“Ignored Despite Meeting All Requirements”: BESTIA Slams BLAST Over Austin Major Exclusion

A storm is brewing in the lead-up to the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, as Argentinian squad BESTIA has publicly criticized tournament organizer BLAST for their controversial decision to replace the team with Brazil’s Legacy, despite BESTIA claiming they met all visa and documentation requirements. Also Read: Honda Terminates Sponsorship Deal with Team Liquid Following Atomic Bomb GIF Controversy

BLAST’s Official Position

Earlier this week, BLAST announced that BESTIA would be replaced at the Austin Major due to alleged visa issues, stating that the team could not field a full lineup in time for the tournament. According to BLAST, only three players had secured valid U.S. visas by the required deadline, which made it “impossible” for BESTIA to compete competitively.

This decision prompted the invitation of Legacy — a team that narrowly missed out in the qualifiers—to step in as a last-minute replacement. The move was met with immediate skepticism from the community.

BESTIA Responds: “We Have the Necessary Documentation”

BESTIA took to social media on May 20 to directly refute BLAST’s justification, issuing a sharp and emotional response:

“We have the necessary documentation. We meet all the requirements. Yet, we continue to be ignored.”

The organization stated that while two of their players’ visas were pending, they were scheduled to be approved by the following Monday—still in time for the team to compete at the event, which starts June 2. Despite communicating this to BLAST, BESTIA claims they received no accommodation or flexibility.

This revelation has intensified scrutiny over BLAST’s handling of the situation, with many fans and professional players voicing concerns about a lack of transparency, fairness, and support for South American teams.

Community Outrage

The CS2 community swiftly rallied behind BESTIA. Veteran pro Seized, who previously missed the Copenhagen Major with 9Pandas due to visa delays, commented on BLAST’s post, questioning why the same standard wasn't applied to his team.

Other notable figures such as M0nesy, karrigan, FalleN, and apEX expressed disappointment with the decision, citing the repetitive nature of visa-related exclusions that disproportionately affect players from regions outside North America and Europe.

“Teams work for months to earn a spot, and just days before, they’re erased from the picture because of a bureaucratic deadline,” one prominent coach noted on social media.

A Recurring Problem in Esports

Visa issues have long plagued international esports events, often undermining the competitive integrity of tournaments. What sets this incident apart is BESTIA’s claim that they had done everything right—and were still removed.

“We qualified fair and square. All we wanted was a chance to play on that stage,” one BESTIA player wrote privately.

Many fans are now demanding accountability from BLAST, calling for more transparent communication and contingency planning for teams that face predictable but solvable issues like delayed visas.

What's Next?

The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 kicks off on June 2 in Texas, with a $1.25 million prize pool and a historic 32-team format. Legacy will now step into the spotlight, but the outcry surrounding BESTIA’s exclusion will likely cast a long shadow over the opening days of the event.

In an era when esports is pushing toward greater global inclusion, critics argue that organizations like BLAST must do more than simply enforce deadlines—they must advocate for the players who earned their place and trust them when they say: “We’re ready. Let us play.”