A visa-related travel delay forced Mind Games to forfeit their first match Thursday at ESL One Stockholm 2022, the first major of the Dota Pro Circuit season.
Three members of the Russia-based team did not receive their travel visas in time to arrive in Sweden, giving Thursday’s Group B opponent Thunder Awaken a win by default. Mind Games have two matches scheduled on Friday against Gaimin Gladiators and TSM.
“Despite previous confirmation of approval from the VISA center, three of their players did not receive their VISA in time and were not able to travel to Stockholm for the start of the tournament,” organizer ESL posted on Twitter.
Mind Games previously announced that two players — Danil “Bignum” Shekhovtsov and Semion “CemaTheSlayer” Krivulya — were unable to travel out of war-torn Ukraine. They were set to be replaced by Genadiy “Astral” Motuz and Andrey “Dukalis” Kuropatkin.
The other members of Mind Games’ active lineup are Timur “Dinozavrik” Mavrin, Aliaksei “Ainkrad” Dziveyeuski and Uladzislau “Petushara” Kazlouski.
Mind Games qualified for the Stockholm Major with a third-place finish at the DPC EEU 2021/22 Tour 2 playoffs.
–Field Level Media
