Mobile giant prepares to sue Latin American esports organisation over missing prize money

Popular mobile games developer Supercell has cut ties with a tournament organiser and will be seeking legal action against it.

Supercell, developer of popular mobile games Clash of Clans and Brawl Stars, has severed ties with former tournament organiser Latin American Master League, following its disappearance.

The developer claims to be seeking legal action and will pay out the winnings in their place.

In a Twitter post, the Brawl Stars Esports account posted a message regarding last year’s Latin America Master League tournament circuit.

In the post, it states “We are aware that a number of players from the Latin America Master League (LAML) 2021 have not yet received their prizes from the tournament organisers. This is unacceptable.”

Brawl Stars Latin America Master League. Picture: LAML

Continuing, Supercell adds “We share our players’ frustrations in this matter and we will provide full compensation to all players affected ourselves as soon as possible. Supercell will also no longer authorise LAML to organise tournaments using Supercell games.”

This effectively bans the LAML from hosting tournaments for other popular mobile titles, like Clash Royale or Clash of Clans. Attempts to contact the LAML have been fruitless — the primary website hasn’t been updated since November, and their Twitter has gone cold as well.

Update regarding the Latin American Master League prizing: pic.twitter.com/evUkvLsqjP

— Brawl Stars Esports (@Brawl_esports) July 20, 2022

The prize money is not an insignificant chunk of change, either. The LAML had previously promised to pay out a total prize pool of just under $150,000 AUD.

Furthermore, the Master League had the backing of prominent Latin American football teams as well, such as Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Chivas) and the Club Atlético Boca Juniors.

That money isn’t going to come directly out of Supercell’s pockets, however.

In the company’s statement, it mentions that “we are now preparing to take legal action against [the LAML]”.

This is surely good news for the winners of the tournament, the America de Cali Esports team, who have gone the past seven months without receiving their winnings of almost $30,000 AUD.

Esports can have some serious money invested, as shown by not just this fiasco, but also by one of the world’s largest esports teams going public on the New York Stock Exchange — and then having their stock price plunge by nearly 25 per cent by the end of their first day.

Original reporting by Mobile Matters.

Written by Junior Miyai on behalf of GLHF