Following the conclusion of ESL Pro League Season 22, the organizers released the results of an internal investigation regarding the sudden withdrawals of Lynn Vision and Virtus.pro. As a result, the Chinese roster has been sanctioned with a ban from participating in any one of the upcoming tier-1 ESL tournaments, while Virtus.pro received no punishment.
REASON — VISA COLLAPSE ON THE DAY OF DEPARTURE
According to official information from ESL, the Lynn Vision team notified the organizers on the day of departure that several of its players were unable to check in for their flight because their visas had expired.
This came as a surprise to ESL, as throughout the preparation process the Chinese organization repeatedly confirmed that all required documents were completed and valid. In its statement, ESL emphasized that even if such a situation occurs unintentionally, it remains “absolutely unacceptable” and does not fall under any exceptional circumstances:
We recognize that unforeseen situations — medical or visa-related — can sometimes occur. But in this case, Lynn Vision had enough time to properly handle their documentation. Their withdrawal disrupted the organizational process, affecting both the schedule and balance of the group stage.
#ESLProLeague Season 22 – Tournament Ruling
With ESL Pro League Season 22 drawing to a close, we have finalised our investigation into the recent last-minute withdrawals of @Lynnvision_ and @virtuspro. pic.twitter.com/kUzHQJqHbT
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) October 10, 2025
VIRTUS.PRO AVOID PUNISHMENT
Unlike Lynn Vision, Virtus.pro did not face any sanctions. ESL confirmed that all documentation from the Russian organization was “in order,” and their situation did not violate any regulations.
As a result, the ban applies exclusively to Lynn Vision, who will now be forced to skip at least one major ESL Pro Tour event in 2026.
SYSTEMIC ISSUE OR HUMAN ERROR?
The Lynn Vision incident has become another example of the administrative difficulties that often arise for Asian teams during international tournaments. Bureaucratic procedures, visa delays, and complex logistics for Chinese players have repeatedly caused problems, even for top-tier lineups.
However, this time ESL drew a clear line: organizational negligence cannot be an excuse, even if no malicious intent is involved. The case could set a precedent for future disciplinary decisions — teams will now be required to pay closer attention to every formality to avoid similar incidents.
CONCLUSION
The sanction against Lynn Vision is a rare but significant example of a tournament organizer penalizing a team for administrative negligence. This decision underscores ESL’s commitment to maintaining discipline and accountability among all participants.
