I have decided this based on the following factors:
- Jove has a very valid reason for having missed GCS2 sign ups, having only just finished serving his Army conscription.
- Noggano speaks excellent English and has proven himself to be one of the most trusted competitive players in the community, he can vouch for both players and oversee processes.
- Low risk. This is not GCS2 this is only QUALIFICATION. Great players can be given either Noggano or Jove's spots if anything goes wrong.
- It is the World Cup year in Russia so there's plenty of precedent for travel between the UK and Russia as long as all correct procedures are followed.
- Both Noggano and Jove have proven online personal identities to myself.
This is based on the following conditions:
- Noggano and Jove work together to ensure their passport applications are processed in a timely manner at their cost, they will provide proof and provide updates based on this.
- They both recognise that there is no prizepool during Qualification, and the actual tournament is the live tournament in September. They are legitimately competing to the best of their abilities for the right to qualify for GCS2.
- If they qualify and any of the processes fail, other competitors will take their place in the eight man live tournament. It's a risk they understand.
If all conditions are met GCS2 will pay for the visa application process of either or both players, and A_E will work to the best of his abilities with them both to ensure the relevant authorities permit said visas.
Jove will be given a seed of 19 as it is felt even though he is very rusty he is a former CoH2 grand master (#1 all 5 factions at the same time) and multiple ESL cup winner. It would be unfair to high seeds to have Jove as too low.
Welcome Jove and Noggano!
In Google Translate Russian.
Update 30th June.
A polite note that Jove and Noggano have been issued a notification regarding passports - and that it may stop their participation of future qualification tournaments if they cannot provide proof in the coming weeks. This is between GCS2 and them, but I am just giving everyone the heads up as a matter of transparency.
Update 19th July
Russians can no longer travel to UK.
https://www.coh2.org/topic/81434/gcs2-qualifier-noggano-can-no-longer-travel