The Professional eSports Association (PEA) has recently suspended its Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) League. This is due to the players' decision to compete in the ESL Pro League instead.
About PEA
The PEA came into existence four months ago and was founded by seven eSports teams. They include Team Liquid, TSM, CLG, NRG eSports, Cloud 9, complexity Gaming and Immortals.
Players React To PEA Exclusivity
Late last year, players led by Scott "SirScoots" Smith complained that PEA is forcing them to choose between its own CS:GO league or the EPL. It seems that both team owners and players have their own understanding on the terms of their contract agreement.
Team owners insist that their players are bound to compete only in PEA sanctioned games. Smith though, accused the owners of manipulating them into thinking that they were free to choose on what league to compete in.
PEA Gives In
If the players signed the exclusivity deal then PEA has the legal right to force them anyway. Fortunately, the organization has decided to give in the players' demand. At the same time, PEA also decided to suspend the CS:GO League, according to the owners' representative Jason Katz. Since majority of the players wanted to compete in the EPL there's almost no one left for its own league.
Aftermath
Both PEA and Smith issued an open letter stating their position regarding the matter. The team owners claimed that the exclusivity deal is for the good of the players. They get half of the profits as well as other various benefits health insurance and retirement benefits. Katz admitted though that they made mistakes in dealing with the situation.
Smith on the other hand, claimed that the owners sort of misinformed them when they signed the PEA contract. The players relied on the owners' unwritten promise that they can still compete in the ESL.
