Melbourne Esports Open and IEM pushed into 2021

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Enduring pandemic has made the August 2020 event unfeasible.

(Image credit: IEM)

The Melbourne Esports Open will no longer take place in August 2020, joining a growing list of game events affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. There is positive news, though: a 2021 replacement has already been confirmed to take place on the weekend of August 21-22.

This means IEM is also cancelled, which was set to be the Melbourne Esports Open's headline attraction. One related event is still going ahead, though: the 2020 League of Legends Oceanic Pro League will still take place on August 28, with more details set to be announced by Riot.

"This decision has been reached in light of the current global health situation, and is in line with protective measures implemented in respect of mass gatherings, and importantly, is made in the interest of safety for players, staff, and fans looking to attend the event," the statement read.

All tickets purchased for 2020 event will be valid for the 2021 replacement, though refunds are available at point of purchase, too. 

Shaun Prescott
Shaun Prescott
Australian Editor

Shaun Prescott is the Australian editor of PC Gamer. With over ten years experience covering the games industry, his work has appeared on GamesRadar+, TechRadar, The Guardian, PLAY Magazine, the Sydney Morning Herald, and more. Specific interests include indie games, obscure Metroidvanias, speedrunning, experimental games and FPSs. He thinks Lulu by Metallica and Lou Reed is an all-time classic that will receive its due critical reappraisal one day.

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