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ESL has issued a tournament ruling on the late withdrawals of Lynn Vision and Virtus.pro from ESL Pro League Season 22, concluding its investigation into the incident that unfolded just before the event in Stockholm.

According to ESL’s official statement, the Chinese squad Lynn Vision has been handed a ban from their next eligible Tier 1 event after failing to attend Pro League due to expired visas. Meanwhile, Virtus.pro avoided sanctions after being turned away at the Swedish border, with ESL classifying their situation under “exceptional circumstances.”

Lynn Vision’s costly visa oversight

The situation came to light on the day of travel when Lynn Vision informed ESL that several of their players were unable to check in for their flights. ESL stated that the team’s visas had expired, despite repeated confirmations during the invitation and booking process that all necessary documents were in place.

In a statement, ESL said:

“If unintentional, this oversight remains entirely unacceptable and does not fall under any of our exceptional circumstances (either medical emergency or visa complications).”

The organiser’s rulebook under section 2.14.1 “Withdrawing from the event” explains that teams who leave after accepting an invitation must forfeit all prize money, pay replacement costs, and face a ban from their next Tier 1 event. Exceptions are only made for medical emergencies or visa denials proven to be beyond a team’s control.

Because Lynn Vision’s expired visas were deemed avoidable, ESL ruled that the organisation was responsible for the withdrawal. As a result, Lynn Vision will miss their next Tier 1 ESL event, likely IEM Krakow 2026, if they earn qualification through a VRS invite.

Virtus.pro escapes punishment

Virtus.pro, on the other hand, will not face penalties after ESL confirmed their documentation was in order. The Russian squad was reportedly denied entry into Sweden due to medical insurance issues in the Schengen area, which ESL recognised as an exceptional circumstance.

“We confirmed that all required travel documents were in order,” ESL noted. “However, two players were denied entry into Sweden, which qualifies as a visa complication under our exceptional circumstances clause. Therefore, no penalty will be applied.”

While Virtus.pro escaped a competitive ban, both teams will still be required to cover the costs associated with their replacements, a standard procedure outlined in ESL’s regulations.

Community backlash

The ruling has sparked strong reactions across the Counter-Strike community. Fans and analysts were quick to criticise Lynn Vision for what many called a “preventable mistake.” One user on X wrote, “Complete incompetence from the Lynn Vision staff and players. How do you let your visa expire knowing you have a shot to compete?”

Others expressed confusion and frustration at how such a misstep could happen at this level of professional play, with some calling for harsher sanctions.

The incident serves as a costly reminder to organisations about the importance of managing travel logistics properly, especially as the competitive Counter-Strike calendar grows more demanding. For Lynn Vision, it’s a hard lesson that could see them miss out on one of next season’s biggest ESL stages.