Staff representing SEA Esports Championship 2021 have addressed complaints and public remarks made by teams and players over outstanding prize money.
A number of teams have been left waiting for payments from the SEA Esports Championship 2021, which ended on January 16. Miguel “Aanszo” Ignacio was the first to come forward about the issues. The current Avium Esports player competed for Copium during the tournament in which the team finished 7-8th. However, due to the event organizer’s lack of transparency with teams and players and the passage of substantial time, he had no option but to make it public.
“The lack of initiative on their end to announce the reasons for the delay and the current progress is very unprofessional and disappointing.” he Tweeted.
Following the public remark, several individuals have corroborated the same claim, including Henri “Flaring” Forichon, as well as managers of South Built Esports and Bren Esports.
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VALO2ASIA reached out to VNG as one of the co-organizers for the event and was informed that the prize money issues are expected to be sorted by this month. According to one of the representatives, additional paperwork was required by the internal team before the funds could be sent overseas. The organizer concluded their statement by noting that every effort is being made to get the prize money distributed as quickly as possible.
VALO2ASIA also learned that other game titles competed in the tournament, which included PUBG Mobile, and Wild Rift Men’s and Women’s were impacted the same.
SEA Esports Championship 2021 was held by the Vietnam Recreational E-sport Association (VIRESA) and tech giant VNG Corporation, with a total of US$140,000 prize pool spread across several game titles. ONIC G from Indonesia emerged victorious in the inaugural VALORANT tournament after taking down domestic rivals BOOM Esports 3-1 in the grand final, bringing home the US$7,000 first-place prize. Among the teams competing were Sharper Esports, South Built Esports, CERBERUS Esports, and Kingsmen.
SEA Esports Championship 2021 Playoffs final standings:
| Place | Team | Prize |
| 1st | 🇮🇩 ONIC G | US$7,000 |
| 2nd | 🇮🇩 BOOM Esports | US$4,000 |
| 3rd | 🇸🇬 shiba n the homies | US$3,000 |
| 4th | 🇹🇭 Sharper Esport | US$2,000 |
| 5-6th | 🇵🇭 South Built Esports | US$1,000 |
| 5-6th | 🇲🇾 Kingsmen | US$1,000 |
| 7-8th | 🇵🇭 Bren Esports | US$500 |
| 7-8th | 🇸🇬 Copium | US$500 |
VALO2ASIA will be closely monitoring the situation until players and teams receive their rights.
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Cover photo courtesy of SEA EC
