After playing just two weeks of matches, the China regional league, part of the Dota Pro Circuit Spring Tour, will enter a break time forced by the citywide lockdown in Shanghai.
Shanghai entered a two-stage lockdown this Monday, March 28, however, according to the announcement made by Perfect World, China regional league operator, the matches scheduled to take place in Division 1 and Division 2 on March 28 and March 29 will still be played normally.
Starting with March 30, the league will have to be halted as many of the teams competing as well as Perfect World studios are located in Shanghai.
The two-stage lockdown in Shanghai was announced by Shanghai's city government only this past Sunday and it will split the city in two along the Huangpu River for nine days to allow for "staggered" testing. Shanghai’s lockdown will close cross-river bridges, tunnels, and highway toll booths concentrated in the city's east until April 1. The west areas of the Huangpu River will experience the same restrictions being applied April 1-5.
Taking into account Shanghai's Public Security Bureau decision, Perfect World aims to resume the league play on April 8.
With China regional league taking a break and Eastern Europe being indefinitely suspended due to the war in Ukraine, the DPC Spring Tour will have just four regions active entering its third week of matches. Southeast Asia, Western Europe and North and South America leagues will continue as planned.
All regions are supposed to end their league matches by April 22. The Spring Tour Major is scheduled to unfold May 12-22 in Stockholm, Sweden at Hovet Arena and it should mark the first LAN event held with a live audience since WePlay Bukovel Minor from January 2020.
headline image courtesy of Perfect World
