Fans of Counter Logic Gaming just received great news on the eve of their participation in the biggest League of Legends tournament of the year.
Their jungler, Jake “Xmithie” Puchero, will be able to attend the Riot World Championships after last ditch efforts to secure his visa came through, the team announced today.
Earlier this month, the team revealed that substitute mid laner Jae-Hyun “HuHi” Choi would take over the jungle spot at Worlds because Puchero’s visa situation was “unresolved.” As a Filipino national, the visa process for him is more complicated than for his teammates.
After the team revealed their predicament, a community outcry got the organization in touch with people who had experience to overcome the “against-all-odds-scenario.” Counter Logic Gaming management worked with Paul Bago of the Philippine Esport Organization, Michael Meduna from the European Commission, and many more, including Philippine Senator Bam Aquino to secure his visa.
That means the champions of the League Championship Series in America will get to represent their region with the lineup that won them that title in convincing fashion—at least, for most of the tournament. The visa Puchero secured will allow him to play in the Group Stage and final two rounds of the tournament, set for France, Belgium, and Germany respectively. But he still needs to secure a separate visa to play in the Quarterfinals in the United Kingdom should Counter Logic Gaming advance that far.
The team is confident they’ll be able to secure Puchero’s entry to the United Kingdom too, but it’s not certain.
Of course, neither is Counter Logic Gaming surviving the Group Stage, though they’re in one of the easier groups, on paper. The top seed from America will face Korea’s third seed, KOO Tigers, the Taiwanese team Flash Wolves, and Brazil’s champions paiN Gaming. It’s a group that’s winnable for the Americans, especially now that their starting jungler is back in the lineup.
