After a week of protests, Blizzard issues statement on pro-Hong Kong Hearthstone player ban

Following a week of outcry and protests over its punishment of a Hearthstone player who expressed pro-Hong Kong views in a post-match interview, Blizzard has finally issued a statement that amounts to a partial backtrack - but it insisted its relationships in China had no influence on its decision.

The statement, issued late on Friday, is attributed to Blizzard president J. Allen Brack. In it he insisted the Hearthstone player in question, Hong Kong player Chung "Blitzchung" Ng Wai, violated tournament rules by commenting on the current situation in his home country.

Earlier this week, Blitzchung appeared in a Grandmasters Asia Pacific post-match interview, where he signed off with a bold statement. Wearing a gas mask similar to those worn by protestors (and recently banned in Hong Kong), Blitzchung said: "Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution of our age!" The stream quickly cut to an ad break.

Read more