nAts to miss Masters Toronto 2025 opening, here’s why

Games Writer

Publish Date: 05/29/2025

Team Liquid is looking to be without its in-game leader Ayaz “nAts” Akhmetshin for at least the opening match at Valorant Masters Toronto 2025.

Valorant Masters Toronto is set to kick off on June 7 following the conclusion of the four international leagues across EMEA, Pacific, China, and the Americas. Team Liquid was entering the event as one of the favorites, with a power-packed lineup led by nAts. However, just a week before the tournament, the organization shared that their skipper may miss the opening match.

Taking to social media, both nAts and Team Liquid have confirmed that he will be replaced by Erik “penny” Penny for at least the opening game, and perhaps more matches beyond.

Why isn’t nAts playing for Liquid at Masters Toronto?

Team Liquid has shared that nAts is unable to travel with the team to the Masters Toronto event due to delays in his visa process.

nAts has confirmed that a visa delay may force him to miss at least the opening match of the tournament. While he’s hopeful about securing his visa for the Masters event in Toronto, it’s unlikely to arrive before June 7 at the earliest. This means that even in an ideal scenario, he would miss TL’s first bout.

Team Liquid secured its spot at Valorant Masters Toronto 2025 by finishing third in the VCT EMEA Stage 1 Playoffs. It clinched that qualification after a decisive 2–1 victory over BBL Esports in the lower bracket, punching a ticket to Toronto among the top three teams in the region. The team will go up against Bilibili Gaming following the tournament’s opening match between Team Heretics and Paper Rex.

Since Masters Toronto will determine which teams earn Championship Points toward qualifying for Valorant Champions Paris, it was vitally important for Team Liquid to enter the tournament with their full squad. With nAts serving as both the IGL and standing as one of the team’s most veteran members, his absence could put it at a major disadvantage in the opening match and beyond. The organization is expected to expedite his visa process in hopes of getting him on the ground in Canada as quickly as possible, but there are no guarantees on his attendance.

Thankfully for Team Liquid, it was able to secure a stand-in quickly: Erik “penny” Penny. The Canadian pro brings top-tier experience, having competed with Version 1 from 2021 through 2022, including an appearance at Masters Reykjavík 2021. He later joined G2 Esports in late 2022.

This will be Team Liquid’s roster at Masters Toronto 2025: