After Mongolian side The MongolZ were unable to get visas for the MLG Columbus qualifier, organizers have had to turn back to North America to fill the spot.
The IEM Taipei champions were forced to pull out yesterday after being denied a visa to enter the United States on three separate occasions.
MLG then turned to the teams that placed beneath them from IEM Taipei. Renegades, who finished second, already earned a place in the qualifier so 3rd-4th place teams CyberZen and Chiefs Esports Club were offered the spot. Neither were an option, however. CyberZen declined, and Chiefs were unable to field an eligible lineup in the short period of time.
With options from Taipei all but exhausted, MLG invited North American qualifier runner-up Splyce. Splyce defeated Optic Gaming and EZG Esports but lost out to Enemy in the qualifier with just one place up for grabs.
Splyce have struggled for form in recent tournaments, failing to make the top eight of the DreamHack Malmo qualifier after losing to NRG Esports in the first round.
The group draw for the event will not change, meaning that Splyce take the spot originally belonging to MongolZ in Group C. the team will face off against Counter Logic Gaming, SK Gaming and Vexed Gaming.
With the prizepool for the event now upped from $250,000 to $1 million, the potential prize for teams that qualify for the major is huge. Even if they fail to win a single match in the event itself, the team will take home $8,750—and the teams that make the top eight will clear at least $35,000 and earn a spot in the next major.
Image via Valve | Remix by Kevin Morris
