Top Esports' ZUIAN set to miss LoL Worlds 2026 after US visa refusal; veteran 369 steps in
TES top laner ZUIAN failed two US visa interviews and is set to miss Worlds 2026. Veteran 369 returns after seven months on the bench.
Top Esports (TES) will go to the League of Legends World Championship without their starting top laner. The Chinese team said this week that ZUIAN has been unable to get a United States visa after two failed interviews, so veteran Bai "369" Jia-Hao will take his place.
TES posted the news on Weibo and said they are still trying for a third visa interview. Two members of the team's coaching staff have also run into visa problems. Worlds 2026 is being held across the United States, with the final at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on 14 November.
A breakthrough year cut short
ZUIAN has had a big 2026. He moved into TES's starting line-up this year, helped the team reach the LPL Split 2 final, and made his international debut at the Mid-Season Invitational in South Korea. He was part of the roster that then qualified for Worlds as China's third seed.
This would have been his first appearance at the World Championship. No official reason for the visa refusals has been made public.
369 returns after seven months on the bench
The replacement is an experienced one. 369 has played at Worlds several times. He was with TES at Worlds in 2020 and reached the semi-finals with JD Gaming in both 2022 and 2023. Last year he was back with TES, who reached the semi-finals at Worlds 2025 before losing to T1.
The challenge is match sharpness. Dot Esports reported that 369 has been on the bench since March and has not played in a competitive match for around seven months. He now has only a few weeks to get back to top form and build understanding with team-mates who spent the whole season playing alongside ZUIAN.
Wider visa worries for Chinese esports
TES may not be the only ones affected. LPL caster Sun "Maomao" Tianci has also reported that his visa was refused, raising concerns about wider travel problems for Chinese players and staff ahead of the tournament.
When TES start their Worlds campaign
As one of China's four seeds, TES skip the Play-In stage and go straight into the Swiss Stage, which begins on 23 October in Allen, Texas. The Play-Ins run from 15 to 18 October.
For fans in Malaysia, matches in the US will mostly be played overnight or early in the morning local time. The final on 14 November in New York falls on the morning of 15 November in Malaysia.
Key takeaways
- TES top laner ZUIAN has failed two US visa interviews and is set to miss Worlds 2026.
- Veteran 369, a Worlds semi-finalist with JDG and TES, will start in his place.
- 369 has not played a competitive match for around seven months.
- LPL caster Maomao has also reported a visa refusal.
- TES enter at the Swiss Stage, which starts on 23 October in Allen, Texas.
FAQ
Why is ZUIAN missing Worlds 2026? TES said ZUIAN failed two US visa interviews. The team is trying for a third, but 369 will start in the meantime.
Who is 369? Bai "369" Jia-Hao is a Chinese top laner who has reached the Worlds semi-finals with JD Gaming and with TES, most recently in 2025.
When does Top Esports play at Worlds 2026? TES go straight into the Swiss Stage, which begins on 23 October (US time) in Allen, Texas.
Sources: Dot Esports, GosuGamers, Insider Gaming