The CS2 scene has once again taken an unexpected turn. The Chinese team Lynn Vision, who were set to be the sole representative of Asia at ESL Pro League Season 22, will not be able to participate due to roster issues. Taking their place are Gentle Mates — a Spanish-French lineup that now has the chance to debut in the world’s most prestigious league.
A loss for Asia and a sudden opportunity for Europe
For the Chinese scene, this is without exaggeration a heavy blow. In recent years, Lynn Vision have become a symbol of ambitious Asian CS2, and their appearance at ESL Pro League was supposed to cement their status among stable Tier-1 teams. However, the absence of a full roster at a decisive moment ruined those plans.
ESL’s rules in such cases are clear: less than two weeks before the start of the tournament, the invitation goes to the next team in the Valve Regional Standings from the host region — this time, Europe. That’s how Gentle Mates got their chance.
Unfortunately @Lynnvision_ are unable to field a complete roster at #ESLProLeague Season 22. Due to their ineligibility and a short replacement window, Lynn Vision will be replaced by @gentlemates who were the next eligible team to accept the invite per our rules stating:
3.2.6… pic.twitter.com/ezzWXvyOfA
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) September 27, 2025
Gentle Mates: “caught between two fires”
For Gentle Mates, this news is not just joy, but also a real challenge. The team is currently playing at the Birch Cup in Gdańsk, which overlaps in schedule with the start of ESL Pro League in Sweden.
The team’s coach, Eloy “deLonge” Suárez, expressed his frustration with the situation:
The Birch organizers told us that we cannot be replaced at their tournament. In my opinion, this is a strange decision, because allowing a replacement would protect the tournament from an even worse scenario of technical forfeits. We shouldn’t be punished for receiving an invite to an event that could change the players’ careers.
It seems Gentle Mates will have to make a tough decision: either drop out of Birch Cup to appear at ESL Pro League, or risk not making it to Sweden on time.
Why them?
Many were surprised that it was Gentle Mates who got the slot. After all, higher in the Valve Regional Standings are BetBoom, fnatic, SAW, and Ninjas in Pyjamas. However, all of these teams either declined the invitation or couldn’t resolve their visa issues in time.
Thus, Gentle Mates turned out to be the first realistic option for ESL. And now it’s up to them to decide whether they can seize this opportunity or if it will spiral into chaos in their schedule.
A crucial moment in the race for the Major
This invite could become decisive in Gentle Mates’ season. The team led by Alejandro “alex” Masanet is currently right on the edge of qualifying for the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. Any extra VRS points earned in Sweden could serve as a golden ticket to the year’s biggest event.
However, the double schedule with Birch Cup and ESL Pro League risks draining their energy and logistics. If Gentle Mates fail to manage their calendar, the consequences could be severe.
What does this mean for the scene?
- For China — losing their only representative in the league diminishes interest in the region and casts doubt on the future of the scene’s development.
- For Europe — it’s a chance for a team that had long remained on the periphery of top tournaments to finally make a statement on the big stage.
- For ESL Pro League — it adds intrigue: will Gentle Mates endure this challenge, or will they fall victim to their overloaded schedule?
Gentle Mates have received the invite that dozens of teams dream about. At the same time, it’s a real test of maturity and management. Their ability to adapt quickly and make tough decisions will show whether this lineup is ready to take the leap to Tier-1.
ESL Pro League 22 promises to be full of drama even before the first round kicks off, and Gentle Mates have already become the unexpected protagonists of this story.
