Perfecto: “Missing a Major because of visa issues is one of the worst feelings a player can experience”

Perfecto: “Missing a Major because of visa issues is one of the worst feelings a player can experience”

Virtus.pro in-game leader Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy has spoken about the emotional toll of missing the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, calling it “one of the worst feelings a player can experience.” The team lost their Major spot after being denied entry to Sweden for ESL Pro League Season 22, an incident that ultimately cost them crucial Valve Regional Standings (VRS) points.

From near upset vs. Vitality to a harsh reality check

Virtus.pro started IEM Chengdu 2025 with a close series against world No.1 Vitality, pushing the French powerhouse to three maps. A stellar Overpass performance from Petr “fame” Bolyshev (30–12 K-D, 140 ADR) secured an early lead, but a narrow 11–13 loss on Dust2 and a one-sided Mirage defeat dropped VP to the lower bracket.

Speaking after the match, Perfecto admitted that the team didn’t view the performance as a “good result,” noting that Dust2 was within their grasp. He highlighted a series of T-side mistakes and the nerves of newcomers Vladimir “b1st” Krasikov and Vadim “tO0RO” Arkov, who are still adjusting to tier-one LAN pressure.

Perfecto added that b1st’s statistics don’t reflect his impact in practice, praising the young rifler’s progress and emphasizing the efforts of senior players like Evgenii “FL1T” Lebedev in helping the new roster gel.

How the Swedish border incident cost VP their Major

The more painful topic for Virtus.pro was their exclusion from the Budapest Major, not because of poor form, but due to travel complications.

In September, the team was turned away at the Swedish border en route to ESL Pro League Season 22. Border officials reportedly questioned the validity of health-insurance documents for three players and subsequently revoked their visas. Although the same documents had been accepted at other Schengen entries, VP were denied access and forced to withdraw from the tournament.

ESL later reviewed the case, confirming that Virtus.pro’s paperwork was in order and classifying the event as a “visa complication” under its exceptional-circumstances rule. No penalties were issued, but ENCE took VP’s EPL slot, depriving them of a key opportunity to earn VRS points.

That absence proved decisive. With Valve’s new VRS-based Major qualification system replacing open qualifiers, every top-tier event carried weight. Virtus.pro, sitting on 1413 points, were overtaken by fnatic, SAW, Gentle Mates, and 9INE, leaving them outside the 32-team list for the Budapest Major — despite a strong showing earlier at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025.

Perfecto called the situation “terrible and tilting,” saying the team had done everything right but were powerless against bureaucratic setbacks. Still, he emphasized that Virtus.pro must move forward and “keep working” rather than dwell on what’s lost.

A new chapter: Perfecto leads Virtus.pro’s rebuild

The interview comes amid a transformative period for Virtus.pro.

Perfecto joined from Cloud9 in June, replacing Timur “FL4MUS” Halilov and bringing leadership and structure to the roster. Shortly after, Denis “electroNic” Sharipov was benched, and Perfecto assumed the in-game leader role — a decision made unanimously by the team and staff.

With b1st promoted from the academy and tO0RO brought in as another young talent, Virtus.pro are building a new foundation around Perfecto, FL1T, and fame. Their short-term goals include steady results at events like IEM Chengdu and accelerating the development of their rookies ahead of the next Major cycle.

Perfecto acknowledged that the team’s potential exceeds their current results, saying Virtus.pro “can play much better” once the new system and players fully adapt to tier-one conditions.

Visa troubles shake up the CS2 landscape

Virtus.pro’s ordeal mirrors a growing pattern in Counter-Strike, where visa and border issues have repeatedly derailed teams’ Major dreams.

At the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024, 9Pandas had to withdraw days before the event due to visa complications. Veteran player Denis “seized” Kostin described it as the most painful moment of his career.

At the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, BESTIA lost their Major spot when two players’ visas were delayed. Their CEO called the decision “an injustice,” but BLAST confirmed the team missed the deadline and reassigned the slot to Legacy.

The MongolZ also suffered a setback at BLAST Open London 2025, withdrawing due to travel restrictions that would have prevented them from attending the LAN stage. Team Liquid were invited as replacements.

Across lower tiers, South American and Asian players continue to share similar struggles. BESTIA’s Tomás “Tomaszin” Correa spoke publicly about his mental exhaustion while awaiting visa approval — a statement that resonated widely in the CS2 community.

Organizers have started adjusting to these challenges. ESL’s ruling in Virtus.pro’s case acknowledged that border denials, even with valid visas, should count as a “visa complication,” preventing teams from being unfairly punished. However, under Valve’s current VRS qualification system, a single missed tournament can still erase a year’s worth of progress.

What’s next for Virtus.pro

Virtus.pro’s next steps are clear but demanding:

Rebuild their ranking and confidence through strong showings in the remainder of 2025.

Provide LAN experience to their young guns, b1st and tO0RO.

Work closely with event organizers to ensure no repeat of the Swedish border situation.

Perfecto’s message from Chengdu was one of resilience:

“You can’t change what happened,” he said, “but you can use it as motivation.”

With a new leader, a revamped roster, and a point to prove, Virtus.pro’s story in CS2 is far from over — it’s just taking a longer, tougher route back to the top.