Liquid nAts likely to miss VALORANT Masters Toronto kick-off due to Visa issues

Ayaz ‘nAts’ Akhmetshin will seemingly miss out on Workforce Liquid’s first match at VALORANT Masters Toronto 2025 as a result of visa points.

Till nAts has obtained a visa, Canadian participant Erik ‘penny’ Penny will be a part of the crew as a stand-in.

VALORANT Masters Toronto will start on June seventh in Toronto, Canada, that includes 12 worldwide groups and a $1m (~£769,171) prize pool. Workforce Liquid qualified for the occasion after ending in third place at VCT EMEA Stage 1.

The squad will face its first Swiss Stage opponent, Bilibili Gaming, throughout Grasp’s kick-off at 8 pm BST. Immediately, nonetheless, each nAts and Liquid’s social media introduced that the in-game chief (IGL) is unlikely to make it to the preliminary match.

“Sadly as a result of visa points, I will be unable to journey to the event with the crew. There’s nonetheless an opportunity that I’ll get visa however most probably not earlier than the primary match,” shared nAts on X (previously Twitter).

“I hope I can present as much as the event. I’ll preserve everybody up to date. Irrespective of if I can be there or not, Workforce Liquid will nonetheless want your help.”

nAts is the longest-standing member of Liquid’s roster after becoming a member of the organisation in November 2022. The previous CS:GO athlete started his VALORANT profession in 2020 and has since made a reputation for himself as a sharp-minded strategist and Cypher participant.

The Russian participant was additionally a part of the long-lasting Gambit roster, which included the likes of Igor ‘Redgar’ Vlasov and two-time worldwide trophy winner Timofey ‘Chronicle’ Khromov. Collectively together with his teammates at Gambit, nAts dominated the nascent VALORANT esports scene, profitable Masters Berlin 2021 and ending second at VALORANT Champions in the identical 12 months.

Though nAts’ absence at Masters Toronto is more likely to have an effect on his crew’s efficiency to a point, Liquid has already discovered an interim stand-in with penny.

The younger athlete has beforehand performed for Version1 and G2 Esports. Since December 2023, penny has been competing in VALORANT’s tier-two circuit, Challengers North America, for esports organisation YFP.

On his socials, penny commented: “Excited to play in entrance of the house crowd and I’ll ensure that to do my finest for Liquid followers in all places. Grateful for this chance!”