PEA releases statement addressing CS: GO players’ open letter
Players have finally received a response from the Professional Esports Association, after 25 CS:GO pros published an open letter to protest against exclusivity last weekend. Written and published by Scott ‘SirScoots’ Smith on Wednesday 21st, the aim of the letter was to highlight the lack of player involvement on the decision to stop players competing in the ESL Pro League.
PEA released their response to the situation, revealing that they would be allowing the players the choice to choose between the PEA league or the ESL Pro League. The response was released by Immortals owner and PEA Player Relations Committee Member, Noah Whinston, and you can read the highlights below:
“1) The intention of the PEA League is to create a better league for both American players and organizations. It is not an exclusive league. The teams will continue competing in non-PEA operated leagues and tournaments.
2) It is not financially viable for organizations to run a PEA CSGO league and also participate in all of the other existing online leagues because of issues with over-saturation.
3) PEA proposed a compromise to WESA to resolve the over-saturation issue, which WESA declined.
4) Though PEA organizations unambiguously have the contractual right to decide where their players compete, the organizations have decided to offer the players the choice to either participate in the PEA league or in the ESL Pro League North American division.
5) Financially, the PEA league offers more money to NA players. The PEA league pays out a guaranteed minimum average of $81,250 per PEA team (prize money + minimum guaranteed profit share), compared to a guaranteed minimum average of $21,428.57 (seehttp://bit.ly/2hOIE9I) per NA team in ESL Pro League (and a maximum average of $49,857.14 per team ifNA teams took all the top 6 spots at the NA/EU EPL LAN final).
6) We sympathize with the players’ sentiments around not feeling more included in the decision-making process and we acknowledge that we could and should have done better. That’s why, in good faith, we’re going to give this decision to them.”
Will this response be sufficient for the pro community or is there more to be solved? We will be waiting for reactions.
