Hello boys and girls,

I came here with the unpleasant news that I have to withdraw from RCG 2021 prize-pool double-up pledge.

The current RCG 2021 contribution is +$802.50 made by these awesome folks:
$670.00 Sziky
$100.25 Deathfate
$14.25 Hreyfill
$10.00 Amegatron
$6.00 Ramon_Peralta
$2.00 masoka82

I believe it is most honest to release these honorable men, and let them decide whether they would like to refund the balance from Matcherino or re-donate to the RCG 2021 anew, provided that a double-up pledge is no longer valid.

The 2021st tournament will take place as planned. In Summer 2022. Either offline in Vladivostok or at least online if travel restrictions will still be in place.

Kind regards,
RB

ZZZero.O

Poland1613 Posts

October 21 2021 10:58 GMT

#115

I don't think this post has reached the bigger audience. This is really sad news, the end of an era in my opinion.

I don't like making length posts in public, mainly because I'm not good at it, but in this case I'd like to write what I feel.

RCG is an event that brought back memories from the past and added a lot of training motivation to all players, offline tournaments are something I love and I think they must be an integral part of our scene if we want to develop as a community. The opportunity to meet the players with whom we are competing online throughout the year is something unique and allows us to take a completely different perspective on our friends from the Internet and the issue of competition. This type of event has always been my main motivator to train, develop and devote my time to StarCraft, as well as being a motivator for currently active players.

Most people find it hard to imagine, but it's pretty clear to me that without RCG we wouldn't have the scene as it is.
Maybe I'm bias, but I think that coexistence of RCG and BSL created an environment for training and development for players that has not been there since 2009/2010. These are two great complementary tournaments. RCG is a world championship with a very large prize pool, the largest unwritten prize - offline event, also, a lot of top players stay with StarCraft, which translates into attendance at BSL. On the other hand, BSL manages the players' time and motivates them to be active throughout the year, thanks to which the players participating in the RCG are in good shape. A great symbiosis.

When I look at the scene from a few years ago and compare it with the current one, it seems to me that the activity of players and tournament organizers is much higher - the best players really have a lot of opportunities to take part in tournaments or show matches with a prize pool.
Of course, the big factor that made it possible is that Sport.Fund invested huge amounts of money a year ($ 50,000) into the StarCraft scene. However, in this case, money is a much smaller factor, and more important is the fact that it has been used wisely. Take a look at the events after the release of SC: R - e.g. ZOTAC CUP or ESL Italy - the prize pools were very large, and in combination with the costs, I am convinced that each even separately costed much more than $ 50,000, the effect? It was loud for a while and everyone forgot, no impact for the scene. Don't get me wrong, it is possible that these events were a marketing success, but I am talking about the impact on the condition of the SC: R scene. You can spend $ 50,000 in a corporate manner as events mentioned above, or you can do it in a bottom-up way like eSport.Fund did - which in my opinion gave very tangible benefits.

Thank you sir for all you have done for the SC: R community so far and I'm sure you had important reasons to make such a decision. I can't wait for RCG2021 [2022`]. And I hope this great event will return in the future.

_
ZZZero

masoka82

Spain598 Posts

October 21 2021 11:18 GMT

#116

Really bad news

kogeT

Poland2042 Posts

October 21 2021 11:21 GMT

#117

It is difficult to operate at current environment and I believe if and when things get "back to normal", then we should resume a discussion on future events and how we can finance them as community.

But for now, as usually, huge thanks to you Brain for allowing all of us to participate and love the game as it should be loved.

Rus_Brain

Russian Federation1894 Posts

February 26 2022 09:25 GMT

#118

Dear contestants and viewers,

A Nuremberg Tribunal was established to commemorate the end of World War II. Above all, the judgment has ordered the creation of a code of offenses against the peace and security. However, there was a fault in the legal distinction between what should be handled as an attack and what should be treated as a defense. This finally led to UN General Assembly Resolution 3314: Definition of Aggression. What happened on Thursday, Friday, 24, 2022, fits the subject criteria, in my opinion. As a result, Russia will be treated as a "black-flag" jurisdiction, a process that has already begun.

In truth, the process began in 2014 with the seizure of Crimea and in 2008 with the separation of Ossetia from Georgia. A minor Western response allowed these events to take place, but it also allowed me and eSport.fund to host major events. After all, over the past two decades, the StarCraft community has remained apolitical.

Now things are different. The possibility of a financial and political embargo should not be overlooked. This will eventually prevent the participants from receiving their well-deserved rewards. Participants would be unable to access monies originating from Russia.

I decided to postpone this event half a year ago due to COVID hysteria, which prevented everyone from traveling. It was a dream to have a LAN. The incentive is no longer the same. RCG2021/22 appears to be the last major "really international" tournament. And it's best to have it done as soon as possible to avoid having to cancel it altogether.

I despise the underlying reason for such a decision. As do many Russians.

Kind regards,
RB

Liquid`Drone

Norway28866 Posts

February 26 2022 10:09 GMT

#119

Thanks for that statement, RB. These are tough times, but hearing opposition to what is happening from Russians themselves is as heartening as it gets.

Cele

Germany4016 Posts

February 26 2022 10:20 GMT

#120

Thanks for your clarity RB! We may be, for the condemnable actions in the Ukraine, divided as nations, but we are united as fans of SC:BW. Much love to you and all the great russian players who, im certain, feel the same way you do.