PGL Copenhagen Major witnessed one of the most bizarre moments in the history of Counter-Strike esports as several protestors stormed the stage during the G2 Esports vs MOUZ quarter-finals match. CSGOEmpire hired the protestors in an attempt to raise voices against G2’s sponsor, CSGORoll, a rival CSGO skin trading and gambling website.
The protestors stormed the stage during G2 vs MOUZ’s second map, Vertigo, where one of the protestors is seen rushing on the stage. Security personnel immediately tackled the protester, and upon showing resistance, the protestor ended up falling on the PGL Copenhagen Major trophy and breaking it. After the police got rid of the protestors, the match continued, and G2 Esports won the match with a scoreline of 2-0.
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PGL To Press Charges Against Protestors; CSGOEmpire To Issue C&D Letter Against PGL
Monarch and CSGOEmpire accepted that they hired the protestors from the audience to raise voices against the rival betting company, CSGORoll. Several professional players were upset over the CSGOEmpire’s action, and many CS2 organisations pulled themselves out of the CSGOEmpire CS2 tournament. jL, a professional CS2 player for NAVI, said:
Pieces of shit you are, nothing more. Pointing fingers at others, while doing the same shit.
PGL had to halt the last quarterfinal match during the incident, and the security personnel had to pin down the protestors in order to stop them. The police removed the protestors from the stadium, and PGL said that they would be pressing charges against them.
While responding to PGL’s statement, CSGOEmpire responded by stating that they would be pressing charges against PGL as they allowed G2 Esports to have CSGORoll as sponsors for the event. An account named ‘Monarch’s Lawyer’ posted that they will be issuing a C&D letter to PGL for allowing CSGORoll in their tournament and causing injuries to the protestors. The statement read:
The Office of Monarch's Lawyer will be formally issuing a C&D letter due to allowing for the participation of a team that is partnered with a fraudulent and illegal casino, as well as for all the injuries caused to the brave protesters.
While it is uncertain how the legal matter will go, PGL will ensure that security is tightened for the remainder of the tournament. After the game, PGL expressed its gratitude towards the fans and players for showcasing their support towards them. PGL’s post read:
A huge shout-out to our incredible crowd at last night's event! Your support and understanding during the unexpected disturbance were nothing short of amazing. It's in moments like these that the strength and unity of our community truly shine through. The way everyone handled the situation with calm and patience not only helped in resolving the matter quickly but also showcased the positive spirit of our attendees.