I feel like watching VCT esp in EMEA, the skill level is just not the same as it used to be. Like sure teams liek FPX arent doing as well as they were before, and M3C are in shambles but usually there are other teams that take up those spots. This time around though i feel like FPX dont even deserve to qualify but they did cause there was no better team (yes i currently think Guild are better but maybe thats just because im biased from their performance with BaddyG)
In NA sure the overall skill of teams has been increasing but still no team reaches the peaks that EMEA hit in stage 1 and DRX hit in the match against Optic. I feel like Optic have been doing decently but i cant say theyve dropped in skill cause they just always step it up in LAN so ill reserve judgement.
The other regions have also increased but again I see no one reaching the peaks that EMEA hit with the trifecta of M3C, FPX, and FNC peaks (other than Optic in the finals and DRX match)