nAts facing visa issues ahead of Masters Toronto

Leader integral to Liquid’s success

Those who have followed Team Liquid’s journey so far this year will know that, not only are they performing at a level above what many people expected from them this season, but those successes are more often than not accompanied by pre, mid, and post-game speeches from their IGL.

If nAts is ultimately unable to appear at Toronto, then it’ll be a massive blow to Team Liquid’s chances. Realistically, there will be little outside hope of any sort of deep run from the side without nAts in attendance.

Much of Team Liquid’s success this year, which saw top-three finishes in both of EMEA’s Kickoff and Stage 1 tournaments, has been attributed to nAts’ IGLing and overall leadership. That form saw the side qualify for both Masters Bangkok as well as the imminent Masters Toronto.

Replacement

Team Liquid has already lined up nAts’ temporary replacement, having signed Canadian player penny as a last-minute sub. The former G2 player has been representing Your Favorite Player in Challengers North America, the second tier of competition in NA, which is currently embroiled in a developing match-fixing scandal. Before joining G2, penny spent a number of years playing for Version1 in a range of NA tournaments and attended Masters Reykjavík with the side in 2021.

Penny revealed his joining TL while adding that he is excited to play in front of a home crowd at the Enercare Centre in Toronto’s Exhibition Place.

https://x.com/penny9o/status/1928125171388371326

Team Liquid also made its own statement, more precisely citing “delays in the visa process” as the reason for nAts’ omission. What was missing from the announcement, though, was clarification around who will take up the mantle to lead the team in nAts’ absence. Hotspawn was informed by a source within the organisation that more information should be revealed during the tournament’s media days.

Team Liquid statement in full: