An unpopular decision.
In a surprise announcement by the BLAST Pro Series Twitter account, the location of the Global Finals has been confirmed as Bahrain. The four best teams throughout the BLAST Pro Series tournaments this year will battle it out between December 13th-14th for their share of a US$500,000 prize pool.
Teams accumulate points throughout the various BLAST Pro Series events, culminating in the S-Tier Global Finals. Moscow’s chapter of the Pro Series kicks off tonight, with the fifth and final season event taking place in Copenhagen between November 1st and 2nd.
The Global Finals being hosted in Bahrain has led to some backlash from the community, with some referring to the human rights violations carried out in the country. According to Amnesty International, there is a ‘far more sinister side to Bahrain’, a country that imprisons and represses those who speak against the government.
The tournament’s current standings can be found on BLAST’s site, with Team Liquid currently leading the way. The event organiser has linked with the Bahrain Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs to bring the tournament to the country, and it’s difficult to separate the tournament organisers from the oppressive regime they’re working with.
