SofM writes an open letter.

Following a wave of outrage, SofM had to speak out to explain why he hadn't played in the opening match of the LCP.

Many fans were disappointed not to see SofM compete. Photo: MVK .

On January 17th, MVK's new season officially kicked off. The team faced DFM from Japan in the Stage 1 qualifiers of the LCP (Asia- Pacific Championship). However, many domestic fans expressed disappointment at not seeing "jungle god" SofM play. Instead, the player was present on stage as a coach, assisting with the draft before the match. On paper, he is the official jungler and captain of MVK.

Following the backlash, SofM had to quickly speak out. Through his official fan page, the eSports legend announced that he would not be playing in all of MVK's matches.

"Regarding his return to official competition, both the team and SofM want to do it soon. However, when registering players, it depends on their form and preparation for the match to select the most suitable players. SofM is still training diligently with the team to regain his confidence."

"Today I apologize to everyone who had high expectations and were waiting for SofM to return to official competition soon," the former coach of the Vietnamese national League of Legends team shared.

Previously, on MVK Esports' Facebook page and the LCP tournament, posts related to the team lineup against DFM received a large amount of outrage and aggressive comments.

Regarding taking the stage to direct, SofM stated that the tournament still allows a substitute member or analyst to be present to implement strategies. Therefore, the team uses this right to strengthen the roster. Last year, this same player also led the team as co-owner and head coach.

In fact, MVK's decision to use Gury instead of SofM in the opening match is understandable. DFM wasn't a strong opponent. The Japanese team was almost incapable of challenging the Vietnamese representative throughout the 2025 season. Putting younger members on the field gave them a chance to gain experience and showcase their skills on a big stage.

As for SofM, he still needs time before returning to the professional arena. A long break from competitive play might not be a major issue for the 1998-born jungler. He's known for his unconventional playstyle and ability to read opponents rather than relying on brute force. In his live streams, SofM continues to demonstrate high skill in solo ranked matches.

After the first two days of the LCP 2026 qualifiers, the Vietnamese teams showed their dominance. GAM, TSW, and MVK all easily defeated their Japanese and Chinese Taipei opponents. This year, the reigning champions CFO lost two key players who contributed to their success last season. The remaining PCS representative, Talon, faced financial problems and was eliminated from the tournament.

Source: https://znews.vn/sofm-viet-tam-thu-post1620599.html