In a significant development for the Mongolian esports scene, Akimbo has received special permission from Valve to compete in the North American (NA) Closed Qualifier for the Perfect World Shanghai Major Americas RMR. This decision allows Akimbo to claim the final seed for the online event, securing their participation in the highly competitive qualifier.

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Valve's Decision and Its Implications

Originally, Akimbo was invited to the East Asian qualifier for the Asia-Pacific RMR, given that three of their players are Mongolian nationals. However, Valve's recent decision to count Akimbo as an Americas team is based on the trio's long-term residency in North America. This pragmatic approach by Valve alleviates the potential logistical nightmare for Akimbo, who would have otherwise faced the daunting prospect of flying to Asia at great expense or competing from North America with a severe ping disadvantage.

This move has been widely praised within the esports community, as it reflects Valve's willingness to adapt and apply common-sense solutions to complex situations. By allowing Akimbo to compete in the NA Closed Qualifier, Valve not only supports the team's aspirations but also avoids displacing a team that regularly competes in the Asian region.

Impact on Other Teams

While the decision has been well-received by most, there is one notable exception. Ex-Limitless, the team next in line for a spot in the NA Closed Qualifier, has missed out due to Akimbo's inclusion. However, given that Ex-Limitless has been inactive since June, their chances of making a significant impact in the qualifier were slim.

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NA Closed Qualifier Team List

With Akimbo's inclusion, the lineup for the NA Closed Qualifier is now complete. The teams set to compete are:

• Legacy (Brazil)
• Wildcard (World)
• NRG (United States)
• Nouns (United States)
• Party Astronauts (United States)
• Elevate (United States)
• E-Xolos LAZER (Brazil)
• BOSS (United States)
• LAG (United States)
• Mythic (United States)
• FLUFFY AIMERS (United States)
• Phoenix (United States)
• Limitless (United States)
• Homyno (Canada)
• Take Flyte (United States)
• Akimbo

The NA Closed Qualifier is poised to be a fiercely competitive event, with each team vying for a chance to advance to the Perfect World Shanghai Major and secure their place on the global stage.