If you’re a fan of competitive Smash, you’ve likely heard of the Shine tournament series. Shine has become one of the staples of summer Smash tournaments, being the last major of the season after Super Smash Con and EVO.
But a new report has caused a slight panic: mosquitoes carrying the deadly Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus have been found west of Boston, including Worcester, where Shine 2019 is being hosted. A critical warning has been issued in the surrounding areas, and several outdoor events have been cancelled.
The EEE virus causes brain swelling and can kill 3 out of every 10 people who contract the illness. The Shine team released a statement warning attendees about the virus, as well as what to do to stay safe:
The panic was amplified by players such as Hungrybox and Nairo tweeting about the virus warning, and some have considered dropping out of the tournament and staying home to avoid disaster. However, the Shine team released a follow-up statement that due to the venue’s location in the heart of downtown, there shouldn’t be any problems as critters likely won’t migrate to the “concrete jungle” of the city.
Shine 2019 will take place from August 23rd to August 26th.
