The International has always been about storylines, intense matches, and (at times) drama. Just weeks before TI14 is set to begin, we’ve been served exactly that. Gaimin Gladiators, one of the top teams in the Dota 2 scene, has officially withdrawn from the event due to internal conflict.
Valve confirmed the news in a brief statement, stating that the players and organization were unable to reach an agreement that would allow the team to play at the event. A replacement squad will now be called up to take GG’s spot at the tournament.
Mid-Laner Quinn speaks out
A day after the announcement, Quinn “Quinn” Callahan quickly addressed the situation, mentioning that the decision did not come from the players. According to the 25-year-old, the players were ready to compete under the team’s banner and represent the GG org.
Instead, Quinn claimed that the withdrawal was entirely the organization’s decision, even though the whole team was prepared to play the tournament. He also mentioned ongoing legal disputes between the players and GG, which forced the players to seek legal counsel.
Quinn “Quinn” Callahan (Image credit: The International 2021)
Words from GG’s Ex-Manager
Former Dota 2 manager Oleg “Jak2oO” Porotnikov offered more context in a Telegram post. He painted a picture of tensions that had been bubbling for months, following the team’s decline in recent results. He alleged that the organization attempted to remove coach Aske “Cy-” Larsen, despite his close relationship with the majority of the Gaimin Gladiators roster.
When Cy- shared the news with the roster, the players sided with him instead of management, sparking a conflict within the organization. Oleg argued that this was the turning point in an already strained relationship and accused GG of a history of prioritizing profit over fair treatment.
The Organization responds
Gaimin Gladiators co-CEO Nick Cuccovillo fired back, describing Quinn’s statement as misleading. In his version, the players had actually asked to terminate their contracts with GG so they could attend TI14 as independent individuals rather than under the team’s banner. Cuccovillo said GG agreed to this request, but explained that, due to Valve’s strict roster rules, this meant the team could no longer officially compete as Gaimin Gladiators.
He added that the players then failed to finalize an agreement with the org, and by the time they decided they still wanted to play under the team name, GG had “no confidence” they would properly represent the team at the event.
“The team did not engage with us to agree terms to settle and by the time they decided they would participate in TI we had no confidence that the team or members of the team would remain with GG or be in a position to represent the team and their colleagues at TI,” Cuccovillo tweeted. “Simply, it was the request of the team that precipitated this decision, their delay in making decisions and lack of preparedness to successfully achieve the desired outcome at TI that forced us make this decision.”
A lost opportunity
Whatever the truth behind the fallout, the outcome remains the same. One of Dota 2’s most decorated teams will not be at The International 14. Gaimin Gladiators made the Grand Finals at both TI12 and TI13, and won’t even make an appearance this year.
For the players, this absence cuts even deeper. Every professional dreams of competing at The International, but this year the roster won’t get the chance due to organizational disputes off the server. The situation is especially painful for the team’s support player, Arman “Malady” Orazbayev, who was set to play in his very first TI – an opportunity now taken away.
Who will replace Gaimin Gladiators?
Valve has confirmed a replacement team will be announced to fill the now-vacant slot. No official decision has been announced yet, but typically, these replacements are drawn from runner-up positions in the closed qualifiers.
Since Gaimin Gladiators are a Western European team, the most likely candidate would be OG, who finished third in the WEU qualifiers behind NAVI and Nigma Galaxy. However, with the majority of teams at the event already hailing from Europe, Valve might look to balance things out by awarding the slot to another region. If this were the case, strong candidates would be Edge from South America or Talon Esports from Southeast Asia.