Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyliev’s BC.Game can dream of qualifying for the PGL Singapore Major again after Valve added an exception for the Counter-Strike roster in its updated rulebook.
A new rule in the VRS prevented BC.Game from appearing in the Asia VRS, effectively killing BC.Game’s chances of making the Major, but Valve has reinstated them to the Asia VRS after a public appeal from the org.
BC.Game likely to qualify for PGL Singapore Major after Valve exception
After the addition of the new VRS rule about region swapping, BC.Game were removed from both the EU and Asia pathways to the PGL Singapore Major.
The rule states, “A roster is only eligible for a Regional Assignment if they did not appear in any other region’s VRS list in the preceding three calendar months.”
Following the introduction of the rule, BC.Game released a statement, appealing to Valve to reinstate them to Asia VRS, even if it meant taking away all their VRS points and making them start fresh.
Following the appeal, Valve added the following line to the VRS Major Supplemental Rulebook, “BC.Game (asap, Magisk, mzinho, s1mple, Senzu) are assigned to the Asia region and are eligible for a Major invitation.”
The move restores BC.Game to the VRS with their full VRS standing in place, currently 1308 VRS points and the Number 1 team in Asia by ranking in live VRS models.
Therefore, VRS expert Finn ‘Mischief’ Farrer has given the organization a 90% chance of making the PGL Singapore Major, only days after effectively being removed from Major qualification contention entirely.
BC.Game exception, but no redemption for Sashi
The exception for BC.Game may corroborate comments by Tom Lemke, co-founder of BIG and MOUZ, who shared the following about the new VRS region restrictions: “After speaking with Valve they explained to me that Sashi Esport was the straw that broke the camel’s back, specifically the dual citizenship. Crazy.”
Therefore, the move may have specifically been invoked because of Sashi’s particular way of abusing the supposed ‘loophole.’ The Danish org added two Australians, alongside their existing player, Anton ‘Anlelele’ Huynh, a dual national of Denmark and Vietnam, to create an Asian core in the roster in the VRS.
Following the addition of the Australian players, Sashi’s owner took to social media, posting a video that explicitly stated that the goal was to get a sticker in the game.
The Australian players were signed on short-term contracts of 5 months, according to the owner, reflecting a general lack of commitment to the Asia/Oceania region.
Overall, the move seemed to be an abuse too far, as far as Valve were concerned, with Sashi’s roster effectively out of Major contention after the addition of the new rule.
Do you agree with the decision to grant an exception to BC.Game? Share your thoughts with us on the Insider Gaming Discord.
Also, check out the Call of Duty casting scandal. And for even more Insider Gaming delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.
Darragh is an Esports Journalist for Insider Gaming specialising in Counter-Strike. He loves to explore how esports teams work, or why they very often do not.
More from Darragh Harbinson
Comments