Taiga kicked from Team Leviatan amid match-fixing allegations

In a move anticipated by many within the Dota 2 esports community, Tommy “Taiga” Le has been officially kicked from Team Leviatan. This decision marks a significant turn in the ongoing discussions surrounding match-fixing within esports.

Statement from Team Leviatan

After considerable speculation and pitchforks from the Dota 2 esports community last week, Team Leviatan has formally announced the removal of Taiga from their Dota 2 lineup. The decision, revealed through a statement on social media platforms, did not explicitly accuse Le of match-fixing, though.

However, the organization highlighted that his departure was tied to “recent events” that demanded action in line with their commitment to maintaining competitive integrity. The recent events are of course, associated with the match-fixing evidence in Morf-Designer’s YouTube video. The statement also noted that the decision was made by mutual agreement with Taiga, who has not publicly commented on his removal.

Taiga had been with Leviatan since March this year, participating in just eight matches before his activities came under scrutiny. What makes his returning debut worse is that it painted a narrative that Taiga is ready to change and quit his gambling addictions when there was a bigger issue that he never admitted previously.

Background on Taiga’s Match-Fixing and Gambling Issues

Prior to these allegations, there were already rumors circulating about Taiga’s possible involvement in match-fixing conduct. It remains uncertain whether Leviatan was aware of these potential issues when they initially recruited him, or if the decision to add him to their roster was made with full knowledge of the risks involved.

Match-fixing and gambling have long been problematic when done excessively, and Taiga’s situation is a regrettable illustration of both issues. However, the nail in the coffin is when the controversy intensified with the evidence of his alleged match-fixing. This includes recordings of his voice during gameplay directing match outcomes, which were believed to favor some gambling parties pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Early Rumors surrounding Taiga’s match-fixing

This revelation followed a period of absence during which Taiga missed several matches for his previous team, OG, citing personal reasons. During this time, accusations about his engagement in suspicious betting activities surfaced, with claims made by individuals previously banned by Valve, such as Yaroslav “Limitless” Parshin. These accusations were later supported, at least in part, by former Virtus.pro coach Arsenii “ArsZeeqq” Usov.

Although Taiga has admitted to struggles with gambling, he has never confirmed any involvement in match-fixing.

Documentary exposing Taiga’s crimes

Further compounding Taiga’s troubles, a documentary released by Russian YouTuber Morf-Designer on April 5 delved into specific instances of match-fixing during his active days with OG.

The video highlighted several matches where Taiga is accused of intentionally losing “First Bloods” and manipulating total kill counts to benefit the gambling mafia. The voice in the video, bearing a heavy resemblance to Taiga’s, can be heard discussing his actions in real-time, aligning his gameplay with the directives of a gambling syndicate.

Implications for Taiga’s Professional Dota 2 career

The future looks grim for Taiga in professional Dota 2 after the match-fixing allegations. Although Valve and tournament organizers have yet to formally respond, there is a strong push within the community for a definitive end to his career to set an example.

Given the gravity of the allegations and the apparent evidence supporting them, a lifetime ban from both Valve-sanctioned and third-party Dota 2 tournaments seems justified. This situation is particularly disheartening for fans and former teammates, especially those from OG, who must grapple with the disappointment and betrayal of seeing a once-celebrated player involved in one of the worst forms of crimes in esports.