SPS New State Mobile Open Challenger Stage: ESL India Disqualify Pusher Esports
A bit of drama before the third stage!
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Just a day before the scheduled start of the Snapdragon Pro Series New State Mobile India Open Challenger Stage, one of the competing teams has been disqualified from the tournament for allowing an underage player to participate in the event.
According to the public statement issued by ESL India, Pusher Esports was caught violating 2.7.1 section of its rulebook by allowing a player below 16 years of age to compete in the tournament as part of its lineup.
It further stated that Pusher Esports would be replaced by Team Zero Gravity, the next best team from the overall leaderboard of the Open Qualifier Finale.
Pusher Esports has been disqualified from the SPS New State Mobile Open Challenger Stage
In a surprising turn of events, a team has been removed from the ongoing Snapdragon Pro Series (SPS) New State Mobile tournament just one day before the Challenger Stage's scheduled start.
ESL India shared that Pusher Esports has been disqualified in violation of the 2.7.1 section of its rulebook titled 'Age Restriction' which states that,
"All players must be at least 16 years of age or older by the date of the first match of the season. If a player is found to currently be participating or previously participated in any matches while under the age of 16 any and all team and the members will be disqualified from the season and will forfeit any money that was, or would have been made during that season."
They have been effectively replaced by Team Zero Gravity, who had placed 17th in the previous stage having scored a total of 56 points. The slot was awarded to them as they were the next best team in line to qualify for the Challenger Stage.
Some from the community raised a few questions following this decision from ESL India, blaming the organizers for not thoroughly checking the documentations being provided by the players during registration.
Another talking point was the fact that the team had already made its way through two stages, Open Qualifier and Open Qualifier Finale, proving itself as one of the top contenders by placing 10th with 77 points, so it made no sense booting the team like this from the tournament.
But all points made and discussed, Pusher Esports did in fact break one of the rules and ESL India had every right to disqualify them. Unfortunately, the decision was made quite late in the event and it would have been better if a resolution was reached earlier on in the tournament.
