When the Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2020 World Championship in Katowice, Poland, reaches the playoff stage on Friday, there won’t be an on-site audience because of concerns after the coronavirus outbreak, ESL announced Thursday.
There currently aren’t any confirmed cases of coronavirus in Poland, but Jaroslaw Wieczorek, the governor of Silesia, made the decision “in order to ensure the safety of residents and visitors to the region,” according to ESL.
On Twitter, IEM wrote, “Due to the dynamic changes in the global health situation, the Gouverneur of Silesian Jaroslaw Wieczorek issued a decision to remove their approval regarding ESL hosting a mass event in Katowice, Poland.”
Due to the dynamic changes in the global health situation, the Gouverneur of Silesian Jarosław Wieczorek issued a decision to remove their approval regarding ESL hosting a mass event in Katowice, Poland. #IEM https://t.co/hak1sn98o7 — Intel®ExtremeMasters (@IEM) February 27, 2020
Due to the dynamic changes in the global health situation, the Gouverneur of Silesian Jarosław Wieczorek issued a decision to remove their approval regarding ESL hosting a mass event in Katowice, Poland. #IEM https://t.co/hak1sn98o7
— Intel®ExtremeMasters (@IEM) February 27, 2020
Though the event will continue without an audience, ESL is contacting ticket holders who will receive full refunds.
On Wednesday, health measures for IEM Katowice were updated, with plans to increase the number of health staff members and hygiene stations while making mandatory health checks for guests entering the Spodek arena.
The 16-team, $500,000 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament will conduct its playoff rounds from Friday through Sunday, with the champions of the best-of-five Grand Final earning the $250,000 top prize.
–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)
The San Francisco Giants will look to further close the gap in their all-time rivalry with the visiting Oakland Athletics when they seek a second straight win Wednesday night in…
The Cleveland Guardians and Los Angeles Angels will play the third game of their four-game series Wednesday night in Anaheim, Calif., as the Guardians try to rediscover their offense. Cleveland’s…
The Los Angeles Kings are playoff-bound for the first time since the 2017-18 season. The Kings (43-27-10, 96 points) punched their postseason ticket Tuesday night when Dallas defeated Vegas in…
Guardians, slumping Franmil Reyes take on Shohei Ohtani’s Angels
Playoff-bound Kings seek to keep Kraken reeling
Six-man rotation kicks in as Astros, Cristian Javier face Rangers
Jason Robertson, Stars can lock up playoff berth vs. Coyotes