Wildcard set to field motm for IEM Chengdu 2024

Dust2.us has confirmed with Wildcard manager, Jeremy "Jeremy9000" Gray, that the team will be fielding Ian "motm" Hardy for IEM Chengdu 2024. Wildcard were confirmed today for the Chinese event as a replacement for Complexity, with the latter team having pulled out of IEM Chengdu due to visa issues.

motm's addition to Wildcard's ranks for IEM Chengdu comes despite the player being ineligible to play for Wildcard per Rule 2.21 in the ESL Pro Tour Roster Restrictions. Essentially as motm played for Bad News Bears recently in the ESL Challenger Jönköping Open Qualifier after previously standing in for Wildcard, he is ineligible to "rejoin" Wildcard until July 10th even as a stand-in.

However, Dust2.us understands that due to ESL previously erroneously allowing motm to play in ESL Challenger League Season 47 last week, Wildcard were under the impression motm would be able to attend Chengdu and thus had already made preparations for him to attend the event with the team. As it was ESL's mistake to allow motm play combined with the fact that ruling him out this soon to event would almost certainly see Wildcard drop out of IEM Chengdu, ESL have offered a one-time exception to allow motm to play with Wildcard.

While this does not resolve their incomplete roster in ESL Challenger League Season 47 and beyond, Wildcard are likely content with the decision as it will allow their roster to attend their first international event since forming in April 2023.

Wildcard will attend IEM Chengdu 2024 with:

• Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz

• Josh "JBa" Barutt

• Keller "SLIGHT" Nilan

• Aran "Sonic" Groesbeek

• Ian "motm" Hardy (Stand-in)

• João "horvy" Horvath (Coach)

IEM Chengdu 2024 is set to start on April 8th.