Despite boasting one of the most promising line-ups in the VCT Pacific Stage, Bleed Esports, victors of Ascension 2023, now grapples with a string of setbacks, enduring three consecutive defeats. As the week 2 of VCT Pacific Stage comes to an end, the Singaporean finds itself anchored at the bottom of Group Alpha standings.
Following a lackluster showing at Pacific Kickoff 2024 two months ago, Bleed opted for a bold strategy shift by signing former DRX in-game leader Kim “Zest” Ki-seok and its former player Jorel “Retla” Teo to replace Ngo “crazyguy” Cong Anh and Javier “Egoist” Chua. Teamed up with the North American sensation, Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker, this roster shake-up got the Valorant community in the Asia Pacific region all fired up with excitement.
The initial thrill soon waned as Bleed failed to execute its revamped strategies, mirroring the dismal performance from previous circuit. The initial clash against Southeast Asia dark horse Talon Esports on match day one (4/7) saw the Bleed boys falter, unable to sustain the momentum garnered from game one, ultimately succumbing to its opponent’s tactical prowess in subsequent matches.
Bleed’s fortune failed to improve in the ensuing week as it faced RRQ (4/14) and the Japanese powerhouse, Zeta Division (4/16). The Indonesian underdog dealt Bleed a shocking defeat, while Zeta, who was grappling with its own problem, posed a formidable challenge. These encounters underscored Bleed’s deficiencies in both tactical acumen and mental fortitude.
Having seen the situation, critics and pros have pointed fingers at the squad’s management, spearheaded by Nikola “Legija” Ninic, attributing Bleed’s decline to organizational lapses. Notably, former Cloud9 coach Matthew “mCe” Elmore, who previously mentored yay, openly criticized Bleed’s strategic approach, citing a lack of cohesion within the team.
Bleed’s struggles are not unique within Group Alpha. T1, once touted as fan favorites, narrowly avoided elimination with a crucial victory over RRQ, while Global Esports, also still winless, maintains a higher standing than Bleed owing to a narrower deficit in losses. Nonetheless, Bleed’s struggle is glaring amidst its peers, considering it has a strong enough squad to give the competitors a run for their money.
With its playoff aspirations hanging by a thread, Bleed must rally and secure victories in at least two of the remaining matches this week. However, facing formidable adversaries in Paper Rex and DRX, the road ahead promises to be arduous. Given its current form, the specter of elimination looms ominously over Bleed.
