Recap: FUT went 3-0 to qualify for the PGL Elimination Stage, but got knocked out at lightning speed after just one match. Uncle Yang performed well, but he only played four matches with the team, so under Valve's rules, Uncle Yang is not locked to the roster (five matches are required), and as a chain reaction Astralis panicked, urgently recalled jabbi, and didn't dare to field cmtry. If cmtry had played five matches for Astralis he would have been locked to Astralis, and since Uncle Yang didn't reach five matches, cmtry is still locked to FUT. Under Valve's rules, when two teams register the same player, the higher-ranked team gets the spot and the lower-ranked team loses it. Everyone knows how strong FUT is and how much Astralis is struggling, so if there is a spot conflict, it will definitely be Astralis that loses it.
Astralis' emergency move was the right call, FUT only played four out of five matches instead of the full five, so as a chain reaction Uncle Yang has no FUT sticker; cmtry has a FUT team sticker but most likely won't be able to play; HooXi has no sticker (siuhy played all five matches for Astralis); jabbi has a sticker. Uncle Yang can register as a substitute to compete, but the FUT coach feels all of this is unfair to Uncle Yang, Uncle Yang should get a sticker slot and be locked into the active roster. He then tweeted calling for:
“Hey @CounterStrike @valvesoftware, this makes absolutely no sense.
@SunPayuscs has been with FUT for two months, but missed his Major sticker by just one match short of the requirement.
We were 2-0 at PGL Bucharest and could have manipulated the result against Vitality to meet the requirements, but we chose competitive fairness.
Both SunPayus and @cmtrycs should be granted exceptions so they can attend the Major with their respective teams.
Rules should never punish players for doing the right thing. Please reconsider.
And the case of @Vitality_apEX is another perfect example of how unfair these rules can be.
After everything he did with Vitality, he missed out on his own Major sticker simply because he became a father and couldn't attend one event, while @jLcsgo_ will get one.
I have nothing against jL, but what sense does this make? @CounterStrike @valvesoftware
These rules need exceptions. Players should not be punished for this situation.”
Waiting on Valve's decision is an unknown, but the UK still has one last hidden-gem niche tournament. If FUT enters and plays it, all problems will be solved. It all comes down to whether FUT chooses to participate.