Games

Lynn Vision forfeit PGL Astana qualifier to expose fatal VRS flaw

BBG News

The Chinese squad were caught between a rock and a hard place.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve made the tough decision to step down from our team’s participation in the PGL Astana Chinese closed qualifier. Instead, we, Lynn Vision from China’s CS2 scene, have chosen to prioritize our region’s chances of securing a second spot at the upcoming Austin Major through the VRS system. I believe that by helping our community in this way, we can contribute to its growth and success in the global gaming arena.

Lynn Vision noted that if they had defeated Rare Atom in their upper bracket game, they would have been depriving another Chinese team of a bonus spot in the tournament, which might leave the Chinese region without an extra qualifying position (MRQ). The organization found the situation intriguing but highlighted its potential for manipulation and implications for future minor regions.

Lynn Vision backs out of Astana qualifier, accuses other sub-regional TOs of abusing VRS

On March 29, Lynn Vision chose to step back from the PGL Astana qualifier, a decision they later explained in a detailed post on Twitter. They expressed concerns about issues within the VRS system and emphasized that their actions aimed to promote the well-being of the esports region.

Besides The MongolZ who have qualified for the Austin Major, four more teams from Asia will participate in this top-tier event. These slots have been allocated to the three different Asian zones: China, the Middle East and West Asia, and Oceania and Southeast Asia.

In simpler terms, after The MongolZ, the Asian team with the next highest ranking will secure a second chance to compete at the major tournament for their sub-region, while other regions can only send one team to Austin. Currently, Rare Atom ranks second, so China will receive the second Major Regional Qualifier (MRQ) slot.

However, following inter-regional LANs organized by MESA (Mongolian tournament organizer) and DFRAG (Australian counterpart), teams in other sub-regions have made significant progress, posing a threat to Rare Atom’s top position. This predicament left Lynn Vision in a difficult situation; qualifying for the PGL Astana event against Rare Atom would mean losing their VRS points, potentially allowing another sub-region to claim the second MRQ slot.

The performance of the Virtual Reality Sports (VRS) system doesn’t align with its intended purpose. Teams are accumulating points and moving up in the rankings by participating in competitions that many teams from other regions cannot access, according to the statement.

Tomorrow, we’ll encounter the challenge of [Rare Atom]. If we emerge victorious, China will secure just one significant position, but if we lose, it could be perceived as game manipulation. What should our strategy be? Doesn’t anyone understand that many Asian teams depend on major sticker income to sustain their lives?

In the upcoming match with [Rare Atom], the stakes are high for us. If we win, China gets only one main spot, but if we lose, it may appear as match-fixing. What’s our best move here? Isn’t it common knowledge that numerous Asian teams rely on major sticker revenue to survive?

On the next day, Lynn Vision relinquished their Astana qualifier match against Rare Atom. This move has pushed them down into the lower bracket. If they manage to advance all the way to the final, they may have to forfeit once more.

CS2 pro analyst Sudhen “Bleh” Wahengbam concurs that Lynn Vision found themselves in a difficult predicament. “This was a no-win situation for LV, and I can’t fault them for withdrawing from the game. If they won, they would have lost their Chinese spot, or if they lost, they would face accusations of fixing the match.

Australian commentator Jordan “Elfishguy” Mays hadn’t spotted the system manipulation initially, but acknowledged its possibility after it was highlighted. He expressed his desire for events in the region to encompass all sub-regions. “People will perceive it from their individual viewpoints, but at heart, APAC is a single region striving for recognition as one. I believe we should unite to promote that.

Over the weekend, I’m eagerly looking forward to wrapping up the PGL Astana qualifiers, where the top teams from each region will be battling it out in a final qualifier to secure their spots at the tournament in Kazakhstan. This final qualifier is crucial as it will establish the Asia MRQ rankings and determine which sub-region will snag the bonus slot for Austin.

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2025-03-29 19:11

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