Cover-Credits:
Former The Valley EXP Laner, Ian "FwydChickn" Hohl, alleges that TheBloodThirstyKings (BTK) may be at risk of losing its Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup (MSC) 2023 ticket. The pro player explained that there is a rule in the North America Challenger Tournaments Spring (NACT) 2023 that forbids the representative for the mid-season event from making changes to its roster. If the representative can’t participate due to an incomplete roster, the runner-up in the qualifiers shall take its place in the MSC 2023. According to FwydChickn, BTK’s team captain Michael "MobaZane" Cosgun may consider retiring from MLBB esports if his team can’t go to MSC because of the rule.
MobaZane threatens to quit MLBB for good if BTK loses its MSC 2023 ticket
Through a livestream, MobaZane’s good friend and former teammate, FwydChickn, revealed what was happening behind the scenes after the NACT 2023 grand finals. According to the EXP Laner, BTK may be replaced by Outplay as the North American (NA )representative due to a rule in the NACT 2023.
“Dave [David "Assassin Dave" Mao] said in the rulebook that they can’t change players to go to MSC or IESF and if they can’t go, they’ll have to choose the next team instead of replacing the players,” explained FwydChickn.
MobaZane previously explained that two of his teammates TEA and Yato cannot travel outside the United States (US) and that BTK may need to welcome two more players to fill the missing roles.
FwydChickn continued that MobaZane was against this ruling because BTK needs to add more members in order to have a full roster in MSC 2023. However, the squad remains hopeful that the rule gets changed.
“There have been rules that gave been changed before like the M4, there was a rule that they said where it has to be 5 NA citizens but with enough complaining, they changed that rule,” FwydChickn said.
The former The Valley EXP Laner added that MobaZane is threatening to quit MLBB for good if his team can’t make it to MSC 2023 due to the NACT rule.
“I guess the entire team is hoping that they’ll change the rule again. But if they don’t Zane said that he’ll really just quit,” FwydChickn stated. “So, it’s kinda like, threatening them in a way that he’ll just quit if they don’t ”
He further added that “it is a stupid rule because NA doesn’t have enough players to guarantee that sort of thing.”
What made the situation all the more confusing is that FwydChickn claims that Assassin Dave, one of the organizers and commentators in the NACT 2023, said that BTK and Outplay were allowed to make roster changes for whoever wins the MSC ticket.
“He [Assassin Dave] didn’t check the rule properly, which is his job, and shouldn’t have lied to both teams,” said FwydChickn.
It is not yet confirmed if BTK will be allowed to make roster changes to prepare for MSC 2023 or if Outplay shall replace BTK as the NA representative. However, the official Facebook page of Mobile Legends Esports did announced that BTK shall compete in the upcoming mid-season international event. Fans will have to keep their eyes peeled for more updates in the future.
