TES ZUIAN will miss LoL Worlds 2026 due to failing visa interviews

Rituraj Halder Published October 8, 2026

Top Esports (TES) top laner Cheng “ZUIAN” Zi-Hao is about to miss the global tournament after his U.S. visa application was rejected twice.

The 19-year-old star esports athlete, who earned LPL All-Pro First Team honors and was slated to make his highly anticipated Worlds debut, faces a lot of issues while securing entry into the United States. 

With the Swiss Stage kicking off in Allen, Texas, TES confirmed that veteran top laner Bai “369” Jia-Hao will step back into the starting lineup while the organization desperately tries for a third emergency visa interview.

VISA stops TES ZUIAN and made way for 369’s return

Riot Games hosting Worlds 2026 across the United States previously raised concerns among fans regarding potential immigration hurdles for international players, and those fears have now become real.

According to an official statement released by Top Esports on Weibo, ZUIAN failed to pass two separate in-person visa interviews with U.S. consular authorities.

While TES emphasized that they are working alongside Riot Games to pursue every remaining avenue to get ZUIAN to Texas, the time frame makes a last-minute approval extremely tight.

As a contingency plan, TES is re-inserting 369 back into the starting top lane role. The veteran previously stepped aside for ZUIAN during the domestic split, but his extensive international experience gives TES a battle-tested backup as they adjust their tactical preparations on short notice.

Community reactions

The news raised quite a frenzy on social media, as professional competitive gaming fans already are opinionated when it comes to hosting esports events in the United States, which already has a history of refusing Visa applications for athletes. 

On X, fans shared very mixed reactions, with a user named @JAdamsez59174 saying, “That’s too bad, everyone’s afraid of this LPL super rookie.”

Another user named @zMetapod shared their sympathy, saying, “Can I ask this sincerely, what is usually asked in the interview? I’m a US citizen so have no idea, but I can’t imagine it’s that hard to not look bad. Anyone with experience can share?”

Fans also shared that young athletes with minimal travel history often face unfair scrutiny from immigration officials despite having legitimate corporate backing. Others noted the unexpected but not unwelcome return of 369, pointing out that the veteran now gets an unexpected fifth attempt to face T1 on the world stage.

From our perspective, seeing a star player sidelined by administrative red tape right before the biggest tournament of their career is nothing but a massive gut punch to us fans as well as the reputation of the whole tournament. 

While 369 is as reliable a substitute as an LPL team could ask for, losing a First Team All-Pro starter directly disrupts team synergy on the eve of the Swiss Stage.

If Riot Games wants to continue hosting premier global events in North America, establishing smoother fast-track athletic visa pathways should be their first priority, especially for regions like China, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Read also: All LoL Worlds qualified teams for the 2026 edition

Featured Image Credit: LPL

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