After the horrible events over the weekend where two people were murdered during qualifiers for the Madden Classic competition, EA has decided to put a halt on the three remaining qualifiers while they will investigate how they can improve security. In a statement from CEO Andrew Wilson, he explains:
"First and foremost, it is an unthinkable tragedy that Taylor Robertson and Elijah Clayton, two of our top Madden competitors, lost their lives in this way. They were respected, positive and skilled competitors, the epitome of the players and personalities at the heart of our community. Their love of competition was evident through their participation in our events over the past few years. We are committed to supporting Taylor and Elijah's families through this difficult time, and we send our deepest sympathies to their loved ones, to those injured yesterday, and everyone affected.
"The event was a qualifying tournament for the Madden Classic, our first Madden EA Major competition of this season. While these qualifying events are operated independently by partners, we work with them to ensure competitive integrity and to gather feedback from players. We have made a decision to cancel our three remaining Madden Classic qualifier events while we run a comprehensive review of safety protocols for competitors and spectators. We will work with our partners and our internal teams to establish a consistent level of security at all of our competitive gaming events."
During the qualifying event in Jacksonville, Florida, one competitor shot and killed two rival players and injured several more after allegedly losing a game of Madden 19, before turning the weapon on himself.
How this tragic incident will impact on wider esports security moving ahead remains to be seen.