Team Liquid to replace FunPlus Phoenix at VCT Masters 1
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The stage for VCT Masters 2 in Iceland in 2021
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND – MAY 24: A general view of the stage at the VALORANT Champions Tour 2021: VCT Masters Reykjavík on May 24, 2021 in Reykjavik, Iceland. (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

Team Liquid to replace FunPlus Phoenix at VCT Masters 1

Travel restrictions due to the war in Ukraine, ardiis testing positive for COVID-19 and other issues meant a timely solution could not be reached

Riot Games announced Monday that FunPlus Phoenix, the current champions of the VALORANT Champions Tour 2022: EMEA Stage 1 Challengers, are unable to attend the VCT Masters 1 event in Reykjavík, Iceland, next month.

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FPX defeated G2 Esports in the EMEA Challengers finals 3-1, and Team Liquid finished fourth in the tournament, making them the next-best team after Fnatic and G2 to make up EMEA’s allocated three slots for Masters 1.

In a statement released by Riot, they cite “travel restrictions in Ukraine and Russia, as well as existing COVID-19 regulations, continue to create numerous challenges for international travel” as the reasons why this has happened.

The travel restrictions for Ukraine and Russia applies to several of FPX’s roster. Kirill “ANGE1” Karasiow is Ukrainian, while Dmitry “SUYGETSU” Ilyushin and Andrey “Shao” Kiprsky are Russian.

FPX also recently released a statement and said that Ardis “ardiis” Svarenieks tested positive for COVID-19 recently.

Riot has tried “extending the roster lock window, relaxing emergency substitute rules and liaising with the relevant government officials to secure visas and travel permission,s” with FPX mentioning the possibility of fielding their roster at Iceland with three substitute players.

However, a solution could not be reached due to FPX being unable to field a competitive roster. From their statement, Riot says “while we want to be as accommodating as possible, there is a need to ensure a minimum level of roster continuity out of fairness to all participants in the competition”.

FPX will still be awarded VCT points and a portion of the prize pool despite this.

The ongoing invasion by Russia into Ukraine continues to complicate the esports ecosystem in the region. Last week, the League of Legends Continental League announced that their spring season is canceled and the Valorant Regional League for the Commonwealth of Independent States has also been canceled.

FPX players, staff and community reactions

Some of the players and staff from FPX have taken to social media to post their thoughts on the situation, as have other prominent members of the VALORANT community.

Some of the other members of the community have chimed in as well.

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