The President of Blizzard, J. Allen Brack, explained to the fans in a letter that his company decided to partially forgive pro Hearthstone player ‘Blitzchung,’ aka Ng Wai Chung, from the one-year-long ban he initially received. Brack justified the new decision by saying that the gamer played fairly and that he wasn’t punished for his root for Hong Kong’s liberation.
“Our esports programs are an expression of our vision and our values. Esports exist to create opportunities for players from around the world, from different cultures, and from different backgrounds, to come together to compete and share their passion for gaming,” Brack wrote. “It is extremely important to us to protect these channels and the purpose they serve: to bring the world together through epic entertainment, celebrate our players, and build diverse and inclusive communities.”
Therefore, the suspension for Blitzchung and the Taiwanese guys who were interviewing him is now six months, only half of the initial penalty. This comes as “a consequence for taking the conversation away from the purpose of the event and disrupting or derailing the broadcast.”
Brack assures us that by the new decision, the company is not trying to take sides in any political aspect regarding the tense situation from Hong Kong. He even said that Blitzchung should receive back his prize.
“But playing fair also includes appropriate pre-and post-match conduct, especially when a player accepts recognition for winning in a broadcast. When we think about the suspension, six months for blitzchung is more appropriate, after which time he can compete in the Hearthstone pro circuit again if he so chooses,” Brack wrote. “There is a consequence for taking the conversation away from the purpose of the event and disrupting or derailing the broadcast.”
Hearthstone is a free-to-play online digital collectible card game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment.
