Blizzard reinstates Hong Kong protestor’s prize, says “China had no influence”

After four days of mounting public pressure, Blizzard Entertainment took a late Friday opportunity-8:30pm ET, where press releases go to die-to partially undo its ban on three members of the Hearthstone esports community for making statements in support of Hong Kong.

The outright ban applied to professional Hearthstone player Ng "blitzchung" Wai Chung has since been changed to a six-month suspension from official Hearthstone esports tournaments. The original decision to strip him of the associated tournament's prize money has been reversed.

Additionally, the two Chinese broadcasters who interviewed (and possibly egged on) blitzchung during his shout of "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our age!" had been fired; they, too, have had their punishment changed to a six-month suspension from their jobs as official Hearthstone esports "casters."

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