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| S8UL lost its MSC slot due to its members streaming an Honor of Kings tournament. |
MANILA--Reigning MLBB North America Challenge Tournament champion S8UL was barred from competing in the MLBB Mid Season Cup after two of its members participated in a tournament organized by rival esports title Honor of Kings.
Jang "Hoon" Seong-Hun and Michael "Mobazane" Cosgun live-streamed the HOK event, which did not sit well with Moonton, MLBB's developer.
In a statement late Monday night, Moonton highlighted Section 2, Penalty Index B, which says an MSC participant can be sanctioned if a "team member engages in any competitor games' event/activity/live stream or other way to give the competitor games' exposure."
Moonton later said that it tried to reach out to S8UL for Jang and Cosgun to back out from streaming the HOK tournament, but according to Moonton, "Despite these efforts, Team S8UL elected to proceed."
Moonton adjudged that Jang and Cosgun should be suspended from the MSC, but because that would leave S8UL with only four players available, Moonton decided to disqualify the entire club as well.
S8UL, which acquired the team formerly known as Blood Thirsty Kings lock, stock, and barrel, would only be left with Ian "FwydChickn" Hohl, Carlos "Best Player" Vega, Vo "Shark" Thanh Trung, and Zia Caluya.
"Due to these suspensions, Team S8UL is no longer eligible to compete. The team is unable to meet the tournament's minimum roster requirements and is no longer eligible for roster change or force majeure," Moonton further said, citing Sections 3.1.1 and 5.2.3 of the MSC official rules.
MSC-bound teams must submit a lineup consisting of at least six players, the starting five and a reserve player, and S8UL decided to go with the bare minimum.
With S8UL's disqualification, Area 77, the NACT Spring runner-up, gets the MSC spot.
Area 77 fielded a roster stacked with Fil-American players in NACT Spring led by Rainiel "Ureshiii" Logronio, Ricer "Iso" Dela Cruz, and Zidric "Joyboj" Beltran.
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