TL;DR
- MSI 2020 postponed indefinitely with no new dates announced
- LPL and LCK implemented online play and empty arena policies
- Overwatch League canceled China/Korea matches and issued refunds
- Health and safety prioritized over competitive integrity across all tournaments
- Industry-wide shift toward online competitions and flexible scheduling
The global pandemic has forced another major esports competition to halt operations as the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational faces indefinite postponement.
Riot Games’ global esports director John Needham utilized Twitter to communicate the difficult decision, emphasizing the serious travel risks posed by the spreading coronavirus outbreak.
“With nations worldwide implementing coronavirus containment measures, we’ve been compelled to postpone revealing MSI 2020’s schedule and venue,” Needham explained to the League community. “Our dedication to hosting this tournament remains strong, but participant welfare and spectator safety take absolute precedence, with competitive fairness following closely behind.”
He expressed gratitude for community understanding and committed to providing timely updates when new developments emerge.
Unexpectedly, the announcement received substantial criticism from followers who pointed out the irony of an update containing no actual new information. Meanwhile, some community members advocated for complete cancellation to ensure everyone’s protection, even if it meant no international matchups until autumn competitions.
The Mid-Season Invitational wasn’t the initial League tournament affected by coronavirus concerns. China’s LPL professional circuit announced suspension plans in mid-January following WHO declarations categorizing the virus as globally hazardous.
The LPL season might not commence until May, with exhibition matches transitioning to digital platforms. Korea’s LCK Spring Split maintained its schedule but implemented spectator bans in competition venues due to health precautions.
Riot confirmed that the World Championship would still occur in China this year, expressing hope that the health crisis would be contained before the finals in Shanghai.
Blizzard’s Overwatch League became another international esports property disrupted by the pandemic. The redesigned 2020 calendar featured global host cities, but matches scheduled for Chinese and Korean venues were eliminated because of health risks.
The organization processed reimbursements for ticket holders and indicated that affected matches would be rearranged for later dates.
Esports organizations rapidly developed contingency plans as the pandemic intensified. Tournament operators implemented comprehensive health screening protocols, transitioned to remote production setups, and established emergency communication channels.
Successful adaptation required developing robust online tournament infrastructures, creating virtual fan engagement platforms, and implementing flexible qualification systems. Many leagues adopted hybrid models combining regional online play with limited international LAN events when conditions permitted.
The crisis accelerated industry-wide digital transformation, forcing organizations to innovate broadcast production, player management, and revenue generation strategies. These changes permanently altered how competitive gaming operates at the professional level.
Action Checklist
- Establish emergency communication protocols for rapid fan updates
- Develop online tournament infrastructure with backup systems
- Create comprehensive refund and rescheduling procedures
- Implement health screening and safety protocols for any live events
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » MSI 2020 postponed due to growing concern over coronavirus How COVID-19 disrupted major esports tournaments and reshaped competitive gaming strategies