In a shocking disclosure, accusations of match-fixing have surfaced within the core of the Chinese Dota 2 community, specifically pointing fingers at team Holy Grail during The International 2023 (TI12) China Qualifier. Well-known Bilibili content creator Jie Chu Ge, who played a pivotal role in uncovering the misdeeds of Knights in the past, has unveiled a video presenting compelling evidence against Holy Grail. The video also raises suspicions of potential involvement by Team Bright and Team Disillusion (now Dark Horse).

Jie Chu Ge's evidence encompassed recorded voice communications of Holy Grail players during the TI12 China Qualifier, unveiling their purported engagement in match-fixing. The recordings exposed conversations among Holy Grail players discussing specific in-game maneuvers, including intentionally losing at the 35th minute mark, as well as the allocation of betting payouts among team members and management.

List of possibly involved players

▪️ “Summer”(Holy Grail)

▪️ “GaN–” (Holy Grail)

▪️ “dolem” (Holy Grail)

▪️ “Dqq”  (Holy Grail)

▪️ “sj” (Holy Grail)

▪️ “L’enfer, c’est les autres” (Team Disillusion)

▪️ “Eren” (Team Disillusion)

▪️ “Small.Kk” (Team Disillusion)

▪️ “AYuNiD” Team Disillusion)

▪️ “RanFuDao” (Team Disillusion)

▪️ “Undyne_” (Team Bright)

▪️ “Upon a Time.” (Team Bright)

▪️ “phoenix” Team Bright)

▪️ “Irving” (Team Bright)

▪️ “imitator” (Team Bright)

Jie Chu Ge's video methodically analyzed moments from the TI12 qualifier matches, raising questions about the authenticity of Holy Grail's gameplay. Particularly noteworthy was the 36-minute mark, where Holy Grail, despite holding a significant 12K gold advantage, made a perplexing choice to contest Roshan instead of pushing the high ground with the creeps. This decision resulted in Holy Grail squandering its lead and ultimately facing defeat. These seemingly illogical moves, coupled with other disclosures in the video, have heightened suspicions and triggered a more thorough investigation into the conduct of all three implicated teams.

Significantly, the recordings indicated potential threats against Jie Chu Ge, should the revelations about match-fixing come to the forefront. Holy Grail's players deliberated on possible retaliatory measures, including threats to the content creator's life, should their illicit activities be exposed.

Team Bright and Team Disillusion (now Dark Horse) are also entangled in the controversy, hinting at a potential partnership to influence matches for betting motives. In an effort to unveil the truth, Jie Chu Ge has reported these discoveries to Perfect World, ESL, and Valve, instigating inquiries into the situation.

The Chinese Dota 2 scene has witnessed a surge in match-fixing allegations and incidents over the past few years. Notably, in 2020, the TI4 champion, Newbee, and its roster faced blacklisting from Chinese Dota 2 competitions by entities such as CDA, ImbaTV, and MarsTV due to alleged match-fixing in various tournaments.

Similarly, at the Lima Major 2023, the Chinese Dota 2 squad Knights faced accusations of match-fixing, and this wasn't the team's first involvement in such allegations. Following Knights' series against Geek Slate and Entity in the Major, which displayed rather unusual odds, social media buzzed with discussions about the suspected match-fixing.

Due to these infractions, in March 2023, Perfect World, the Chinese Dota 2 Pro Circuit (DPC) organizer, declared the expulsion of five Dota 2 teams from the DPC China 2023 Tour 2: Division I and II. The excluded teams comprised professionals who were already barred from Valve tournaments for "esports integrity violations." The affected teams encompassed Antarctic Penguins (formerly Knights), EHOME, Solitude (formerly Dawn Gaming), Kylin Esports Club (formerly LBZS), and Team Mystique.

Match-fixing remains a critical issue in Dota 2 esports, and the community awaits the outcomes of the investigations by tournament organizers and game developers. The integrity of competitive gaming is paramount, and swift and decisive actions are essential to maintain the trust of players and fans alike.