BLAST facing legal action for replacing BESTIA at CS2 Austin Major

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After making the choice to substitute the Argentine Counter-Strike 2 team BESTIA with Brazilian team Legacy in the upcoming BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, Blast is facing criticism. The team’s CEO, well-known streamer PapoMC, has publicly declared his intention to take legal action against the tournament organizer.

Due to visa complications impacting two of BESTIA’s players, Blast’s decision has sparked a strong reaction, both from within the team and across the CS2 gaming community.

Based on Blast’s report, BESTIA missed the May 21 deadline for obtaining the travel documents needed for US entry. Blast explained that despite giving reminders and assistance throughout the process, the essential papers were not handed in on time, leading the tournament organizer to choose a substitute instead.

Legacy, the next eligible team from the South American RMR standings, was selected.

In a dispute, Alejandro ‘PapoMC’ Lococo, the CEO of BESTIA, argued against the substitution. He stated that the players had already secured their visas, and that Blast had failed to address their last correspondence properly.

Lococo announced that the organization intends to file lawsuits against BLAST in not only Texas but also London. Additionally, he shared alleged photos and videos online claiming that the players’ visas had been granted.

In response to Blast’s comment about X, PapoMC stated, “It seems you’re taking a mistaken approach. We aimed for a fair resolution. I look forward to seeing you in court.

You know you’re doing the wrong thing. We wanted to resolve this fairly. See you in court.

— BESTIA Papo MC 🔥🦅 (@PapoMcArg) May 24, 2025

Argentina’s government gets involved

The debate generated significant interest across the esports world, extending to political figures as well. Argentina’s presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, confirmed that the government stepped in to help the team secure the required visas. He also expressed disapproval over their exclusion from the tournament, criticizing the decision.

Adorni stated on X that there’s no need for thanks, just ensure they have every opportunity to engage and excel in their Counter Strike games, aiming for the most exceptional matches across the universe.

There’s nothing to thank you for, just doing everything to let you join and play the best Counter-Strike games in the universe. That’s it.

No need for thanks, just ensuring you can join and enjoy the top-notch Counter-Strike games across the galaxy. End of story.

— Manuel Adorni (@madorni) May 23, 2025

In a recent statement, Blast clarified that their decision adhered to the established tournament rules, which were also endorsed by Valve, the game’s developer. They highlighted that setting firm timelines is crucial for upholding operational honesty and ensuring a level playing field in global competitions.

Although the necessary individuals eventually got their visas, it’s clear that they didn’t arrive on time for the stipulated deadline. Therefore, due to the rules being set and known by all teams, we had no other option than to adhere to the tournament regulations.” – Blast.

Everyone involved feels deeply sorry that circumstances prevented BESTIA from participating in the Austin Major. We understand how disheartening this news is for their supporters, as well as the broader esports community.

As the tournament draws near, the argument remains unresolved, possibly with legal actions looming. Currently, neither Blast nor Valve have made any additional comments about the matter.

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2025-05-26 17:48