Intel Extreme Masters tournament in China cancelled

The Intel Extreme Masters tournament will not be taking place this year due to the cancellation of the Anime and Games show. Set to take place in Guangzhou, China, the event was to host tournaments for League of Legends and Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty and run alongside the show.

An official statement from the Anime and Games show cites problems caused by increased expected visitor traffic and manpower shortage.

According to a statement released by organizers ESL, unofficial sources in China reported the cancellation as connected to political unrest between China and Japan. The Anime and Games Show features Japanese culture, which caused security concerns.

"We are terribly sorry to disappoint esports fans that were expecting to enjoy the event, especially all Chinese esports fans. Unfortunately, the circumstances that forced the cancellation upon us were entirely beyond our control, though we understand and respect the decisions made by the Anime Comics and Games organizers." ESL's Director of Pro Gaming Michal Blicharz commented in an official statement.

Qualified teams and players who have already booked their travel plans will receive compensation.