In the decisive match of the 2021 Worlds play-in stage, Beyond Gaming fell to Hanwha Life Esports. Despite the loss, 18-year-old AD carry Doggo earned plenty of praise from fans and experts alike. Making his Worlds debut, Doggo showed incredible composure and skill. He was the driving force behind BYG’s run in Iceland, and even against the more experienced Korean team and veteran AD Deft, Doggo held his own in lane.
Doggo’s talent is undeniable, and many predict he’ll be one of the hottest names in the upcoming transfer market after Worlds 2021. At just 18, his future is wide open, and it’s unlikely BYG will be able to hold onto their star AD for long.
Meanwhile, in the VCS, former Team Secret AD Slayder posted a status that caught attention: “Watching Doggo play and hearing people say I should head to the LPL or go abroad to get crushed… It’s sad… but honestly, it’s kind of funny.”
It seems Slayder’s post was simply to express confidence that he can make an impact abroad. In the VCS, Slayder is also seen as a talented AD carry who can carry his team. Currently a free agent, there’s been plenty of buzz about him moving overseas. He’s even been grinding Korean ranked to chase opportunities in the LPL.
However, many Vietnamese netizens criticized and mocked Slayder under the post. While some comments may have been hidden by him, the main sentiment was that Slayder was coming off as overly arrogant.
Most comments, however, agreed that confidence is a good thing and that Slayder has already proven his skill in the VCS. As for going abroad or competing internationally, he hasn’t had the chance yet, so no one can say he’ll fail. With the VCS missing international events for two years straight, Slayder’s talent hasn’t been tested on the global stage, but that doesn’t mean he can’t prove himself if given the opportunity.
Slayder himself responded strongly to the negative comments on his status. He pointed out that since Doggo is young and already showing great skill coming from a region on par with the VCS, there’s no reason VCS players can’t do the same. He added sharply, “If you keep self-deprecating, you’ll always be left behind.”
Historically, the VCS has shown its strength whenever it had chances to compete internationally, and several VCS players have gone abroad. While only SofM has achieved major success so far, others like Levi and Noway have returned with improved game sense and skills.
Slayder is already a standout talent in the VCS, sought after by top teams. At just 20 years old, his career is still young. He’s shown strong ambition and determination by grinding Korean ranked, reaching Challenger with 775 LP.
Self-deprecating attitudes from a minority of Vietnamese LoL fans are nothing new, especially since the VCS is often seen as a weaker region. But the VCS has surprised the international community before. With current skill levels and relentless effort, if Slayder or anyone else gets a chance abroad, the world might just see a new SofM or Levi rise, bringing glory to Vietnamese LoL on the global stage.
