Top Esports will begin Worlds 2026 without their starting toplaner. Cheng "ZUIAN" Zi-Hao failed two U.S. visa interviews and will not be able to travel to the United States with the rest of the team, the club announced on Weibo on October 6. Bai "369" Jia-Hao will take his place in the starting lineup.
The door is not completely closed, though. TES stated that both the team and ZUIAN are trying to secure a third interview. Meanwhile, the club said it is adjusting its training plans and tactical preparation to deal with the situation. 369 has not played since early March, which makes his return all the more delicate.
The news is a heavy blow for TES. ZUIAN joined the team in Split 2, reached the grand final straight away and played his first international event at MSI in South Korea.
Why were the visas rejected?
According to Chinese reporter 快乐大金子, the main issue is likely ZUIAN's lack of travel history, as his passport has no previous stamps. A Weibo user added that ZUIAN is young, single, speaks English and probably owns little property in China. In the eyes of U.S. officials, that profile can suggest a risk of overstaying, and the reporter agreed with that analysis. He also pointed out that U.S. visa policy has become noticeably stricter over the past two years.
ZUIAN is not the only one affected at TES. According to the same reporter, two of the team's assistant coaches are facing similar difficulties. He added that the U.S. consulate in Shanghai is currently not issuing visas, which forced TES staff and Peng "" Li-Xun, among others, to apply in Beijing instead. Even holding a European or Brazilian visa has not been enough to secure approval for some applicants.
