We are aware that the decision to replace BESTIA at the BLAST tv Austin Major 2025 has led to a number of questions about the decision making process. In the interests of transparency, we are more than happy to provide further clarity regarding the factors which have led to this unfortunate outcome.
As is the case for any of our events, all participating teams are subject to the visa requirements of the host country. Since February, BLAST has been in consistent communication with all teams regarding the US visa process required to attend the event. This outreach began well ahead of qualification to ensure that any issues or delays could be addressed before the event.
In total, we have seen 31 teams and 158 players successfully secure the required visas, following the application process put in place for the tournament; all within the published deadlines.
BESTIA qualified for the tournament on Thursday, 17th April.
Each team is ultimately responsible for securing its players’ visas and they are always at the discretion of the host country. We shared all relevant visa information and stayed in regular contact to support their process.
During this time BESTIA had appointments where they failed to secure all player visas. On Friday, 16th May we issued a clear and final deadline to all teams with outstanding visa issues: Wednesday, 21st May at 5:00 PM CEST. By this time, all teams were expected to have secured visas for enough of their submitted roster in order to compete in Austin. This deadline was put in place to help maintain competitive integrity and logistical event planning.
As of the deadline, two of BESTIA’s players had not obtained the required visas and as a result, we proceeded to confirm they had not met the requirements to participate in the tournament and had to be replaced. This decision was made in line with the tournament participation agreement (TPA).
While the relevant players subsequently did receive visas, there is no dispute that they were not in place in time to meet the required deadline. Accordingly, we had no choice but to uphold the rules of the tournament, which all teams were aware of.
It is a matter of huge regret for everyone involved that this has resulted in BESTIA not being able to compete at the Austin Major. We recognise the disappointment this news brings to their fans and wider esports community.
DBONKA
So they’ve set the deadline only 3 business days before it. And refused to extend it even by a day or two. How is that reasonable?
Jayk03
Hope this final Major host by Blast.
RomeoSierraAlpha
People complain that Turkish fans or Brazilian fans are toxic. But I have learned in the past few weeks, thanks to F1 as well, that Argentinian fans are easily the worst fandom that exists.
SA fans in shambles. Your goofball org waited until they qualified to secure visas and then couldn’t follow through. BLAST helping teams (not Bestia, y’know, cuz they waited) in February should be ringing so many alarm bells that your favorite team is horribly mismanaged.
Yharnamite_Cleric
So BLAST is confirming that the deadline they themselves set on 21st May was set…. 3 business days prior? I get that there is ground to disqualify BESTIA since even if they acquired their visas it was indeed too late, but that reeks of amateur hour by BLAST. PGL handled it much better.
Dawhood
Funniest shit is BESTIA’s CEO threatening to sue in the replies
Still waiting for anyone in BESTIA to take responsibility for the month they spent failing to get visas before BLAST’s deadline and say they are sorry for letting the players down
Sampezua
I know Bestia failed securing the Visas on time but idk feels like theres more blast can do to help the tem who originally qualified, is not that the spirit of the majors?
Enviado5
The Bestia players should really be engaging lawyers to understand if they have a valid legal claim against Bestia because it is getting clearer by the minute that it was a massive screw up by the organisation that has resulted in the players suffering significant financial losses (from stickers).
Wouldn’t be surprised if a there’s a valid negligence claim.
Lothric_cs
Its time we let this drama die out.
--bertu
When Blast says “present visas as soon as possible”, this is them being as flexible as they can be. No one should read that as “I will obtain visas whenever I want”, but rather “I am fucked if I don’t do it soon, because at any time I will run out of leeway”.
A hard deadline was set when “Bestia failed their initial application and became unresponsive”. Rofl.
It’s comical to pretend like it was a sudden surprise to them that visas needed to be obtained and presented by them only after a hard deadline was set.
And now they are lying and using the flexibility given by Blast as a weapon against them to misdirect public opinion.
[deleted]
[deleted]
Someone-cool-2005
Murica fu(k yeah
shuijikou
Well, at first i thought you could only apply visa after getting major invitation(in this case 17th Apr.)
But no, b1/b2 is normal travel visa that could apply anytime, which means orgs should already start to apply for visa since the announce of Austin major, not to mention Blast reach out to teams as early as Feb. to help with visa, and bestia still only to get interview for players at May
Lucifer_xX
The org fucked up by starting the whole process early but why is blast so stubborn over the visa deadline . Isn’t the main goal is to be in Austin by 3 rd june or even 1st june
Exciting-Ear-4809
I support blast on this one.
Lucky_mlz
Everyone had a visa, these guys delayed it due to incompetence, and now they will pay the price.
Leticia (Fallen’s wife) had to step in and rush their visas in 3 days. What the hell was the org doing since February?
In any case, any suffering for racists is not enough.
Re-Evolution7
Why did Blast give them a deadline of only three working days? That seems completely unfair. I get Bestia made some mistakes but there is no reason why they couldn’t have extended the deadline for a few days
19 Comments
BLAST tv Austin Major Update đź“Ś
We are aware that the decision to replace BESTIA at the BLAST tv Austin Major 2025 has led to a number of questions about the decision making process. In the interests of transparency, we are more than happy to provide further clarity regarding the factors which have led to this unfortunate outcome.
As is the case for any of our events, all participating teams are subject to the visa requirements of the host country. Since February, BLAST has been in consistent communication with all teams regarding the US visa process required to attend the event. This outreach began well ahead of qualification to ensure that any issues or delays could be addressed before the event.
In total, we have seen 31 teams and 158 players successfully secure the required visas, following the application process put in place for the tournament; all within the published deadlines.
BESTIA qualified for the tournament on Thursday, 17th April.
Each team is ultimately responsible for securing its players’ visas and they are always at the discretion of the host country. We shared all relevant visa information and stayed in regular contact to support their process.
During this time BESTIA had appointments where they failed to secure all player visas. On Friday, 16th May we issued a clear and final deadline to all teams with outstanding visa issues: Wednesday, 21st May at 5:00 PM CEST. By this time, all teams were expected to have secured visas for enough of their submitted roster in order to compete in Austin. This deadline was put in place to help maintain competitive integrity and logistical event planning.
As of the deadline, two of BESTIA’s players had not obtained the required visas and as a result, we proceeded to confirm they had not met the requirements to participate in the tournament and had to be replaced. This decision was made in line with the tournament participation agreement (TPA).
While the relevant players subsequently did receive visas, there is no dispute that they were not in place in time to meet the required deadline. Accordingly, we had no choice but to uphold the rules of the tournament, which all teams were aware of.
It is a matter of huge regret for everyone involved that this has resulted in BESTIA not being able to compete at the Austin Major. We recognise the disappointment this news brings to their fans and wider esports community.
So they’ve set the deadline only 3 business days before it. And refused to extend it even by a day or two. How is that reasonable?
Hope this final Major host by Blast.
People complain that Turkish fans or Brazilian fans are toxic. But I have learned in the past few weeks, thanks to F1 as well, that Argentinian fans are easily the worst fandom that exists.
Well things are getting interesting.
[https://x.com/PapoMcArg/status/1926305694694683029](https://x.com/PapoMcArg/status/1926305694694683029)
SA fans in shambles. Your goofball org waited until they qualified to secure visas and then couldn’t follow through. BLAST helping teams (not Bestia, y’know, cuz they waited) in February should be ringing so many alarm bells that your favorite team is horribly mismanaged.
So BLAST is confirming that the deadline they themselves set on 21st May was set…. 3 business days prior? I get that there is ground to disqualify BESTIA since even if they acquired their visas it was indeed too late, but that reeks of amateur hour by BLAST. PGL handled it much better.
Funniest shit is BESTIA’s CEO threatening to sue in the replies
Still waiting for anyone in BESTIA to take responsibility for the month they spent failing to get visas before BLAST’s deadline and say they are sorry for letting the players down
I know Bestia failed securing the Visas on time but idk feels like theres more blast can do to help the tem who originally qualified, is not that the spirit of the majors?
The Bestia players should really be engaging lawyers to understand if they have a valid legal claim against Bestia because it is getting clearer by the minute that it was a massive screw up by the organisation that has resulted in the players suffering significant financial losses (from stickers).
Wouldn’t be surprised if a there’s a valid negligence claim.
Its time we let this drama die out.
When Blast says “present visas as soon as possible”, this is them being as flexible as they can be. No one should read that as “I will obtain visas whenever I want”, but rather “I am fucked if I don’t do it soon, because at any time I will run out of leeway”.
A hard deadline was set when “Bestia failed their initial application and became unresponsive”. Rofl.
It’s comical to pretend like it was a sudden surprise to them that visas needed to be obtained and presented by them only after a hard deadline was set.
And now they are lying and using the flexibility given by Blast as a weapon against them to misdirect public opinion.
[deleted]
Murica fu(k yeah
Well, at first i thought you could only apply visa after getting major invitation(in this case 17th Apr.)
But no, b1/b2 is normal travel visa that could apply anytime, which means orgs should already start to apply for visa since the announce of Austin major, not to mention Blast reach out to teams as early as Feb. to help with visa, and bestia still only to get interview for players at May
The org fucked up by starting the whole process early but why is blast so stubborn over the visa deadline . Isn’t the main goal is to be in Austin by 3 rd june or even 1st june
I support blast on this one.
Everyone had a visa, these guys delayed it due to incompetence, and now they will pay the price.
Leticia (Fallen’s wife) had to step in and rush their visas in 3 days. What the hell was the org doing since February?
In any case, any suffering for racists is not enough.
Why did Blast give them a deadline of only three working days? That seems completely unfair. I get Bestia made some mistakes but there is no reason why they couldn’t have extended the deadline for a few days