The Lima Major in Danger of Cancellation
The Lima Major, a significant event in the Dota Pro Circuit 2023 Winter Tour, may be in jeopardy due to ongoing social unrest in Peru. Despite the strong presence of top teams already qualified for the tournament, concerns about its cancellation persist.
The unrest in Peru arose after President Pedro Castillo was impeached and detained on December 7th, following allegations of attempting to dissolve Congress. A state of emergency was declared a week later, triggering protests and demonstrations.
Unfortunately, this situation has resulted in more than 50 casualties.
Organizers Attempt to Reassure
On January 16th, tournament organizers 4D Esports stated that they had no reason to believe the state of emergency would affect the Major. However, tensions in the capital escalated further since then, raising doubts among some individuals.
To alleviate concerns, 4D Esports issued another statement on January 27th, assuring that they have alternative plans in case the situation deteriorates rapidly. They maintain, however, that this is a worst-case scenario and highly unlikely at present.
While the exact nature of these alternatives remains uncertain, the organizers have provided some assurance that contingency plans are in place.
Possible Online Format
If the situation does worsen significantly, one option that may be considered is hosting the Lima Major online, with teams divided into regions to minimize latency issues. This approach has been employed in previous events during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it falls short of the excitement generated by a physical event.
As of now, the Lima Major is still scheduled to begin on February 22nd.