Manifesting Vietnam's hopes and dreams, GAM Esports successfully repeated history once more at the 2024 League of Legends World Championship by eliminating MAD Lions KOI, the LEC's third seed, from the competition. As leaders of the VCS, the team continues to impress and now moves on to a rematch against Team Liquid, hoping to replicate last year's results. On this occasion, we had the opportunity to interview TK Nguyen, the CEO and hype man of GAM Esports. Full of energy and always boosting his team's morale, he shared more about his vision for Vietnamese esports, his team's performance, and the importance of determination in competition.

You guys just kicked out Europe's third seed by eliminating MDK, how do you feel?

Anthony "TK Nguyen" Nguyễn: "I feel amazing. I’m super proud of our team for bouncing back. I mean, you saw Game 1—we got punched in the face. That might have been the fastest game at Worlds, right? It’s really hard to stay motivated and resilient, but I’m really proud of the boys for shaking it off, coming back, reverse sweeping it 2-1, and knocking out an amazing team like MAD Lions KOI.

Vietnam and other minor regions are often overlooked in favor of the major regions. What does it mean to you to defeat a European team and establish yourself among the elite in the competitive scene?

TK Nguyen: We’re always the underdog, and we thrive on that. Last year at Worlds, we knocked out Team Liquid, the third seed from the LCS. And this year, we repeated history by knocking out the third seed from the LEC. You know what? It’s been crazy, and we love it. We’re also really proud to represent and get revenge for our Viking brothers from the VCS because they also lost to MAD Lions KOI.

This could mark a renaissance for the region, as APAC is set to become the fifth major region. How does it feel to achieve this victory now, knowing the region is poised to improve even further? Do you believe Vietnam is on its way to becoming a significant player in League of Legends esports?

TK Nguyen: Yes, absolutely. We’re super excited for Vietnam and the VCS teams, including ourselves, to have the opportunity to be part of this new league, which is going to be the fifth top-tier league in LoL Esports. It’s a chance for us to bring together some of the best teams, including ones like PSG Talon. I think it will also increase the competition in our region, and it helps businesses as well. As CEO, I believe it’s crucial for us to work with Riot Games to develop a more sustainable business model that can benefit us. For Vietnam, we’re thrilled to have this opportunity to represent and take things to the next level.

You often say that taking no risks is the biggest risk you can take in life. You consistently challenge yourself, whether it’s completing the Berlin Marathon or competing at Worlds. How do you apply this philosophy to your team and your management of GAM in general?

TK Nguyen: I'm really excited to be here supporting the team. We want to push ourselves because growth happens outside your comfort zone. Today, our team had their backs against the wall—down 0-1 in the series and facing elimination. It's about how we step up, push ourselves, and do what it takes to get to the next stage. We’re excited to have a few more days here in Berlin at Worlds, and we hope to make some history and inspire belief out there.

Do you believe you can reach the quarterfinals? Where do you think this team can ultimately end up?

TK Nguyen: Today, we got punched in the face, and there were moments when I started to wonder what was happening. However, the team stayed resilient. We pushed ourselves and came together as one. It's that saying: rise as one—and that’s exactly what we did. Our goal isn’t just to win the next match but also the one after that, to make it into the top eight. Vietnam has never reached the top eight, and that’s our goal for this year. We're getting closer, but we’ll need your support. Please send a lot of love to GAM, and we want to thank you for all the support so far.

With the region experiencing significant economic growth in recent years, do you believe Vietnam could soon reach the same level of professionalism as leagues like the LEC and LCS?

TK Nguyen: Absolutely, that’s why I’m here. We have a lot of raw talent in Vietnam, but with the right ecosystem, along with more support from Riot Games, the developers, and all the organizations, we can elevate the industry and raise the standards here in Vietnam. That’s our plan, and we hope to champion it and push it forward—but we’ll need your support.

You were born in the U.S. but chose to return to Vietnam to embrace your roots and become the CEO of GAM. What motivated you to decide to return to Vietnam and take on this role at GAM?

TK Nguyen: It’s an exciting time to be in Vietnam, a place full of opportunity. I returned to Vietnam to contribute to its economy, which is currently one of the fastest-growing in the world, especially in Southeast Asia. Esports has been growing here too, similar to developed regions like the EU, China, and Korea. In Vietnam, there isn’t as much focus on sports entertainment, and we’re not as competitive in traditional sports. For example, Vietnam didn’t win any medals at the recent Olympics.

Maybe you'll change that as well.

TK Nguyen: We're looking to change that, especially with esports being included in the Olympics next year, the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, and the SEA Games, which are the Southeast Asian Olympics. We also have the Asian Games, and all of these tournaments now feature esports. It’s an incredibly exciting time for us to be part of this movement, and hopefully, we can bring back medals to make Vietnam proud.

Can you share more about how you view your role beyond just management? You seem to act as the team’s hype man as well.

TK Nguyen: As CEO, my role involves developing the business and ensuring we have a sustainable, profitable model. But at these matches, my focus is on supporting the team. They do an amazing job and work hard every day, sacrificing to compete on the global stage. My responsibility is to bring the energy—help them enjoy themselves, have more fun, and connect with our fans. At GAM, our goal is to unite and inspire the world through esports entertainment, and I feel like we’re doing that right now on the global stage.

Your main quest at Worlds isn't over yet, but what’s GAM's next big goal for 2025? What do you envision for the future of your organization?

TK Nguyen: Yeah, we're super excited for 2025 with the introduction of the LCP (League of Legends Championship Pacific). This is going to be Asia's third major league, so we’re really excited to be part of that. And just, you know, the competition—we’re looking forward to going up against our brothers like PSG Talon, and other teams from that region as well. So, a lot of exciting things are happening with us and Riot. Hopefully, you’ll be seeing GAM not only at Worlds, but also at the Olympics, SEA Games, Asian Games, and the Esports World Cup. So get ready, because we’re gonna be all over the place baby!

Do you think the LCP can reach the same level that the LMS once had in the next few years?

TK Nguyen: I mean, it's going to take some time, but step by step, you know? I think this is the first step in that journey—to have a global champion. Being able to have more resources and bring high-quality teams together is going to make everyone better. You know, they say iron sharpens iron. So, hopefully, we’ll be out there swinging and making a name for ourselves.

Do you have a message for the teams you might face in the next rounds?

TK Nguyen: You know what? We're always the underdog and we like it that way. So if you guys want to underestimate us, you might be surprised. As always, I'm gonna let you guys know what time it is and the team will do that as well, because it's GAM TIME baby!

Any last words for the fans?

TK Nguyen: We just want to say thank you for all your love and support. Keep rooting for us. I know we're the underdogs and we like it that way, but we hope to see you at the upcoming matches, throwing up the GAM TIME and just having fun. Because that's what LoL esports is all about. Whether it's here at Worlds or somewhere around the world, I hope to see you guys. Let’s continue to make some noise baby!"