PGL Major Stockholm 2021 May Be Back on Track

The Swedish government has taken some big steps to allow the entry of CS:GO professionals within the country. This is made possible because large esports tournaments have been exempted from the currently ongoing temporary entry ban, granting them the same status as elite sports competitions, among other things. This change comes after PGL had highlighted two major demands that need to be fulfilled at all costs for the CS:GO Major to take place in Stockholm, one of which requires a guarantee to fly in all the qualified CS:GO players into Sweden. The exemption being offered to esports players seem to be in response to PGL's request to the Swedish government to enable the PGL Major to take place in Stockholm, Sweden.

Swedish Government makes changes to entry ban to allow CS:GO professionals

Swedish government faced huge criticism and backlash for not allowing some of the biggest esports tournaments from taking place in Stockholm. Earlier, one of the biggest esports tournaments in the world, The International 10 (TI10) was denied the necessary guarantees required for the $40,000,000 USD competition to be held in the country.

This was followed by the upcoming $2,000,000 USD CS:GO Major scheduled to take place in Stockholm being on the verge of getting cancelled as well. But efforts put in by the esports community, a letter being written by Anna König Jerlmyr - Mayor of Stockholm in support of hosting the PGL Major in Stockholm, and the Swedish Esports Association sending a proposal from their end, managed to get PGL and Valve a meeting with Amanda Lind - the Minister for Culture and Democracy, with responsibility for sport and national minorities.

Following this meeting, PGL came forward to provide an update on the situation where it highlighted its two compulsory demands that need to be met at all costs for the CS:GO Major to take place in Stockholm, Sweden.

• We need to fly in all the qualified players into Sweden.

• Entertain a large number of spectators inside the venue.

PGL even revealed that it was in touch with two other European countries who have already agreed to both its primary requests. For now, these two backup venues have not been revealed, but this means that the organizers now have a proper secondary option.

The change being introduced by Swedish government is a direct result of PGL's request, as it hopes to hold the CS:GO Major in Stockholm, Sweden. In a press release, the Minister of the Interior - Mikael Damberg confirms that the exception is made for international elite competitions in esports to be held in Sweden.

It remains to be seen whether this change is enough to convince PGL to keep the CS:GO Major in Sweden, as no official announcement has been made by the tournament organizer so far.