VP will miss the Thunderpick World Championship due to visa issues; NIP will replace them and face Falcons in their opening match.

Falcons will face NIP in the opening round. Thunderpick has announced the first-round matchups for its upcoming Thunderpick World Championship, which will run from October 14 to 18 with a $1 million prize pool. The organizer also confirmed that NIP will replace VP, who withdrew after AquaRS encountered visa issues and F0R3VER stepped away from the active roster for health reasons.

Virtus.pro previously qualified for the event through the closed qualifier. Under the organizer's rulebook, any withdrawal will be filled by the next eligible invited team in the VRS. However, because the withdrawal occurred within 20 days of the event's start, the replacement will be the next eligible team from the event's host region—Europe. The event in Malta will feature two BO3 GSL format groups, with four teams advancing to a single-elimination playoff bracket, followed by a BO5 grand final after the third-place match. Falcons, the highest-seeded team, will open against NIP in a group that also includes 9z and Aurora. Group B will see Legacy face PARIVISION, with arT returning to the lineup after missing EPL for health reasons. FURIA's demanding schedule will also continue as they open against BETBOOM.

The tournament features a $1 million prize pool. Group A: Falcons vs. NIP, 9z vs. Aurora; Group B: Legacy vs. PV, FURIA vs. BB.