The esports team LYON, based in Mexico, has formally announced the departure of their Canadian player, Frankie ‘Zamudo’ Lin, due to ongoing problems with his visa.
Initially, Zamudo was slated to fill the starting top lane position for LYON in the 2026 LCS season. However, issues surrounding his visa application prevented him from joining his teammates on the roster. This impediment ultimately led to the organization’s public announcement of his official release.
Zamudo’s Rapid Ascension in North America
Prior to his tenure with LYON, Zamudo had established a reputation as one of the most promising talents emerging from the North American Challengers League (NACL).
Having dedicated two years to amateur circuits, Zamudo first appeared in the NACL in 2023, competing for Wildcard Gaming, where he swiftly garnered attention in the Tier 2 competitive environment. By 2024, he clinched victory in the NACL Summer Playoffs playing for Dragonsteel, also securing the Finals MVP award. His exceptional foundational skills and diverse range of champion proficiencies were key factors that led to his acquisition by LYON in the summer of 2025.
The top lane specialist was originally slated to make his Tier 1 debut in 2025 during the LTA North 2025 Split 2, yet complications with his visa process had already begun to surface at that time. Consequently, LYON chose to temporarily transfer him to Isurus for the subsequent split, anticipating his eventual return to the main roster.
Nevertheless, the visa problems continued unabated, compelling the organization to substitute Zamudo with seasoned top laner Niship ‘Dhokla’ Doshi, previously of 100 Thieves. Zamudo was subsequently designated as inactive on January 12th, culminating in his current release. Following this roster adjustment, Dhokla is set to continue with the squad indefinitely.
LYON’s Challenging Commencement to 2026
LYON had been widely regarded as one of the most successful teams in the current offseason, having acquired several formidable talents, including ex-FlyQuest jungler Kacper ‘Inspired’ Słoma and Kim ‘Berserker’ Min-cheol, the former ADC from DN Freecs (now known as DNSOOPers).
Notwithstanding these roster enhancements, LYON has yet to secure impressive outcomes, concluding the regular season of the LCS Lock-In in merely sixth position. The squad is scheduled to compete against FlyQuest in the lower bracket of the playoffs on February 21st. The team that loses this match will be eliminated and forfeit their chance to participate in either the Americas Cup or the inaugural global tournament of the 2026 season, First Stand.
This article, discussing LYON’s decision to part ways with Zamudo over visa troubles, was originally posted on Esports Insider.
