Bestia IGL Comments on Visa Issues for Austin Major
The captain of the Argentine team Bestia , Nicolás “Noktse” Davila, reacted emotionally to the silence of BLAST and Valve regarding a visa issue that prevents his team from competing in the first-ever BLAST.tv Austin Major. In his statement, he criticized the organizers for their indifference to the challenges faced by teams from regions with bureaucratic barriers.
His words resonated with thousands of players and fans — it's not just about the inability to attend the tournament but about losing a well-deserved reward, stickers, points, and a place in history. All this after earning their spot through fair qualification.
How Bestia Reached Their Dream
The Argentine team Bestia qualified for the BLAST.tv Major 2025 through the regional qualifying stage — Major Regional Qualifier. This event was historic: for the first time in the organization's history, Bestia earned the right to play at a major. The team's leader, 32-year-old Noktse, has dedicated a decade and a half to the game — and only now has the chance to step onto the big stage.
However, immediately after qualifying, the team faced a major hurdle. Two players — Luciano “luchov” Herrera and Tomás “tomaszin” Corna — were denied visas to enter the USA. Without at least one of them, Bestia , according to the rules, cannot participate in the major. Their spot in the bracket will be taken by team Legacy .
Noktse's Emotions and Community Reaction
Player Noktse reacted emotionally on social media, accusing BLAST and Valve of inaction:
One of the things that frustrates me the most is how BLAST and Counter-Strike continue to look the other way. What would they do if this happened to a tier-1 team? We gave everything to get there. It's not just a missed opportunity; it's the deprivation of our reward, stickers, ranking points. We earned this through fair play.
Nicolás “Noktse” Davila
Bestia 's post on X garnered over 3.8 million views, causing a stir in the esports community. One of the first to support the team was well-known commentator TRAVIS :
While I don't think BLAST and Valve have any power to help Bestia , that doesn't take away from completely understanding Noktse and Bestia 's pleas. He's qualified for his first major after 15 years of trying, and at 32, who knows if he'll ever get a chance again. Cruel and unfair.
TRAVIS
The situation with Bestia highlights one of the key issues in global esports: regional inequality. Teams from countries with visa barriers systematically find themselves at a disadvantage, despite their sporting achievements. Participation in a major is not just about the game; it's a matter of developing an entire scene in the region.
