Unpaid rewards for Russian eSports athletes remain an issue.
Russian Victory in Fortnite Tournament Met with Unpaid Prize Money
In a turn of events reported by the publication in August 2023, a Fortnite tournament saw Russian athletes as the victors. The competition was held in Belarus, with the players' bank accounts registered in Kazakhstan. Yet, the tournament organizer, Epic Games, declined to distribute the prize money.
Abdrahmánov shared his account of also being disqualified from the FNCS tournament in Copenhagen, with the support service citing the restrictions on paying out prizes due to the athletes hailing from a "region ineligible for receiving rewards."
Epic Games' decision was due to Russia's inclusion in a list of sanctioned regions following the commencement of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, as stated in the FNCS Major 3 rules. Notably, Belarus was not on this list.
Post the commencement of the special operation in Ukraine, many international competitions barred Russian athletes. However, in August 2023, Russian esports players were permitted to compete, displaying their national flag and anthem.
The exact reasons behind the allowance for Russian esports players to compete under international sanctions are not explicitly stated, with the situation's complexities and variations between organizations playing a role in this decision. It is essential to note that the approach to allowing Russian participants can differ substantially between different esports organizations.
Despite the wins of Russian athletes in various international competitions, including the Fortnite tournament in August 2023, prize money distribution remains a challenge due to sanctions on Russia, as seen in the unpaid winnings of the Fortnite tournament. Nevertheless, the Russian football team continues to train and compete, hoping for a future when financial rewards can be rightfully claimed for their sports successes.
