhựt from GAM Esports. And a month later, two days before the relegation battle in December they announced Trân “Artemis” Quôc Hưng from Team Flash who would replace EasyLove. With the changes implemented, they hoped to do well in the relegation matches.

CERBERUS Esports managed to sweep both Adonis Esports and QTV Gaming three to zero. We have to see how the changes impact the game that Icarus wants to play.

Dashing Buffalo

Dashing Buffalo

Roster:

Top: Hasmed, Pun Jungle: Meliodas, DK Mid: Naul Bot: Bigkoro Support: H3 Coach: Wolf

Note: Raizo and Kaizo have renamed to Hasmed and Pun

Summary:

After being considered the best team in Vietnam as Phong Vũ Buffalo in the first half of 2019, the renamed Dashing Buffalo team couldn’t relive the same successes. With Zeros leaving in summer for GAM Esports, the buffaloes ended up fourth in summer. Now in 2020 Dashing Buffalo took another few hits with one of their main carries in Palette leaving for GAM Esports, Xuhao leaving for CERBERUS Esports and both of their coaches leaving their position.

With a weakened Dashing Buffalo, they welcomed three new additions to their team. Nguyễn “DK” Đăng Khoa will fill in the hole that Xuhao left as the substitute jungler. DK briefly played previously for SGD, playing in the promotion/relegation tournament. Lê “Hai” Hoàng Hải joins in from EVOS Esports where he played the summer split of 2019. Hai shared the support position on EVOS Esports with Biob. Dashing Buffalos coach will be Trân “Wolf” Hữu Vinh.

On paper, Dashing Buffalo looks weaker than ever and fans of the team should have little expectations of the roster. It is up to the long standing existing members in Naul and Bigkoro to carry the torch for Dashing Buffalo.

EVOS Esports

EVOS Esports

Roster:

Top: Hiro, But1 Jungle: Sorn Mid: Pake, Coyote Bot: Divkid Support: Bie, Harbinger Coach: Violet

Note: Coyote switched position from Top to Mid.

Summary:

When we think about EVOS Esports, we think about their 2018 Mid-Season Invitational run. Clinching wins against international powerhouses in Team Liquid and Fnatic. And on top of that the recognition of the Vietnamese region internationally. Things have changed since 2018 and EVOS Esports has to field smaller budget teams in order to compete in the VCS. EVOS Esports finished fifth in the summer regular split of 2019, just outside of play-offs contention. With that in mind, some changes had to be made in order to compete in the top again.

The biggest thing that happened for EVOS Esports is that their star mid-laner Dia1 left the team for GAM Esports. Dia1 was considered the carrying forces alongside the current jungler Sorn. The new mid-laner for the team will be Huỳnh “Pake” Thanh Hoàng, who played behind Yado on CERBERUS Esports. For Pake it will be a tough task to replace what Dia1 had to offer. On the topside of the map we have Trân “Hiro” Lê Trung Hậu who joins EVOS Esports. The 17-year old top-laner will join the team from the relegated QTV Gaming. Even though QTV Gaming relegated, the youngster had some great performances against several VCS teams. Trân “Bie” Đức Hiêu joins over from FTV Esports, where he played most notably champions with pick potential such as Lux, Morgana and Thresh.The last member, who also makes his return on the EVOS Esports roster is Đoàn “Harbinger” Nguyễn Dương. Harbinger will fill in the substitute support position for the previous support Hai, who left for Dashing Buffalo.

EVOS Esports can be content with how the off-season went. Losing Dia1 to GAM Esports was inevitable, but they gained a strong top-laner in Hiro in return. A very young roster that will be guided by Violet that are looking for success.

FTV Esports

FTV Esports

Roster:

Top: Rika Jungle: Potm Mid: Victory, Kuroko Bot: Police Support: Tiger Coach: Harry

Note: Kuroko switched position from Jungle to Mid.

Summary:While a lot of teams were making big changes, FTV Esports remained silent. After finishing sixth in the regular standings of summer split 2019, they barely managed to stay in the VCS without having to play promotion/relegation matches. A wonder of 3 won matches in a row caused FTV Esports to not end up bottom lasts with wins against their fellow bottom tier teams in QTV Gaming and CERBERUS Gaming. Great, but what is next for FTV Esports?

With Bie and MeoCon leaving for EVOS Esports and Super Guys Destroyers, Văn “Potm” Hữu Bảo was brought in to play in the jungler position. Their previous main jungler in Kuroko switches position from the jungle to the midlane. Kuroko is not unfamiliar with the position, as he had played the position in the previous summer split for FTV Esports before switching to jungle again. Their second acquirement was a rookie; Đinh “Taki” Anh Tài. It is unknown why Taki left FTV Esports after a month joining the team.

FTV Esports will have a tough time competing with the rest when no clear upgrades were made. Their hopes will be on Police and Rika to carry the team to a safe place, although even with both of the players playing well it is up to the other players to step it up as well.

GAM Esports

GAM Esports

Roster:

Top: Kiaya Jungle: Levi Mid: Dia1 Bot: Slay, EasyLove, Blazes Support: Palette, Hieu3 Coach: Yuna, Iris

Note: Kiaya and Slay roleswap (back) to top and adc.

Summary:

The most prestigious League of Legends team in Vietnam is returning after being eliminated in the group stages of the World Championship 2019 in Europe. With only netting a single win against the Taiwanese representative J-Team, it was not the GAM Esports where many fans had high expectations of. With that in mind, the organization needed changes to have more success internationally, while also stay on top domestically.

GAM Esports picked up several different star players from various teams in the VCS, while also releasing a few. After good performances from the substitute top position, Yoshino went to Team Flash as their starting top laner in December. The main top Zeros also left, but it is still unknown where he will end up. With both leaving GAM Esports, Kiaya will return to his original position where he started his career. For the mid lane, Lê “Dia1” Phú Quý comes from EVOS Esports. As for the bottom lane; Hứa “EasyLove” Thành An will fill in the substitute position as adc, Slay will also be roleswapping back to adc and Nguyễn “Palette” Hải Trung will be the support. Dia1 and Palette are regarded as high tier prospects that could elevate GAM Esports team ever further than before.

It will be very interesting whether or not the changes of the roster will be an upgrade or a downgrade. We need to see if their playstyle changes from the 2019 summer split with the new additions for the roster, and if the new roster lives up to the fans expectations.

Lowkey Esports

Lowkey Esports

Roster:

Top: Hani, Coated Jungle: DNK Mid: Artifact Bot: Celebrity, Yin Support: Venus Coach: Nixwater

Summary:

Lowkey Esports surprisingly qualified with a miraculous run in the play-offs by upsetting Team Flash three to one for a worlds ticket in 2019. The organization also made their name by upsetting the Korean powerhouses DAMWON Gaming by taking off a set in a best-of-five match, being the first Vietnamese team to do so. Even though they failed to qualify for the main stage at worlds, they can be proud of their accomplishment.

The team made little to no changes. In the off-season, Lowkey Esports acquired several trainees and officially announced Đinh “Coated” Văn Tráng for top lane and Văn “Yin” Phúc An Khang for their main roster. In addition to that, the other trainees are; Lại “Akame” Nguyễn Anh Khoa (top), Trân “Pampy” Công Tình (mid) and Nguyễn “Bunzz” Trọng Nghĩa (support).

In spring it will determine if Lowkey Esports can stay in the play-offs positions without little changes made. Fans expected a change on toplane, since Hani was a burden for the team overall. We could see Coated make his rookie debut for Lowkey Esports.

Team Flash

Team Flash

Roster:

Top: Yoshino, Stark Jungle: YiJin Mid: Kati Bot: Slayder Support: CBL Coach: Sergh

Summary:

With Sky Gaming Daklak getting acquired by Team Flash in summer split 2019, the team competed for the first time under the new name. Team Flash was expected to be the second team to be competing in worlds 2019, but after losing to both GAM Esports and Lowkey Esports their team mental collapsed.

In the off-season to everyone’s surprises, Optimus left the team after two years of competing. Optimus was regarded as the leader of the team and also one of their main reasons why they did so well. Artemis, who played as substitute behind Slayder also went a different direction by joining CERBERUS Esports. Lastly, it is unknown where Hinn is going. Former substitute toplaner Lê “Yoshino” Trung Kiên joins in from GAM Esports. Yoshino had tremendous performances in summer when Zeros had his seven week ban in the competition. On the mid lane position, Kati makes his return on the main roster after Optimus has stepped down. Kati is formerly known as PuppyK and Khanh.

With the addition of Yoshino, Team Flash upgraded from the toplane position in favor of Stark. However their midlane position with Optimus leaving might be weaker than normally, it is up to Slayder, YiJin and CBL to pick it up with existing synergy.

V Gaming Adonis

V Gaming Adonis

Roster:

Top: CHP, Django Jungle: Y1 Mid: PHT Bot: Vit Support: Biob, Hype, Scary, Suffer Coach: Hope

Summary:

V Gaming Adonis, formerly known as Adonis Esports has qualified for the VCS through defeating QTV Gaming in the promotion/relegation matches. A new team mixed with several old and new faces will compete on the rift against the other VCS teams.

The team will have four support players that will play for V Gaming Adonis. Nguyễn “Hype” Trọng Nhân and Nguyễn “Scary” Hải Hà join the existing roster. Hype previously played on the roster with most of the players on Đạt Gaming. With Scary on the roster they have a veteran that could lead the way for the young squad. Although Scary hasn’t played competitive for three years, the experience from previous splits can definitely help the team.

With the core team members in PHT, Vit and Biob all staying, the team could make some swings in the VCS. We can be excited what new blood could do in the VCS and it can only positively affect the players.

How will the VCS do overall?

With the VCS making several big roster changes in the league it is beyond exciting what it could offer in terms of competitiveness. The VCS will start at January 31st on 10am GMT, with the first match being Team Flash vs. EVOS Esports.

You can catch all the action on the official Vietnamese broadcast or the unofficial English broadcast.