CSGO Major more likely to happen in Stockholm as esports pros can now travel to Sweden due to change in entry ban

Yes, you read it right. A change in the entry ban for Sweden now allows esports professionals to enter the country. This means that the CSGO Major is more likely to take place in Sweden.

Popular Sweden-based esports organization ‘Ninjas in Pyjamas‘, known as ‘NIP‘ shared the news via Twitter linking an article about it.

Mikael Damberg, Minister of the Interior, Sweden has confirmed that going forward, esports will be treated like any other sport going forward. “It turns out, other European countries had a more expansive interpretation of elite sports“, says Mikael Damberg, Minister of the Interior to TT(news agency). “We want e-sportsmen to be treated in the same way as other elite athletes“, he said.

What this means is that esport professionals will now be included as “elite athletes“. This is a great news for esports fans as this will also solve most of the issues faced by esports pros while travelling to Sweden or for competition.

Before this only players from other EU countries were allowed. Now with ther change in the entry ban, other players will also be able to enter the country to compete as long as they have a negative COVID test. Thus increasing the chances of the CSGO Major taking place in Stockhom, Sweden.

NiP and a few different federations such as Swedish E-sports Association and the mayor of Stockholm had major contributions in making this happen.

The mayor of Stockholm, Anna König Jerlmyr wants the CSGO Major to take place in Stockholm. Back in July she wrote to PGL saying, “I am determined to do everything in my power to avoid a situation where the government is about to repeat the same mistake it did a couple of weeks ago when The International[DOTA 2 Major] moved abroad.”

She further added, “Sweden and Stockholm need more big sport and esport events – not less. inline with Stockholm opening-up my ambition is to be able to warmly welcome the tournament to Sweden, and let the CS:GO majors fans experience our capital and let the people of Stockholm show our beautiful city to them.”

With the change now there’s only 1 stopping PGL from hosting the CSGO Major in Sweden. Due to COVID-19 the Swedish authorities have restricted the number to only 300 spectators. PGL has demanded the Swedish authorities to allow a larger live audience in Avicii Arena during the tournament.

The authorites will be announcing a decision regarding the audience restrictions on September 15, which will be a crucial factor deciding whether the CSGO Major takes place in Sweden or not.

CSGO & esports fans around the world are hoping that everything goes well and the major happens in Sweden which is known as the home of Counter-Strike.