Valve has announced that it will be refunding all audience tickets for The International 2021 as the tournament will no longer be held in front of a live audience. An update by the organisers has mentioned that the reason for this is the rising number of Covid-19 cases in Romania and new local restrictions in Bucharest.
“We wanted nothing more than to welcome fans live to the event, but we can no longer do so in a way that allows us to prioritize the health and well-being of both audience members and participants. Those who purchased tickets will be issued a full refund automatically,” reads the blog post on the Dota 2 website.
The event was initially planned to be held in Stockholm, Sweden in August. However, the Swedish government refused to include esports into its sports federation, which meant that Dota 2 pro teams did not qualify for special Covid-19 visa exceptions. Later in July, Valve announced that The International would be held in Bucharest, Romania. “We are thrilled to announce The International 10 - Dota 2 Championships will be held this October in Bucharest, Romania, and the epic battle for the Aegis of Champions will fittingly unfold inside the country's largest stadium — Arena Nationala."
Unfortunately it seems that the massive 55,000 seater stadium will be empty when the world’s elite Dota 2 teams go head to head.
“The International 2021 will begin as planned on October 7, and we look forward to welcoming the best Dota teams in the world to the stage and sharing the experience online with millions of fans around the world,” concluded the statement.
The organizers were geared up to hold what would have been the biggest gaming event since Covid-19 restrictions were put in place. The total prize pool stands at a record $40 million, the largest of any esports tournament, ever. The English casters were also announced last month, including big names like Ephay, Sumichi, Fogged, and Sunsfan included in a total crew of 32.
Ephay was perhaps the biggest name on the list. She will be calling the plays this time around instead of being a part of the action.