I agree that Epic Games should have never allowed them in the tournament in the first place. That’s a mistake on Epic’s part and it does make them seem like they’re trying to weasel out of paying prize money.
This is discrimination. But not all discrimination is unjustified. I discriminate against people all the time. I discriminate against unpleasant people when choosing whom I interact with. I discriminate against companies that have a history of doing bad things. Epic discriminates against residents of a country that broke a decades-long peace in Europe. I believe it is justified.
I think a good compromise solution would be to donate the prize money to a humanitarian organisation. That way it doesn’t seem like Epic is only doing it because of the money.
Firstly I think if they let him in then they have to pay. Otherwise they couple have banned his entry.
Also, why should regular Russians be punished for the actions of their government?
I don’t remember being excluded from things when my government illegally invaded Iraq (UK).
The answer to why you weren’t excluded but Russians are is simple: vae victis.
Some countries do things that others don’t like. Other countries retaliate. But some retaliation is more effective than others.