SumaiL to stand-in for Team Falcons at BLAST Slam VII as Malr1ne suffers visa issues

Another visa issue strikes BLAST Slam VII ahead of its Playoffs round.

The ongoing Dota 2 BLAST Slam VII has seen some surprising developments. Just as PARIVISION were forced to withdraw due to visa issues, Team Falcons have encountered a similar problem, with their midlaner Stanislav “Malr1ne” Potorak unable to secure his visa in time to attend the LAN Playoffs in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Things have become even more interesting as a legendary figure steps into Malr1ne's shoes for the crucial stage of the tournament. The International champion Syed Sumail “SumaiL” Hassan has been announced as Team Falcons' stand-in for the remainder of the event.

Team Falcons announced the last-minute change on social media:

“Due to ongoing visa processing, Malr1ne will be unavailable for the BLAST Slam VII Playoffs. Unfortunately, his visa was not approved in time for him to join the team in Copenhagen.

SumaiL will stand in on mid for Team Falcons for the remainder of the tournament. We thank SumaiL for stepping in on short notice and for representing the team through the rest of BLAST Slam VII.”

What is Team Falcons' roster for the BLAST Slam VII Playoffs?

SumaiL returns for a stand-in stint at BLAST Slam VII

SumaiL, dubbed the “King” by many fans, has been absent from the competitive scene since his departure from Nigma Galaxy last March. Despite his prolific profile, the 27-year-old has struggled to replicate his past successes in recent years, with his last notable result being a Top 6 finish at The International 2025–a result that appeared to be an outlier amid an otherwise frustrating run of performances.

While he remains one of the most accomplished midlaners in Dota 2 history, his current form raises plenty of questions. Fans are uncertain whether SumaiL can match the level Malr1ne has displayed, but it will nonetheless be an intriguing matchup to watch.

SumaiL will begin his stand-in stint later today as BLAST Slam VII kicks off its first Playoffs round. The action is set to begin with Team Yandex versus Aurora Gaming, followed by Team Falcons against Team Liquid. The latter had originally been eliminated from the tournament but were brought back in as a replacement for PARIVISION, who were unable to attend due to visa issues.

Waiting in the Upper Bracket Semi-finals are the top two Group Stage seeds, LGD Gaming and BetBoom Team. This remaining six teams will battle for the lion’s share of the US$1 million prize pool, as well as the prestige of lifting the BLAST Slam VII trophy. The tournament will run in the next four days with the finals set to occur on 7 June.

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Author

Sarah "KZ" ZulkifleeSarah “KZ” Zulkiflee writes for GosuGamers, where she channels a long-standing obsession with Dota 2 into her work. While still often lost in the depths of MMR grinding, she has been actively experimenting with games across every genre imaginable. Six years into her career, she still wonders how she miraculously ended up in her dream industry. Anyway, she’s just happy to be here.