After a successful career in both CS 1.6 and CS:Source, Garrett "GRT" Bambrough has retired from e-sports after not being able to travel with his team due to complications crossing from Canada to the United States

GRT first had this issue during the first season with the CGS when he and fellow Canadian Griffin "shaGuar" Benger were denied entry into the US to play for the Chicago Chimera. GRT had assumed that he would need only a work visa to cross the border and work internationally. From then on in whenever he would cross the border he would be questioned by the border officials and let through once he explained why he was denied entry previously.

Upon returning home to Canada from the WCG Pan American Championships in Brazil, GRT was scheduled to pass through Atlanta, where the border officials informed him that when was to re-enter the United States he would need a travelers visa. According to GRT, every time he had crossed the border he shouldn't have been allowed into the US.

When GRT returned home, he called to inquire about the visa but was told that as a Canadian citizen he didn't need it and that he should talk to the border control at the Toronto International Airport to get the proper paperwork so that everything was correct and legal. He soon learned that he needed a Waiver of Inadmissibility, which takes roughly 6-8 months to receive and costs around $600.

With so many events coming up in the future, such as the WCG Finals, IEM America and the ESEA LAN Finals, it became clear that GRT would be unable to attend any of them. GRT then enlisted the help of Kory “semphis“ Friesen to fill the spot on their roster so as not to let his team-mates down.

There is still a glimmer of hope for Area51 fans as the WCG has had a meeting with US Officials in an attempt to clear GRT to play. It is unlikely that this will resolve anything though and as things stand the player is retired.

Garrett "GRT" Bambrough had this to say to ESEANews.com regarding his retirement:

I’m forced to retire from CS, I decided there’s no way I can play with my guys and not go to these events nor would they want that. So I talked to semphis about replacing me and now I’m done with CS.

Sad news for the player who now must stay at home and watch his team take on all comers for the big prizes.