Beastcoast Withdraws from ONE Esports Singapore Major Due to COVID-19 Concerns
Last week, Beastcoast made the decision to withdraw from the ONE Esports Singapore Major due to concerns about COVID-19 within the team. Today, the organization has provided an update on the status of the players and the protocols that were followed.
Initially, Beastcoast pulled its Dota 2 roster from the Major because the team’s captain, Steven “StingeR” Vargas, had been exposed to COVID-19 prior to their flight to Singapore. It has now been revealed that StingeR violated the mandatory 10-day quarantine at the team’s gaming house in the week leading up to the event.
According to Beastcoast, StingeR disregarded the agreed-upon protocols and came into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, without the organization or other players’ knowledge. As a result, StingeR will be fined in accordance with Beastcoast policies. Although all five players tested negative for COVID-19, the organization decided to withdraw from the Major in order to monitor and isolate the players and minimize any potential risks.
Re-evaluating the Roster and Looking to the Future
This incident has prompted Beastcoast to re-evaluate its roster and consider new options for the starting lineup. The organization has announced that it will be picking up a sixth player to potentially avoid similar situations in the future.
Despite the disappointment, Beastcoast has no plans to release StingeR ahead of the second season of the 2021 Dota Pro Circuit. The organization remains committed to working with him to learn from this experience and become a better player and leader.
Looking Ahead
Although Beastcoast missed the Major, they have already earned $30,000 and 500 DPC points for their first-place finish in season one. While Thunder Predator has taken the lead in the race for a spot at The International with a top-six finish at the Major, StingeR and his teammates are still in a strong position heading into season two of the South American regional league.
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