The journey of Vivo Keyd Stars to the League of Legends World Championship has been challenging, but their most significant hurdles emerged off the stage.
The Brazilian team struggled to find scrim partners during the Swiss stages of Worlds 2025, as most other teams declined to practice with them.
«Given our rough performance in Swiss, it’s understandable that teams wouldn’t want to scrim with us. I literally went room to room asking, even for just one scrim. Thanks to CTBC Flying Oyster (CFO) and the Chinese practice squad, we managed to get some help,» commented Head Coach Christopher «SeeEl» Lee in an interview.
The situation was compounded by travel constraints. After a grueling 50-hour flight to China, coupled with only two days to adjust, VKS found themselves behind on their preparatory work and dealing with sleep deprivation.
According to the coach, the team encountered visa issues following the LTA Championship, requiring them to return to Brazil before flying to China for the tournament. They spent 15 hours in Amsterdam and three in Madrid, while other teams were already focusing on their tournament strategies. As top teams prioritized competitive practice, the Brazilians found themselves effectively sidelined in the pre-Worlds environment.
In spite of these challenges, VKS demonstrated their determination onstage, achieving a hard-earned 2-1 victory over PSG Talon, keeping their hopes alive in the tournament. SeeEl expressed his confidence in his players, believing they have the potential to surprise their opponents.
Limited access to quality scrims can significantly impact a team’s performance, hindering their ability to prepare for the current meta. Recently, FlyQuest shared how their subpar scrim outcomes affected their results. However, the generosity of CFO and their readiness to assist ensured that VKS could still make some progress.
In a competition characterized by rivalries, CFO’s understated act of support might have been one of the most significant moments of Worlds 2025, enabling a smaller region to showcase their full potential. VKS is now set to face BLG in their next match to continue their quest in the competition.
