NIP replaces Aurora after visa issues

Ninjas in Pyjamas are heading to the CS Asia Championships after Aurora lost its spot because the Turkish team could not secure visas for China. (hltv.org) Perfect World announced the change on April 27, less than a month before the Shanghai event begins on May 20. Aurora had been one of 14 directly invited teams. (hltv.org) (hotspawn.com) NIP received the berth as the next eligible team under the February Valve Regional Standings, which HLTV reported placed the team 24th. The replacement keeps the tournament at 16 teams after qualifiers sent Lynn Vision and TYLOO through. (hltv.org) (cac.pwesports.cn) The event is one of Perfect World’s biggest Counter-Strike stops in China this year. Perfect World’s tournament site lists CAC 2026 in Shanghai from May 20 to May 24 with a $1 million prize pool. (cac.pwesports.cn) (hotspawn.com) The team swap changes the invited field that was published earlier this month, when Aurora appeared alongside PARIVISION, Falcons, MOUZ, The MongolZ, Team Liquid and other invitees. The current event site now shows NIP in Aurora’s place. (hotspawn.com) (cac.pwesports.cn) For NIP, the late call-up adds a top-tier LAN to a lighter schedule at the end of the season. HLTV reported the squad led by Marco "Snappi" Pfeiffer otherwise had only Stake Ranked Episode 2 left before the break. (hltv.org) For Aurora, the issue was not form or ranking but travel paperwork. Perfect World said the team was unable to participate because of visa problems, ending its CAC run before the bracket was drawn. (hltv.org) (dust2.in) The tournament now moves forward with NIP in the field and Aurora out, a reminder that international Counter-Strike events can still turn on documents as much as results. (hltv.org)