Alter Ego have been forced to withdraw from FRAG University after failing to secure visas for three of their players, Dust2.us reports. The team was scheduled to compete at the $25,000 LAN tournament in Syracuse, New York, but will now forfeit their group stage matches just days before the event kicks off. The good news is that the withdrawal shouldn't cost them any VRS points.
The visa troubles represent a significant missed opportunity for the organization, as they were poised to become the first Asian team to compete at a FRAG event. This would have been a historic moment, especially given the strong presence of European and South American squads at this North American tournament.
Team member Mārtiņš "shadiy" Gūtmanis explained to Dust2.us that the squad initially hoped to participate with two stand-ins after the first two visa rejections. However, when a third player's visa application was denied this week, continuing became impossible and they had no option but to pull out completely.
Alter Ego aren't the only team missing from the bracket. M80 had already withdrawn from FRAG University at an earlier stage.
Despite these absences, the tournament still features a strong lineup including DENDELE, Imperial, Marsborne, NRG, SportsBetExpert, Wildcard, and Without a Roof.
