Coronavirus LIVE UPDATE: Complete list of esports tournaments cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

The quick spread of the coronavirus around the world did not left the esports scene untouched. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to countries banning all public gatherings and cancelling all major sports events. Esports leagues and tournaments all over the world have also been affected by the new coronavirus with multiple organizers postponing their events or shifting to online-only matches.

Here’s a round-up of major esports tournaments that have been canceled or postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak so far.

Multi-esports

• DreamHack cancelled its event in the French city of Tours originally scheduled for May. No information has been provided yet around DreamHack Summer, which will take place in Jönköping this June. The company also said there is no reason yet to think that its Dallas and Valencia events, taking place in May and July, respectively, will be cancelled.
• DreamHack also cancelled Atlanta event. The event was originally schaduled for November 2021. The host announced that is it will be postponed for next year.

League of Legends is one of the esports most affected by the Coronavirus outbreak.

• LOL Champions Korea (LCK) play was suspended on March 9
• LOL Professional League China (LPL), was one of the first official leagues to cancel play since Jan. 19 while transitioning to online play.
• LOL European Championship (LEC)has suspended its Spring season indefinitely.
• LOL Championship Series (LCS): The LCS has suspended operations until further notice with plans to move all matches online as soon as possible.
• The Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) date has been moved from May to July. Following this, Each region’s Summer Split start date was changed to the following:
  • OPL – May 15
  • VCS – May 15
  • LCS – May 16
  • TCL – May 16
  • LCK – May 20
  • LEC – May 22
  • CBLOL – May 23
  • LPL – May 23
  • PCS – May 30
  • LJL – May 31
  • LCL – June 6
  • LLA – May 30

Biggest CSGO event of the Spring took place without an audience

• Intel Extreme Masters Katowice had no on-site attendance after government officials decided the risk of infection was too great. The authorities suspended the ESL’s permit 12 hours before the main event was to take place.
• FLASHPOINT cancelled their Stockholm Playoff Event and moved all their league and championship matches in their LA studio
• The ESL Pro League has moved all their matches online and the Finals to a closed studio.

Overwatch cancels homestand events

• The Overwatch League has canceled all homestand events for March and April and the Mid-season Tournament. Play will resume online on March 21.
• The All-Star Weekend has been moved to after the end of the 2020 season.

Rainbow 6

• Rainbow Six Pro League XI Finals in São Paulo Canceled

Dota 2 cancels majors

• The ESL One Major – Los Angeles was cancelled due to the European travel ban imposed by the United States.The major was set to have teams arrive from all over the world including China, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Europe, North America, South America, and Southeast Asia.

Call of Duty moves online

• The Call of Duty League will move to an online format and canceled all scheduled Home Series events for the season. Matches will continue to be broadcasted live.

New PUBG Series cancelled

• The PUBG Global Series 2020 event that was supposed to take place in Berlin in April was cancelled.
• PUBG MOBILE Pro League will be an online-only event.

Rocket League moves online

• Rocket League World Championship Season 9 that was supposed to take place in Dallas, from April 24-26 was cancelled. Remaining league matches will be played online, instead of in the Psyonix studio. The Regional Championships will thus become the highest level of competition for the season with an additional $250K USD in prizing.

Hearthstone

• Indonesia’s Hearthstone Masters Tour was moved to Los Angeles and will be played entirely online.

Apex Legends Postpones its global series

• Apex Legends Global Series 1st Major that was set to play from March 13-15, 2020 was postponed until further notice.

FIFA 20

• EA postponed the The FIFA Global Series, FUT Champions Cup Stage V Bucharest that was set to take place from May 2-3, 2020.
• The ePremier League Finals event has been postponed.

NBA 2K League

• The start of the NBA 2K 2020 season has been postponed indefinitely.

 Events and venues affected

• E3 2020 organizer the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) officially announced that the annual gaming event has been canceled.
• HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas is closing its doors for the next two weeks.