Blizzard suspends pro-Hong Kong player Hearthstone after criticism

Blizzard has fined a Hearthstone player who was banned from a tournament over statements about the situation in Hong Kong. Instead of a year, the player is now suspended for six months, and he can still keep the proceeds of the tournament.

It was about the Asia-Pacific Grandmasters Season 2, where statements were made by Ng Wai Chung, also known as blitzchung, on the official Taiwanese stream of the event. In an interview, blitzchung expresses in Chinese his support for the protesters in Hong Kong, something that Blizzard blamed heavily on him. He was subsequently suspended for a year, preventing him from participating in tournaments, and he also had to hand in the prize money he had won.

In a letter Blizzard published on its website, the company explains its decision. Blitzchung is accused of diverting attention from the Hearthstone event with his politically tinged statements, and that such statements have no place at a gaming event. In addition, Blizzard emphasizes that the decision was not made because of its relations with China. This was frequently expressed by critics after the suspension became known.

Despite this, Blizzard wants to ease the penalty, which means that blitzchung is now banned from participating in tournaments for half a year, instead of a year. In addition, he may keep the prize money won, because he has obtained it through fair play, according to Blizzard. However, the company remains of the opinion that statements such as blitzchung made, do not belong at a game event.