It has now been a few days since Blitzchung was suspended by Blizzard from Hearthstone Grandmasters Season 2. His punishment was also intending to exclude him from all Hearthstone competitions for one year while not receiving any cash prize for his last 16 matches.
While much of the Hearthstone community and competitive scene had already given its opinion (Kibler, Admirable, Kripparian, and many others), only the high authorities in Blizzard had not done so clearly.
J. Allen Brack, president since Blizzcon 2018, wanted to clarify things and issued a statement to the huge Blizzard community, and reduced the sanctions imposed on the Hong Kong player and the event's casters.
If we consider the concrete things that emerge from this press release, they are as follows:
- Blitzchung suspension on the Hearthstone competitive circuit is reduced from 1 year to 6 months
- The casters will be deprived of work on events for 6 months (instead of an indefinite period)
- Blitzchung will not have to part with its cash prize recovered from Season 2 of the Grandmasters
Of course, J. Allen Brack does not return to the fact that sanctioning was the right way to proceed at the time, but rather to the fact that it was disproportionate. He makes it clear that "Blizzard's relationships in China had no influence on the decision".
It is still difficult to say whether this statement will somewhat calm the media outpouring of recent days — but in any case, a few days before the Blizzcon, Blizzard had to react and put out a fire that was beginning to get out of hand.
An experienced and respected member of the Hearthstone community, Brian Kibler has given his opinion on Blitzchung's suspension. He decided to stay away from his caster's role until the situation has changed.
