A recording of the voice chat among players from the Dota 2 team Quantum Team has surfaced online. The audio clearly reveals the esports athletes discussing strategies for intentionally losing a match. Furthermore, one player mentions a bet of 200 thousand units of currency, though the specific currency remains unknown. The recording was initially published on the Telegram channel belonging to esports player Krinzhik, who served as a stand-in for Quantum Team during the match in question.
The leaked audio captures moments from the second map played between Quantum Team and 4Pirates during the group stage of European Pro League Season 27. Krinzhik made the recording himself, reportedly due to his suspicion that his teammates were involved in match-fixing, commonly referred to as “322” in esports communities.
The recording includes explicit discussions about how to underperform to ensure a loss. Here are some transcribed excerpts:
— Let`s use smoke. Just try not to kill them somehow, I don`t know. On Storm Spirit, I need to jump in poorly.
— Someone just needs to jump in, die, and that`s it.
— Yes. Like, don`t even try to use Doom, don`t use Black King Bar.
— Regarding TORONTOTOKYO: [use] Refresher Orb first, and then Black King Bar and Doom [in the wrong order].
— What, did you bet a million?
— No. It`s not a million, buddy — [it`s more].
— Or will the mafia kill you if you…
— No, no, no. That definitely won`t happen. But it`s decent money — 200 thousand.
— Maybe just buy a Divine Rapier, die, and that`s it?
— What were the odds for the bet, anyway?
— I don`t know. 1.40, I think. Send me your direct messages.
Ultimately, Quantum Team lost the second map and the series with a final score of 0:2. At the conclusion of the video, Krinzhik explicitly stated that he did not participate in the deliberate loss. “That`s how it is, guys. We`re doing 322. Alright, let`s go. I`m not participating in this, not involved, so… This is Lukas [referring to the captain]. Good luck everyone,” the esports player declared.
Commenting on the leaked recording, prominent caster Vladimir “Maelstorm” Kuzminov mentioned that players were reportedly offered ₽10,000 (approximately $100 USD) in exchange for their silence about the intentional loss.
He elaborated:
There`s also information that players were offered ₽10,000 for their silence. […] And info from one person confirms that yes: three Asian bookmakers are at zero [meaning they suffered losses due to the fixed outcome]. But this is all indirect evidence. And it actually doesn`t have as much weight. The most damning evidence is the game itself coupled with the recording.
Following the incident, Quantum Team was disqualified from European Pro League Season 27. According to the organizers` official statement, the disqualification was a result of actions taken by the team`s captain, Dmitry “Lukas” Davydov, during the match against 4Pirates, which were deemed a clear violation of fair play principles. Quantum Team subsequently announced that they had terminated their cooperation with Davydov.
Finley Holt