The journey to the pinnacle of competitive Dota 2, The International, is often depicted as a gladiatorial march through digital arenas. Yet, for many professional players, the true first boss battle isn`t against Roshan or an opposing team`s core; it`s navigating the intricate labyrinth of international travel. This reality recently became starkly clear for Gleb “Kiyotaka” Zyryanov, the mid-laner for Aurora Gaming, whose anticipated flight to Hamburg was dramatically rerouted by an unexpected encounter with passport control in Munich.
A Visa Vortex in Munich
As the Aurora Gaming squad embarked on their trans-European journey to TI14 (or perhaps TI2025 as per initial reports, a testament to the fast-paced nature of esports event planning), their flight path led them through Munich, Germany. For Kiyotaka, this layover turned into an extended, unplanned stopover. The reason? An Italian visa.
As Kiyotaka himself recounted, the issue wasn`t a lack of a visa, but rather its specific status:
“We were flying as a group of five people through Munich. And in Munich, at passport control, I was stopped because I had an Italian visa. They `messed with me` a bit – about three hours… It wasn`t open. Because of that, they `messed with me` for three hours, then let me go, saying: `Good luck at the tournament.` But I had already missed my flight.”
Three hours of scrutiny over an inactive visa sticker in a passport – a rather unglamorous prelude to competing for millions. One can only imagine the rising stress levels as the clock ticked, the team`s connecting flight departed, and the prospect of reaching Hamburg on schedule dwindled. The cordial, albeit ill-timed, “Good luck at the tournament” from border officials likely offered little comfort amidst the logistical headache.
The Aftermath: Missed Connections and Rebooking Ruckus
Missing a connecting flight is an inconvenience for any traveler, but for a professional athlete on a tight schedule for a major tournament, it`s a critical setback. Kiyotaka was advised to approach the service center with a police paper to rebook his flight. However, airline rebooking protocols rarely align perfectly with urgent esports schedules.
“I go, and they say: `We have a flight in 40 minutes, but it`s already full.` So they couldn`t put me on it. The next flight is at 6:40 AM. I realized that was not the best option, and they couldn`t book a later one.”
The immediate lack of viable alternatives presented a significant challenge. Fortunately, the support structure of professional esports teams proved its worth. Aurora Gaming swiftly intervened, demonstrating the essential behind-the-scenes work that enables players to focus on their craft.
Team Support and Eventual Arrival
The organization secured a hotel for Kiyotaka near the airport, providing a much-needed respite after the day`s ordeal. The next morning, he was on a new flight, finally making his way to Hamburg. While his teammates had arrived on September 1st, Kiyotaka joined them on September 2nd, a day later than planned but safely at the event`s location.
This incident serves as a poignant reminder that even in the high-stakes world of professional gaming, mundane logistical hurdles can create significant disruptions. The digital battlegrounds where these athletes perform are a stark contrast to the bureaucratic tangles of visa regulations and flight schedules. For Kiyotaka, it was an unwelcome, yet ultimately overcome, “unpleasant situation with flights” – a chapter of his journey to The International that certainly wasn`t in the game plan.
Such tales highlight the often-unseen complexities of managing an esports career, where player welfare extends far beyond in-game performance to encompass everything from visa procurement to emergency travel arrangements. As Kiyotaka now prepares to compete, this unexpected detour will likely add another layer to the stories shared from the road to glory.
Gilbert Pendleton