A series of Visa-related issues are causing headaches for some Dota 2 teams, forcing them to make changes to their line-up ahead of the upcoming Berlin Major.
Team Aster and BetBoom run into visa issues ahead of Berlin Major
Both Team Aster and BetBoom Team have seemingly run into Visa issues that mean some of their players will be unable to attend the Berlin Major, forcing some last-minute roster changes.
Rumours have been circulating that BetBoom may be forced to compete without Ivan "Pure" Moskalenko, who is reportedly encountering Visa issues that would prevent him making it to Berlin. The rumours claim that Egor "Nightfall" Grigorenko will be taking Pure's spot in the carry role, while BetBoom looks for someone to fill Nightfall's offlane duties.
Team Aster co-owner XiaoFei meanwhile shared the news that Zhai "Xwy" Jingkai will not be attending the upcoming Major, and the team will instead be fielding Nigma Galaxy’s Syed "SumaiL" Hassan. While fans are excited at the prospect of seeing SumaiL competing at a Major again, many have concerns about the language barrier between the Pakistani/American player and the Chinese team.
Should these visa issues go unresolved, it's bad news for both teams - who already just barely qualified for the Berlin Major after placing in 3rd (BetBoom) and 4th (Team Aster) in their respective Spring DPC tours. BetBoom in particular is fresh from a bruising performance at the Lima Major, having placed in 15th - 16th, so the timing of these visa issues couldn't be worse.
They're running out of time to either resolve the visa issues or find suitable replacements. The ESL One Berlin Major 2023 is due to kick off on April 26, running until May 7. And with a grand prize pool of $500,000 and 2,700 Pro Circuit points on offer, the pressure is building.
But regardless of what happens with the teams' respective visa issues, you'll be able to watch the next Dota 2 esports Major from the comfort of your own home. To bet on Dota 2 esports, just check out our upcoming Dota 2 match schedule. And to make the most of your Dota 2 betting experience, remember to sign up and claim your free 100% bonus!
