Travel Restrictions Strand Filipino Dota 2 Players in Romania
Several Filipino Dota 2 players who attended The International 10, held in Bucharest, Romania, are now unable to return home due to travel restrictions. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) in the Philippines released an updated list of travel restrictions, with Romania being the only country listed as “Red.” This means that inbound international travel from Romania to the Philippines is not allowed. The travel restrictions went into effect just before the end of TI10, leaving the players and staff stranded in Romania.
Rising COVID-19 Cases Result in Restricted Travel
Valve and PGL, the organizers of TI10, made the decision to cancel in-person attendance for the event due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Romania. This decision directly impacts the Filipino players and staff members, as they are now unable to return home. The Fnatic team director, Eric “ReiNNNN” Khor, confirmed the situation and reached out to Filipino organizations for help.
Affected Players and Staff Members
The following players and staff members are currently stranded in Romania:
- Evil Geniuses: Abed Yusop
- Fnatic: Djardel “DJ” Mampusti and Marc “Raven” Polo Luis Fausto
- T1: Carlo “Kuku” Palad and Karl “Karl” Baldovino
Challenges in Returning Home
The travel restrictions require the players and staff to travel to another country, quarantine for 14 days, and provide the necessary documentation to prove their eligibility to return to the Philippines. This process adds additional obstacles for the affected individuals. Similar situations have occurred earlier in the season, such as private flights organized for Chinese teams to attend the WePlay AniMajor in Ukraine. The players and staff are seeking assistance to resolve their travel issues.
Dota 2, esports news, travel restrictions, The International 10, Romanian travel restrictions, Filipino players