Stockholm mayor fights federal esports rulings after TI10 changes locations

William Davis Published 16/07/2021

Stockholm political leader Anna König Jerlmyr has sent a letter to multiple Swedish governing bodies asking for federal recognition of esports.

The request comes weeks after a Swedish federal decision ruled that esports players were not elite athletes, denying them legally defined special privileges. Consequentially, The International 10 officially relocated out of Stockholm to Bucharest, Romania. Dota 2 players would not be able to acquire Swedish visas for the $40 million event. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s $2 million PGL Stockholm Major may also leave the country soon.

Jerlmyr is the Municipal Commissioner for Finance of Stockholm, a position similar to mayorship in the United States. Stockholm’s leading politician sent a letter to Minister of the Interior Mikael Damberg and Minister of Sports Amanda Lind asking the federal government to support esports in Sweden. News of the letter was first broken by Swedish newspaper Expressen.

 “The government is about to repeat the same mistake it made a few weeks ago when the world’s largest esports tournament, The International, moved from Stockholm. Now, unfortunately, the story looks like it will repeat for CSGO Major, when the government once again does not provide information that ensures the implementation of the tournament,” Jerlmyr wrote, according to digital translation. 

Anna König Jerlmyr stated that Sweden’s high rate of vaccination reduces the possibility of health risks. She expressed that the local population is “over 70 percent vaccinated in the Stockholm region.” 

The mayor also stated that other sporting events have continued to take place in Sweden, including a World Figure Skating Championships event and Global Champion Tour steeplechase tournament. Stockholm’s Municipal Commissioner further cited the economic and cultural incentives of hosting prestigious esports events. 

“The organizers choosing Sweden and Stockholm is an opportunity for thousands of visitors to see their heroes from around the world, live here in our capital. A positive side effect of this is all the hotel nights, restaurant visits, and our rich cultural life that not only enriches visitors, but also the industries hit hard by the ongoing pandemic,” Jerlmyr said. 

IS the CSGO PGL Stockholm Major still in Sweden?

Valve announced its decision to relocate The International 10 just days after a Swedish legal decision reclassified esports separately from traditional sports.

PGL initially assured CSGO fans that the Stockholm Major would continue as planned but event organizers are likely considering backup plans. Both tournaments have the biggest prize pools in their respective games’ history and represent a triumphant return to offline esports play. 

The International 10 is set to start on October 7 in Bucharest, Romania. The PGL Stockholm Major is currently scheduled for October 23 in Stockholm.

Read Also

Dota 2

TI15’s opening ceremony weaves a tapestry of emotion for Valve’s storied title Michael Hassall The main stage of The International 2026, TI15, kicked off today with the traditional opening ceremony heralding the start of the biggest celebration of Dota 2 on the calendar. On Aug. 20 fans in Shanghai, China, and at home, were treated to a rousing 11-minute series of performances and video packages, introducing TI15’s main stage show. Here’s how the magic unfolded: The ceremony began with a graphic which quite literally ...

Dota 2

The International 2026 (TI15) Playoffs preview and predictions Michael Hassall The Group Stage of The International 2026, TI15, is in the books and we’ve whittled down 16 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams to just eight finalists. One of these talented lineups will be the ones lifting the Aegis of Champions come Sunday, Aug. 23, but until then, there’s plenty of playoff shenanigans that could go on. Below we’ve put together a preview of the upcoming Playoff Games, along ...

News

The Esports Nations Cup Has Been Postponed to November 2027 Ben Boland The 2026 Esports Nations Cup has been suspended until 2027. The Esports Foundation announced the delay on August 18, citing ongoing regional uncertainty. The inaugural competition was scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, comprising over 100 national teams and featuring 16 different games, including League of Legends. According to the Esports Foundation, this decision follows ongoing developments in the region and consultation with key stakeholders. Moving the event ...

Dota 2

Team Spirit vs Iron Wing at TI15: Best Betting Predictions and Picks Owen Harsono The playoffs for TI15 starts off with an absolute banger of a match between Team Spirit and Iron Wing, and the betting odds could not be any closer. Here are our TI15 Team Spirit vs Iron Wing predictions. Tournament: The International 2026 (TI15) Stage: Playoffs Game: Dota 2 Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: This is the closest series we have at the first round of the TI15 playoffs, as ...

Dota 2

Who Will Win The International 2026 (TI15)? These Are Our Best Picks Owen Harsono The TI15 group stage is over, and we’re down to the top eight teams. We’ve now got a pretty good idea of which teams are the favorites heading into the playoffs based on recent performance and season results, so here are the teams we think have the best shot at winning TI15 and claiming some of The International  prize pool. The TI15 group stage saw eight teams exit the event ...

Dota 2

The International 2026 (TI15) Elimination Stage Preview and Predictions Owen Harsono The TI15 Group Stage is almost over, and all that’s left is the very deadly Elimination Stage, which will eliminate five teams and allow the five survivors to advance to the playoffs. Below, we’ll walk you through how the Elimination Stage works, the matchups, and our best picks. The Elimination Stage is the final phase of the TI15 Group Stage. The modified Swiss format promotes the top three teams directly ...

Dota 2

Team Spirit vs TEAM VISION at TI15: Best Betting Predictions and Picks Owen Harsono We’re two days into TI15, and we have our first significant match of the tournament. Team Spirit will take on TEAM VISION (PARIVISION) for the first playoff spot. Here are our predictions for the big match. Tournament: The International 2026 (TI15) Stage: Group Stage Game: Dota 2 Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: TEAM VISION enter TI15 as the tournament favorites, but Team Spirit are playing under zero pressure at ...