Mid-Laner Cengizhan "mercyy" Teker has reached an agreement with Misa Esports to compete in the Turkish Championship League (TCL) next split, according to sources close to Sheep Esports.
A Promising Rookie in the TCL
The team, led by Anıl "HolyPhoenix" Işık, will be reinforced with the young Turkish mid-laner in their quest to lift the TCL trophy again. Unfortunately, Turkey has faced many problems this off-season due to an unfortunate visa situation.
Ranked in the top 10 of the ladder and possessing a very aggressive player profile online, mercyy started his off-season as one of the biggest names coming up in teams looking for mid-lane changes. Due to his style and young age, the Turkish player has attracted interest and undergone tryouts from teams in other regions and has even been high on the priority list of some LFL teams.
Ever since the TCL was integrated within the EMEA Regional Leagues, we've started seeing more and more participation of Turkish players in teams of other European regions, even within the LEC. However, we have also witnessed players unable to move up to the top European competition due to the impossibility of getting a visa in time, as could be the case of Polat "Parus" Furkan Çiçek.
Turkish Visas, Still an Issue?
The procedure is technically simple: getting your Schengen visa application accepted, which involves a series of requirements including a valid passport, travel medical insurance, payment of the visa fee, documents proving the reason for the trip and the conditions of the stay, the availability of sufficient financial means, and proof of intention to leave the Schengen area before the expiry of the visa, as well as proof of residence in the consular demarcation.
Once all the requirements are presented, if everything is in order, the player should have an appointment for the verdict on whether or not the visa is approved. It should also be noted that going through a renewal process is much simpler and easier to approve than starting a process from scratch, which is why players who have already left Turkey and have played in other regional leagues or the LEC have an easier time.
Waiting lists and rejections this year have multiplied considerably, not only in the esports field, which could be seen as a protectionist measure against a possible brain drain from the country.
This also raises the question of why teams continue to bid for Turkish players if they do not know if they will be able to get them in time. At the end of the day, many teams have competitive advantages over others because of the contacts and possibilities they have. Many teams in the regional leagues have contacts in embassies or consulates to facilitate and speed up the VISA process and its approval.
