DreamHack and ESL got dealt a surprise blow to their upcoming Dota Pro Circuit leagues.
Ioannis “Fogged” Loucas and Brian “BSJ” Canavan were turned away at the Swedish border. The pair were traveling to Europe in order to serve on the commentary desk for both ESL’s CIS DPC League and DreamHack’s Europe DPC League. The pair announced the situation on Twitter:
I have been rejected entry to Europe. Looks like I will be coming back home. I will keep you guys posted on what the near future holds for me.
— BSJ (@BananaSlamJamma) January 15, 2021
Yupppppp]ppppppppppppppppppppppp , i will keep your banana slamma company https://t.co/GK9fEvUYlw
— Ioannis Loucas (@Foggeddota) January 15, 2021
Hours later, Fogged announced that the pair had made their way back to the United States, landing in New York. Unfortunately, Fogged’s luggage was not so lucky.
It’s unclear what led to Fogged and BSJ being rejected entry into Sweden and it is also unclear if the pair were traveling separately or together. Michelle “Moxxi” Song tweeted that she has successfully crossed the border. Kevin “Purge” Godec is set to work the leagues remotely, but it’s currently unknown what the situation looks like for Kyle Freedman.
I was told there was no sun in Sweden clearly I have been lied to.
Arrived safely WITH LUGGAGE. Thank you everyone for the safe travel wishes and prayers to the luggage gods. pic.twitter.com/zerEJtiKSp
— Moxxi (@MoxxiCasts) January 15, 2021
This is quite troublesome for ESL and DreamHack, as the companies need abundant staff for an incoming crush of games. The new Dota Pro Circuit schedule will see games taking place six days per week for the next six weeks, with the CIS and European leagues combining to host action every single day during that stretch. Odds are that Fogged and BSJ could cast for ESL and DreamHack from their homes in the United States, but it will be logistically more difficult and could take some of the extra content options off the table.
In the long term, there are some potentially serious issues for Fogged and BSJ. If they were turned away at the border of Sweden, it could prove troublesome to enter the country for The International 10. TI10 is set to take place in Stockholm in August.
The 2021 DPC Leagues for Europe and CIS were set to include the following lineup of casters:
It is unclear what impact the absence of BSJ and Fogged may have on the event, assuming they are not immediately booked for another flight to Europe. It is possible other new casters are announced to replace them, or are added as supplementary talent.
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