Team Liquid Replace FunPlus Phoenix At VCT Masters Day After Challengers Win
With FunPlus Phoenix not being able to field a full roster at the VCT Masters, Reykjavik, Riot have opted to controversially replace them with Team Liquid.
28th Mar 2022 12:19
Riot Games
Team Liquid Replace FunPlus Phoenix At VCT Masters Day After Challengers Win
With FunPlus Phoenix not being able to field a full roster at the VCT Masters, Reykjavik, Riot have opted to controversially replace them with Team Liquid.
28th Mar 2022 12:19
Riot Games
After seeing the in-game leader return to action with a heroic performance in the VCT EMEA Challengers that earnt them the regional championship, FunPlus Phoenix's efforts have been for nought as Riot Games have revealed that the top-seeded team will not be participating in Masters Reykjavik.
FunPlus Phoenix used the boost of having their captain, Kirill "ANGE1" Karasiow, return to action to win Challengers, just weeks after the Ukrainian-born VALORANT star had to drop out because of Russia's invasion of his homeland.
However, despite his heroics in their first game back together since the invasion, FunPlus Phoenix will not be able to attend the international event that they qualified for and will be replaced with Team Liquid.
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FunPlus Phoenix Unable To Compete At VCT Masters
Riot Games took to social media to reveal that FPX will not be able to compete, citing travel restrictions and COVID-19 regulations. ANGE1 would find it difficult to leave Ukraine because all men of fighting age have been forbidden from leaving the country, while Ardis "ardiis" Svarenieks sat out the most recent games because he contracted COVID.
According to Riot, an extended roster lock window and a relaxing of the emergency substitution rules were offered to FunPlus Phoenix in an attempt to allow the organisation to compete with a makeshift team, although a solution was not accepted or settled on.
Previously, the organisation fielded Kamil "baddyG" Graniczka whilst ANGE1 was unable to compete, before being forced to apologise for reportedly wanting to withhold his wages due to his absence.
The roster also includes Russian duo Andrey "Shao" Kiprsky and Dmitry "SUYGETSU" Ilyushin, which further adds to the travel complications for the roster. Speaking on Twitter, FPX CoachErik "d00mbr0s" Sandgren shared his despair at the ruling, saying, "Today a lifelong dream got away from us."
With Riot extending their rules and regulations for EMEA sides ahead of Masters Reykjavik, it is yet to be seen if Fnatic's Russian Sentinel, Andrey "braveaf" Gorchakov, will be able to travel, or whether the qualified team will field a substitute.
Team Liquid Replace FunPlus Phoenix At VCT Masters
With FPX being unable to attend, Riot Games have controversially allowed EMEA's fourth seed, Team Liquid, to take their place at the event. FunPlus Phoenix will still gain VCT points and a slice of the overall prize pool for their efforts of qualifying, although Riot has yet to reveal the sum.
However, fans have now found the inclusion of Team Liquid unfair, having faced similar problems last season. During the 2020-21 campaign, Bren eSports (now Team Secret) were unable to overcome COVID restrictions to attend Masters 3, and Riot opted not to invite another seeded APAC region representative.
The overall standings could now take a significant shift, with Team Liquid sitting just five points above Guild Esports and M3 Champions, in the overall standings for Champions qualification. Should Team Liquid now earn points at Masters for being invited to an event that they failed to qualify for, the organisation may pull away from the teams below them and even knock FunPlus Pheonix out of contention for a Champions slot.
Team Liquid, G2 Esports, and Fnatic will now represent EMEA in Masters Reykjavik, which kicks off on April 10.
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About The Author
Jack Marsh
Jack is an Esports Journalist at GGRecon. Graduating from the University of Chester, with a BA Honours degree in Journalism, Jack is an avid esports enthusiast and specialises in Rocket League, Call of Duty, VALORANT, and trending gaming news.
