Gen.G’s Struggles Continue, Threatening Their VCT Pacific Playoff Hopes

The ongoing superweek in the VCT Pacific League has brought about unexpected results and a significant shift in the standings.

While some teams have capitalized on the extra VALORANT matches, others, like Gen.G Esports, are experiencing a downward spiral that may cost them a spot in the Pacific League playoffs.

Gen.G began the year on a high note, putting up a strong fight against last year’s VCT Champions LOUD in their debut as a franchised roster. Despite the loss, they showcased impressive gameplay, creating high expectations for their performance in the VCT Pacific League, which started in March.

Initially, Gen.G lived up to those expectations, led by their composed in-game leader TS and star support player k1Ng. They dominated their opponents, with many considering them as the second-best team in the region, just behind Korean superstars DRX.

However, their fortunes took a turn for the worse when they faced DRX in Seoul. Although Gen.G became the first team to break DRX’s perfect map record, they ultimately lost the match, fueling doubts about their standing in the region.

Since that match on April 22, Gen.G suffered a nine-map losing streak over 22 days, only breaking the streak with a map win against ZETA this week. During this period, they suffered 2-0 defeats to Global Esports and Talon Esports, two of the league’s underperforming teams.

What is concerning is that Gen.G has yet to identify the root cause of their poor performance. In their match against ZETA, the struggles that have plagued them recently became even more apparent.

Meteor, Gen.G’s Jett player who was expected to be a key asset, has struggled to make an impact in recent weeks. Unlike other teams in the Pacific League with standout duelist players, Gen.G lacks that spark.

Additionally, k1Ng, known for his clutch performances, has fallen below his usual standard. His absence is palpable, both for the team and spectators.

On the other hand, ZETA has shown improvement, particularly with Laz’s outstanding performance.

While Gen.G briefly showed signs of a comeback on Ascent, their spark fizzled out on Fracture, where they only managed to secure four rounds. As Gen.G suffered their fifth consecutive loss, ZETA secured a playoff spot, giving them the opportunity to compete for a spot at Masters Tokyo.

Meanwhile, Gen.G finds themselves in a tight race with Rex Regum Qeon and Team Secret for the remaining two playoff spots. With just two days of regular season matches remaining, RRQ and Secret each have one match left, whereas Gen.G has none, leaving them in a precarious position.