VCS Spring 2026: When GAM Is No Longer the Dominator, and the Depth Problem of Vietnamese Rosters

The VCS Spring 2026 concluded with an outcome no one dared to predict: GAM Esports – the team that had dominated the Vietnamese Championship Series for three consecutive years – was defeated in the group stage by a young, inexperienced but passionate roster. The 0-2 loss to Team Secret in week 5 was not just a shock in terms of scoreline, but a wake-up call for an entire system sleeping on its victories. Looking back at the whole season, I realized the problem is not GAM, but the structure of the league and how Vietnamese teams build their rosters. In my 7 years of following and analyzing esports, I have never seen a season where the gap between teams was so narrow. Statistics from VCS Spring 2026 show: GAM Esports only won 12 out of 18 group stage matches, a much lower number compared to their own 16-2 record last season. Meanwhile, Team Secret – the 4th place team – had 10 wins, and only lost to GAM once in the first round. This shows that competition is getting fiercer, but it also exposes an uncomfortable truth: Vietnamese teams still rely on individual play rather than building a sustainable tactical system. Look at how GAM operated this season. They still have top stars like Levi and Kiaya, but their form is no longer as consistent as before. Levi – the best jungler in VCS history – only achieved a 54% objective control rate, 8% lower than last season. Kiaya, the top laner, has a KDA of 3.2, but is often caught out during the laning phase. These numbers are not random. They reflect the fact that GAM has not effectively updated their meta, and they still stick to a playstyle focused on vision control and waiting for opponent mistakes – a tactic that is outdated in the context of young teams playing at extremely high speed. Meanwhile, Team Secret – the team rated lowest before the season – showed a completely different face. They do not have expensive stars, but they have a clear tactical system and admirable team spirit. Their coach, who previously worked in Korea, applied an aggressive playstyle from the early game. Statistics show Team Secret has a 68% laning phase win rate, the highest in the tournament, and they often gain a gold advantage before 15 minutes. This comes not from individual talent, but from thorough preparation and the coaching staff's ability to read the game. But I am not writing this article to praise Team Secret. I am writing to point out a systemic problem: Vietnamese teams are too dependent on one or two stars, and when those stars decline, the whole team collapses. GAM is a typical example. When Levi is neutralized, they have no Plan B. When Kiaya loses lane, they have no way to turn the tide. This is different from Korean or Chinese teams, where roster depth is always valued and substitute players are always ready to step in. Look at the statistics on playing time of substitute players in VCS Spring 2026. In total, teams used an average of 5.2 players throughout the season, meaning they almost never rotated their roster. Meanwhile, in LCK (Korea), this number is 7.1, and in LPL (China) it is 6.8. This difference not only reflects a shortage of talent, but also shows that Vietnamese teams do not have a strategy for developing young players. They only focus on immediate results, ignoring the building of a next generation. Another blind spot I noticed is how Vietnamese teams approach the meta. While the world is shifting towards a playstyle focused on controlling major objectives and team fights in the mid-game, VCS teams still stick to a playstyle focused on laning and split-pushing. This makes them struggle when facing international teams, where speed and coordination are prioritized. I have watched many international matches of Vietnamese teams, and I noticed that they often lose in the 20-30 minute period, when opponents start controlling major objectives and creating a gold gap. But I also have to question myself: am I being too harsh on Vietnamese teams? Maybe. Because in terms of resources, Vietnamese teams cannot compare with Korean or Chinese teams. They do not have huge budgets, modern facilities, or a systematic training system. So, relying on a few stars is understandable. However, that does not mean they cannot improve. Team Secret has proven that with a smart strategy and thorough preparation, they can compete with stronger teams. So what is the solution? I believe Vietnamese teams need to change their mindset from building star-based rosters to building a flexible tactical system. This requires investment in coaching staff, data analysis, and developing young players. Additionally, the league also needs changes in format to allow teams to experiment with rosters, such as increasing the number of matches or implementing mandatory rotation rules. Looking to the future, I predict that VCS Summer 2026 will witness even fiercer competition. GAM Esports will no longer easily win the championship, and teams like Team Secret, Cerberus, or even newly emerging teams will have the opportunity to create surprises. But if Vietnamese teams do not change their approach, they will continue to lag behind the world. And that is what worries me the most. I do not write about the match, I write about what the match deliberately hides. And what VCS Spring 2026 hides is the fragility of an outdated system. Will Vietnamese teams have the courage to acknowledge and change? The answer will lie in the next season.