Esports team Tempo Storm has added Hong Kong player Ng "blitzchung"  Wai Chung to its roster. The third Grandmaster on the North American team became the center of attention about one month ago, when after a Grandmaster match, blitzchung shouted "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time!" during an on-stream interview.

Following the incident, Activision Blizzard decided to issue the most severe punishment ever given to an esports player by rescinding his prize money, kicking him out of Grandmasters and banning him from competitive play for a year. While the punishment was reduced to just a six month ban, many still felt that Activision Blizzard's initial punishment was meant as a pleasing signal to the company's Chinese customers and investors.

The fact that Blitzchung is still banned for just over five months isn't a problem for Tempo Storm's CEO Andrey "Reynad" Yanyuk at all. As a matter of fact, it looks like blitzchung's protest and the ban that followed is what piquid his interest in the player. The official announcement of the signing reads: "We believe first and foremost in supporting players and encouraging them to engage and to speak out on the things about which they are most passionate. In many ways, we value the character and integrity of our players as much as, if not more than, their tournament placings. blitzchung brings incredible talent, an infectious personality, and a great deal of enthusiasm, for Hearthstone as well as his community and others around him. He exemplifies what Tempo believes in, and we welcome him as an ambassador for our brand."

About the signing, blitzchung said: "It has been my dream to be a part of Tempo Storm and I am excited to join the team, as it is one of the best in Hearthstone." About his future in competitive Hearthstone, he adds: "I had been thinking about whether to continue my Hearthstone career in the past few weeks. Since I haven't reached my professional goals yet, and I don't want to fall by the wayside, I will start competing again after I am unbanned."