Movistar KOI Fénix’s NightSlayer to play WSCI 2026 remotely due to visa issues

Movistar KOI Fénix has confirmed that top laner Ivan “NightSlayer” Bilous will compete remotely at the upcoming World Star Challengers Invitational 2026. Visa complications related to his Ukrainian refugee status have prevented the player from joining his teammates in South Korea.

As a result, MKF secured Riot Games’ approval for NightSlayer to compete from a different Asian country while the rest of the roster plays on-site. The organization has also brought in Korean player Jan “Chan” Chan-ho, a South Korean toplaner that played for Partizan Sangal in EMEA this year, as a substitute to avoid any potential technical or logistical issues that could put the team’s participation at risk.

“As soon as we received confirmation that we could qualify for the WSCI, we began all the necessary procedures so that Slayer could travel to Korea and represent the team at the tournament,” Movistar KOI Fénix stated on X (ex-Twitter).

“Due to his status as a Ukrainian refugee, his immigration situation is subject to additional requirements and different conditions than usual. After evaluating the various possible alternatives and working together with Riot to find the best solution, Slayer will be able to compete in the tournament, although he will do so from a different location than the rest of our players.”

The announcement comes just two days before the inaugural WSCI kicks off on September 20.

Movistar KOI Fénix will enter the World Star Challengers Invitational after an impressive run in the domestic circuit. The academy roster won the 2026 LES Spring Kickoff, Summer Split and Final Four to qualify for the WSCI EMEA Qualifier. The team subsequently defeated Bushido Wildcats and BIG in the qualifier to secure its place at WSCI.

NightSlayer has been a key part of MKF’s successful 2026 campaign so far. His performances also earned him a promotion to the Movistar KOI LEC roster as a substitute top laner. Moving forward, WSCI will provide another major opportunity for the Ukrainian player to showcase his potential on the international stage.

This is not the first time Movistar KOI Fénix has dealt with an international event involving a player competing remotely. In a recent interview with Sheep Esports ahead of the LES Final, MKF’s bot laner Zayan “13” Tareau revealed that jungler Enes “XnS” Hansu was unable to join the team in Berlin due to visa issues.

Not just NightSlayer, but MKF’s entire roster will face leading tier 2 teams from outside EMEA for the first time at WSCI. The first-ever international tier 2 League of Legends tournament will put 16 of the strongest teams from China, Korea, APAC, the Americas, and EMEA from September 20 to October 2.

All 16 qualified teams will begin their journey in the Group Stage, where they will be divided into four equal groups. The teams will compete in a double round-robin format, with the top two squads from each group advancing to the Knockout Stage.

The Knockout Stage will then feature a single-elimination bracket, with the remaining teams fighting for the inaugural WSCI champions title in South Korea.