Look Sports Media – A dramatic turn of events has seen ENCE thrust into the spotlight at ESL Pro League Season 22 in Stockholm, Sweden, replacing Virtus.pro due to unforeseen visa complications. The sudden shift has sent ripples through the tournament, impacting both teams’ trajectories and raising questions about international esports travel.
Virtus.pro’s withdrawal, a significant blow to their aspirations of qualifying for the StarLadder Budapest Major, stems from issues encountered at Swedish border control. According to a statement from the organization, concerns were raised regarding the medical insurance of three players, despite the same policies having been previously accepted in other Schengen countries. "Upon entering Sweden, border control raised concerns regarding the medical insurance of three players. Notably, the same insurance policies had previously been accepted without issue in other Schengen countries," Virtus.pro stated. Despite attempts to rectify the situation with new insurance policies and legal counsel, the decision to deny entry and revoke the players’ visas stood firm.
With Virtus.pro unable to field a complete roster, ESL swiftly moved to replace them with ENCE, the next eligible team according to tournament rules. This unexpected opportunity forced ENCE to abruptly withdraw from the Birch Cup in Poland, cutting their participation short to answer the call to compete in Sweden. They are not the first team to withdraw from the Birch Cup for the ESL Pro League. Gentle Mates withdrew from the tournament in Poland to replace Lynn Vision Gaming at the competition in Sweden.
Related Post
Despite the whirlwind of travel and last-minute adjustments, ENCE made a statement on their debut. Facing M80 in their opening match, the Finnish squad showcased resilience, securing a 2-1 victory. After a strong start on Map 1, M80 retaliated with a 13-9 win on Map 2. However, ENCE rallied to clinch the series with a 13-8 victory on Map 3. Their next challenge pits them against Atralis, who emerged victorious against Fluxo in Round 1.
The ESL Pro League Season 22 features 16 teams vying for a share of the £296,000 prize pool. ENCE will be looking to secure a spot in Stage 2, where they hope to be one of eight teams that advance to Stage 2 of ESL Pro League Season 22. The top eight teams will join eight others who have automatically reached Stage 2. The top eight in Stage 2 will then compete in the playoffs. All matches throughout ESL Pro League Season 22 will best-of-three, except for the final which is best-of-five.
The tournament, which commenced on Sunday and runs until October 12th, promises intense competition and high-stakes matches. The situation highlights the logistical hurdles and potential pitfalls faced by esports teams navigating international travel and visa regulations, issues that looksports.media will continue to monitor closely.
Leave a Comment