The Free Fire World Series (FFWS) 2021 is shot with yet another round of bad news – but this one threatens to derail the tournament entirely.
Singapore’s government announced on Friday (May 14) that the country was heading into a mini lockdown, as part of the moves to stem the growing spread of COVID-19 on the tiny island.
The lockdown is slated to start on Sunday (May 16) and end on June 13. The stricter restrictions implemented will limit the number of participants allowed at any event, from 250 attendees to 100 attendees even with pre-event Covid-19 testing.
This will throw the Free Fire World Series into serious doubt, especially after the wave of problems Garena has had to deal with.
Credit: Garena Free Fire
Last week, 4 representatives from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were disqualified due to a travel ban imposed by the Singapore Government. These teams affected will however be granted a portion of the prize pool.
Additionally, a member of participating Brazilian team Fluxo, also tested positive for Covid-19 after landing in the republic. These developments forced the officials to postpone the event, from May 22 to May 28, to prioritise the health and safety of everyone.
To be certain, it’s not the first time COVID-19 has disrupted esports events. In March, the ONE Esports Singapore Major 2021 for Dota 2, was plagued with multiple withdrawals from teams but the physical tournament, shorn of a live audience, still managed to pull a relatively entertaining event.
For now, the situation remains fluid. Garena has yet to comment on their plans to adapt to the upcoming lockdown, but we hope that COVID-19 will not claim another casualty in the esports scene.
