Cover-Credits:
OG's journey to the Berlin Major 2023 was one of the most difficult in recent memory, as the team had to fight through the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) Western Europe (WEU) 2023 Tour 2: Division I brackets to secure its slot. Although the odds were stacked against the team, it managed to win some crucial games and force tiebreakers, which the team eventually won and secure a slot at the Major. Afterward, the team competed in DreamLeague Season 19, where it had a solid performance but was ultimately eliminated in the second group stages. The team’s support player Evgenil “Chu” Makarov stated that he will not be able to make it to the Berlin Major 2023. He also claimed that coach Mikhail “Misha” Agatov, was also unable to secure his visa.
Chu and Misha May Miss Berlin Major 2023, Ceb Not Available to Standin
Chu stated that he and Misha were trying to get a visa for the Berlin Major through the German embassy in Serbia. However, they were not able to get the visa due to the requirement of ‘a special permission’ from a different place since their residency was less than 6 months. Even though they reached out to that place on the same day, they didn't receive a response in time to secure a visa appointment. Alternatively, they tried to get a Portugal visa to make it to the tournament, but they were informed that a German visa was necessary since they were planning to spend more time in Germany.
As first reported by escorenews, Chu elaborated on the KD ALL IN podcast about the challenges that both players are encountering in obtaining visas to play in Berlin. According to the information in the podcast, available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0aClWrlhpc, Chu is unsure about who would standin for him at the Berlin Major 2023, stating that Sébastien "Ceb" Debs will not be available this time as he recently got married. It is possible that the team may get a standin from WEU, “possibility someone from Entity, maybe Fishman or Tobi”, according to Chu. While it is still unclear as to why Chu stated two potential stand-ins for the team, it may be possible that Dmitry "DM" Dorokhin may also have issues in making it to the Berlin Major 2023.
The absence of Chu and Misha is a significant blow to OG's chances at the Berlin Major 2023, as they are both important parts of the team's strategy and ability to perform. The absence of both players will be felt in the team's communication, synergy, and execution on the battlefield. Moreover, if the rumors regarding DM’s visa issues are true and he also misses the tournament, it will put OG in a precarious position, as the team will be without two of its key players and its coach.
