The International 2023 to Return to Seattle: Visa Issues Plague DreamLeague Season 21
The highly-anticipated Dota 2 event of the year, The International, will be returning to its home in Seattle, USA in 2023. However, the tournament is already facing challenges as some teams are dealing with visa application complications, affecting their participation in DreamLeague Season 21.
Visa Issues Leave Quest Esports and Entity with Stand-Ins
Quest Esports’ Aybek “TA2000” Tokayev and Entity’s Kim “Gabbi” Santos will unfortunately miss the beginning of the tournament due to visa application delays. As a result, both teams will be starting the tournament with stand-in players. Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf will be replacing Gabbi at Entity, and Indji “Shad” Lub will be stepping in for TA2000 at Quest.
Concerns Over Visa Delays and The International 2023
TA2000 shared with on September 14 that he had traveled to Indonesia to secure his U.S. visa ahead of The International 2023. However, despite choosing a country with a lower denial rate, the visa processes took longer than expected, causing TA2000 to stay in Southeast Asia for an extended period, resulting in his absence from DreamLeague Season 21.
This situation raises concerns about whether all attendees of TI12 will be able to obtain their visas in time for the event in October. In the past, visa issues have caused difficulties for teams in major tournaments, often leading to the need for stand-in players. The European gaming industry has experienced similar challenges in Berlin, Germany.
Valve’s Role in Ensuring Visa Success
Given the challenges non-European players may face when applying for U.S. visas, it is crucial for Valve to step in and ensure that no players are left behind. Visa denials not only impact the overall enjoyment of The International but also influence other events like DreamLeague Season 21, which has a significant prize pool of $1 million. This event serves as an opportunity for teams to test their skills under high-stakes circumstances.
If visa issues continue to be a widespread problem, teams will need to quickly find suitable substitutes from the limited pool of available Dota 2 players who can be ready on short notice.
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