The Melbourne Esports Open, which was scheduled for August 22-23, 2020, has been postponed for a full year due to COVID-19. The rescheduled event will take place on August 21-22, 2021 at Melbourne and Olympic Parks.
The Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) is cancelled as well. The IEM was slated to be the headline attraction of the Melbourne Esports Open.
Esports organizer and production company ESL announced in February 2020 that the 2020 Melbourne Esports Open would feature the Intel Extreme Masters as a headliner. The 2020 installment would have been the fourth IEM held in Australia, but the first held in the State of Victoria. The 2017, 2018, and 2019 Intel Extreme Masters were all held in Sydney, New South Wales.
A statement released by the event organizers noted, “This decision has been reached in light of the current global health situation, and is in line with protective measures implemented in respect of mass gatherings, and importantly, is made in the interest of safety for players, staff, and fans looking to attend the event.”
At press time, the 2020 League of Legends Oceanic Pro League is still scheduled for August 28, 2020, but Riot is expected to provide more information as the date approaches. The top two Split 2 Oceanic Pro League teams, beginning June 5th, will battled for an entry into the League of Legends 10th World Championships, which will be held in China.
Event ticketholders can use their Melbourne Esports Open 2020 and Intel Extreme Masters 2020 tickets for rescheduled events in August 21. Refunds are also available at the point of purchase for those who are unable to attend next year’s events.
More information about the Intel Extreme Masters and the Melbourne Esports Open can be found at https://www.intelextrememasters.com and https://melbourneesportsopen.com.au respectively.
