{"id":210795,"date":"2025-07-19T10:35:45","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T10:35:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skin.club\/community?p=210795"},"modified":"2025-07-19T10:35:45","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T10:35:45","slug":"falcons-skip-blast-visa-vrs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.skin.club\/en\/news\/falcons-skip-blast-visa-vrs","title":{"rendered":"Falcons Skip BLAST Bounty and Open: Logistics, Visas, and VRS Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Falcons have officially confirmed their decision to withdraw from the upcoming BLAST tournaments \u2014 Bounty (August 5\u201317) and Open<\/a> (August 27 \u2013 September 7). The news came as a surprise to many in the community, especially considering the team\u2019s rising popularity and recent transfer activity. However, as explained by Falcons\u2019 CS operations manager Xavier Roussac, the move was calculated, strategic, and ultimately necessary.<\/p>\n

Kyousuke and the Visa Challenge<\/h3>\n

According to Roussac, the main issue lies in visa difficulties faced by Maxim \u201c\u2060kyousuke\u2060\u201d Lukin, a talented 17-year-old player from the post-Soviet region who has little to no travel history.<\/p>\n

Kyousuke doesn\u2019t have a travel record, which makes getting a Schengen visa more difficult. We\u2019re working on it, of course, but his first visa will likely only be valid for 30 days. That means we\u2019d need to reapply between each European event. And with the time it takes for processing, we simply won\u2019t make it, Roussac explained.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n

This situation not only undermines roster stability but also presents serious risks of last-minute tournament withdrawals. Falcons have opted not to gamble with scheduling and logistics, instead focusing on events where they can guarantee full participation.<\/p>\n

Why BLAST Events Were Cut<\/h3>\n

Another key factor in the decision was the low weight that the BLAST Bounty and Open tournaments carry in the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) \u2014 the system that directly impacts qualification for Valve Majors. As Roussac emphasized, both events are primarily online, which significantly reduces their competitive value:<\/p>\n

BLAST has minimal impact on VRS, especially compared to the time and resources needed to prepare and participate. The format is also less exciting to play, and we don\u2019t see strategic value in investing effort there.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n

The Alternative \u2014 FISSURE Playground 2<\/h3>\n

Instead of competing in BLAST, Falcons have chosen to focus on FISSURE Playground 2, set to take place September 12\u201321 in Belgrade. This tournament is quickly gaining prominence on the international scene, featuring a LAN format, a $1.25 million prize pool, and, most importantly, significant VRS value.<\/p>\n

While official invites have yet to be announced, Falcons are well within the expected invite range based on current global standings.<\/p>\n

FISSURE Playground is exactly the type of event that makes sense for our calendar. It\u2019s a LAN, it\u2019s in Belgrade (outside the Schengen area), and it contributes heavily to the VRS. All the factors align, Roussac said.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Context: A New Era for Falcons<\/h3>\n

The decision to skip BLAST Bounty and Open also aligns with Falcons\u2019 broader strategic transformation. The team recently completed one of the most ambitious transfer campaigns of the season, assembling a competitive international lineup with a clear objective: to qualify for Majors and compete for titles.<\/p>\n

In this context, skipping events that don\u2019t offer VRS points is not a step back \u2014 it\u2019s a focused, deliberate move. Falcons are not a team chasing appearances; they\u2019re prioritizing value and progression.<\/p>\n

Community Reaction: Mixed Signals<\/h3>\n

The announcement sparked varied responses on HLTV. Some opted for humor \u2014 reversing the player\u2019s name with \u201cekusuoyk\u201d and \u201ckekusuoy\u201d, while others stayed blunt with a simple \u201cok\u201d.<\/p>\n

One user dryly rated the reasoning as a \u201c6\/8 excuse\u201d, while another remarked:<\/p>\n

Makes sense, but still iffy.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n

A more cynical take noted:<\/p>\n

The Falconians can afford to miss out on tournaments if you know what I mean.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n

Others shifted focus to BLAST itself:<\/p>\n

HAHAHA Blast got outed as being Mickey Mouse with new format they went for.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n

And as one pointed out, Falcons weren\u2019t alone in skipping:<\/p>\n

Yes, 3DMAX are also skipping both of the BLAST events.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n

Despite the mixed tone, most agreed: Falcons made a deliberate and calculated call.<\/p>\n

Strategy Over Visibility<\/h3>\n

Falcons are betting on results, not appearances. In a landscape where young players face bureaucratic barriers and every tournament represents a strategic trade-off between prestige and effectiveness, the organization has chosen the latter. This disciplined approach is further evidence of their ambition \u2014 Falcons aren\u2019t just playing CS2; they\u2019re building for long-term success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Falcons have officially confirmed their decision to withdraw from the upcoming BLAST tournaments \u2014 Bounty (August 5\u201317) and Open (August 27 \u2013 September 7). The news came as a surprise to many in the community, especially considering the team\u2019s rising popularity and recent transfer activity. However, as explained by Falcons\u2019 CS operations manager Xavier Roussac, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":210830,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[619,457],"class_list":["post-210795","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-kyousuke","tag-team-falcons"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFalcons skip BLAST events due to visa and VRS strategy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Falcons withdraw from BLAST Bounty and Open citing visa issues with kyousuke and low VRS value of online-format events.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/community.skin.club\/en\/news\/falcons-skip-blast-visa-vrs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" 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