Astralis have registered Sashi member Anton “Anlelele” Huynh as their substitute for PGL Major Singapore, multiple sources told HLTV. The Vietnamese player is rumored to be already practicing with the team as it steps up preparations for the showpiece event.
This move is interesting because it connects two stories at once. Anlelele was a key part of Sashi’s failed plan to switch regions, and now he has a new route to the Major with Astralis.
Why Anlelele Takes the Spot
Anlelele will replace Nikita “cmtry” Samolotov, who was listed on the invited FUT VRS roster. FUT were eliminated from PGL Masters Bucharest before playing their fifth match with Álvaro “SunPayus” García. As a result, the Ukrainian is barred from playing the Major with another team.
Meanwhile, Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard remains on Astralis’ VRS roster after he stepped in for cmtry in three Stake Ranked Episode 5 matches. However, sources told HLTV that he is not expected to play in Singapore.
Sashi’s Failed Region Switch
Anlelele was at the heart of Sashi’s plan to switch to the Asian VRS. He revealed that he held Vietnamese citizenship. Together with the arrivals of Tynan “TjP” Purtell and Jordan “Hatz” Bajic, this gave the team an Asian core.
However, the plan fell through when Valve introduced new region-swapping rules. These rules require a three-month wait before a change takes effect. Valve stated that all teams that had swapped regions ahead of the Singapore Major would not qualify for the event, unless they were granted an exception. That was the case of BC.Game, who had swapped to the Asian VRS with the signing of Tyson “asap” Paterson.
Astralis Invited to Stage 2
As the 12th-highest-ranked team in Europe per November 2’s invite ranking, Astralis have been invited to Stage 2 of the Singapore Major. The stage kicks off on November 28.
The Danish organization has submitted its lineup for the event. It includes Love “phzy” Smidebrant, Victor “Staehr” Staehr, Gytis “ryu” Glušauskas, Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek and Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard. Anlelele is listed as the substitute, and Filip “NEO” Kubski is the coach.
What This Means for the Major
In conclusion, Anlelele still gets a place at the Singapore Major, but as an Astralis substitute rather than a Sashi player. Astralis enter Stage 2 on November 28 with a full lineup and a substitute who reportedly practices with the team. As a result, the Danish side has its roster ready for the event.
