CGS reshuffles after Chinese visa issue

The Championship Gaming Series has announced that is has been forced to change its line-up after one of its participants - the Wuhan Dragon team from China - was refused a visa to travel to the US.

According to Andy Reif, CGS commissioner, the organisation lobbied the US embassy in Beijing several times, but to no avail.

"We are profoundly disappointed by the news that visas have been denied to the Wuhan Dragon players," he said.

"Between the competitions leading up to the establishment of the Wuhan Dragon team, the avid fan support and the success of Wuhan at the Pan Asia Final, China has been a very important part of our success in 2007.

"Nonetheless, CGS and its partners left no stone unturned in its efforts to assist these players in obtaining the necessary visas. Weâve been working tirelessly with the State Department, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing repeatedly, and all other contacts in our extensive network to rectify this matter.

"The gamers are the real victims here; they are being denied the right to prove themselves at the World Final. We are committed to finding a solution to this situation for the 2008 season."

UK team Birmingham Salvo will face up to Rio Sinistro on match day one - December 6 - while London Mint take on the winners of the competition's group two on December 10.

The winning team will share a USD 500,000 top prize, with other team and individual prizes taken from the remainder of the USD 1 million pot.