As the Valorant professional scene gears up for the start of the regional leagues, some players from LOUD and Sentinels remain in Europe just days before the commencement of VCT Americas 2024 due to visa issues.
Visa Troubles
The competitive Valorant scene is bracing for the kickoff of the regional leagues, but there’s a risk that the local tournament may not start smoothly due to the absence of some players.
LOUD and Sentinels find themselves with incomplete rosters due to visa problems, preventing some of their talents from returning to the United States just days before VCT Americas 2024 begins.
TenZ says Sentinels haven't practiced since Madrid due to johnqt waiting for his Visa
They play 100 Thieves to kickoff their Stage 1 on Sunday, and will play with no practice, or play with Currypic.twitter.com/vk6ok2FXwg
— Valorant News (@ValorINTEL) April 2, 2024
Post-International Tournament Issues
Following the first international tournament of the season, where Sentinels emerged victorious, some players remain stuck in Europe after VCT Masters Madrid. Both Sentinels and the Brazilian squad LOUD, which finished the event in fourth place, have been unable to return to the United States with their full rosters, the country hosting the league.
Player Challenges
During a live stream, Tyson “TenZ” Ngo pointed out that his Sentinels teammate, Amine “Johnqt” Ouarid, has yet to return to the United States due to visa issues. The Sentinels’ IGL, originally from Morocco, has been unable to reunite with the rest of the squad to commence training.
Meanwhile, LOUD’s Cauan “Cauanzin” Pereira mentioned on social media that he is “stuck in Ireland,” in response to a post from his teammate. Additionally, Felipe “Less” Basso stated that they haven’t been able to practice properly as they couldn’t find a house with LAN connection.
Tournament Schedule
VCT Americas 2024 is set to begin on Saturday, April 6th, with LOUD taking center stage in the second match of the day, while Sentinels will face off against 100 Thieves on Sunday, April 7th. As of now, Riot Games has not announced any changes to the schedule or whether the tournament start will be delayed.
Conclusion
The visa issues faced by players from LOUD and Sentinels just days before the start of VCT Americas 2024 present an unexpected challenge for these teams.
With the competition about to commence, uncertainty over the availability of some players raises questions about the teams’ performance and the tournament’s development. However, with the determination and teamwork characteristic of these teams, they may find solutions to overcome these obstacles and compete at the highest level in the event.