HEROIC’s Rocky Start to 2026 as Visa Issues Keep Alkaren Out, Says TOBIZ

HEROIC’s Rocky Start to 2026 as Visa Issues Keep Alkaren Out, Says TOBIZ

HEROIC’s 2026 competitive campaign has begun with adversity, as the team continues to struggle without one of its key players, Kazakh AWPer Alimzhan “Alkaren” Bitimbay. The organization’s coach, Tobias “TOBIZ” Theo, addressed the issue following another disappointing performance at the PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 event, outlining the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Alkaren’s return due to visa complications. 

HEROIC finished the Cluj-Napoca group stage with a 1–3 record, taking a single victory over 3DMAX, while falling to FaZe, B8, and G2. According to TOBIZ, playing without an AWPer has proven extremely difficult, despite the efforts of Simon “yxngstxr” Boije, who has been standing in for Alkaren. 

“It’s been a rocky start,” TOBIZ said, “playing without an AWPer, even though Simon is doing a good job, is really hard. We had built relationships in practice with Alkaren and with susp, and then suddenly all of that got thrown out the window.” 

TOBIZ reiterated that while the team is trying to maximize its current potential, HEROIC’s performances have been affected by constant lineup adjustments and role changes—with Simon having to learn new synergies with teammates Christoffer “Chr1zN” Storgaard and Tim “susp” Ångström. 

What’s Behind Alkaren’s Absence?

Alkaren, just 18 years old, has not played a single match for HEROIC in 2026 due to ongoing visa issues, which have prevented him from entering tournaments and joining the active roster. This problem first became evident when HEROIC announced that Alkaren would miss BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 because of unforeseen visa complications—a situation that required the team to reinstate yxngstxr in the lineup.

These issues are not new. They date back to HEROIC’s roster decisions in mid-2025: the organization had loaned Alkaren from Spirit Academy and benched veteran rifler gr1ks, seeing the teenager as a long-term investment. Even then, Alkaren’s availability was limited due to roster lock rules at certain events, delaying his competitive debut with the team. 

In a separate interview before Cluj-Napoca, HEROIC rifler Chr1zN confirmed that Alkaren’s visa was blocked at the border, leaving the team scrambling at bootcamp. Chr1zN described the situation as “very unexpected” and emphasized how disruptive it has been for the squad’s preparations and cohesion. 

Team Performance Without Alkaren

The absence of an AWPer has visibly hindered HEROIC’s early results. In IEM Kraków 2026, the team was eliminated without winning a single match, a stretch that marked the third consecutive event played without Alkaren. Losing to GamerLegion, HEROIC failed to gain traction, showcasing how crucial an AWPer’s role remains in top-level CS:GO. 

TOBIZ acknowledged this, pointing out that confidence and execution issues against elite opponents like FaZe contributed to their early exits. Still, he maintained that some individual performances, such as those from susp, were bright spots that the squad could build on despite the broader struggles. 

Looking Ahead

As the team prepares for upcoming competitions—such as DraculaN and online Pro League matches—HEROIC will continue to compete with its mesh roster, keeping Simon in the AWPer role for the immediate future. TOBIZ made clear that the organization hopes Alkaren can return as soon as possible, but could not provide details on when that might happen. 

“We’re working behind the scenes on fixing the visa for Alkaren,” he said. “Hopefully, someday he will come back.” 

This situation leaves HEROIC in a challenging position: one of CS:GO’s historically strong teams is being forced to adapt to instability at a time when consistency is crucial. Their early results in 2026 reflect these difficulties, but the team’s leadership still expresses optimism for the future—so long as Alkaren’s availability issues can be resolved.