ZUIAN ruled out of Top Esports' Worlds start after two visa rejections

The door is not completely closed, though. TES stated that both the team and ZUIAN are trying to secure a third interview. Meanwhile, the club said it is adjusting its training plans and tactical preparation to deal with the situation. 369 has not played since early March, which makes his return all the more delicate.

The news is a heavy blow for TES. ZUIAN joined the team in Split 2, reached the grand final straight away and played his first international event at MSI in South Korea.

Why were the visas rejected?

According to Chinese reporter 快乐大金子, the main issue is likely ZUIAN's lack of travel history, as his passport has no previous stamps. A Weibo user added that ZUIAN is young, single, speaks English and probably owns little property in China. In the eyes of U.S. officials, that profile can suggest a risk of overstaying, and the reporter agreed with that analysis. He also pointed out that U.S. visa policy has become noticeably stricter over the past two years.

ZUIAN is not the only one affected at TES. According to the same reporter, two of the team's assistant coaches are facing similar difficulties. He added that the U.S. consulate in Shanghai is currently not issuing visas, which forced TES staff and Peng "Xun" Li-Xun, among others, to apply in Beijing instead. Even holding a European or Brazilian visa has not been enough to secure approval for some applicants.

The reporter also dismissed a rumor claiming that Lin "Creme" Jian got his visa because the officer recognized him. Creme was blocked at his first interview and was only approved at the second after a long round of questions.

Riot had addressed the issue...

Fans raised concerns about visas as soon as Worlds 2026 was confirmed in the United States. At a press conference held at the end of First Stand in March, Chris Greeley, Riot's Global Head of LoL Esports, addressed the topic. "I can't remember an international event in the last couple of years where there weren't some visa or immigration concerns right up until the event," he said. "If one or two teams are having trouble, we'll continue working directly with those teams, along with our agencies and any government contacts we can leverage."

Time is now running out for ZUIAN. Worlds begins on October 15, but TES are directly qualified for the Main Stage, which starts on October 23. Find out more about the tournament in our complete Worlds 2026 guide.