PSG.LGD Faces Penalties in Dota 2’s The International 11
PSG.LGD, the favorites to win Dota 2’s The International 11, have found themselves in trouble with Valve due to a failure to report a positive COVID-19 case within their organization. Surprisingly, it wasn’t their coach or players who tested positive, but their general manager, Pan Fei, who immediately went into self-isolation after testing positive on Oct. 16.
PSG.LGD’s mistake was not reporting the positive case promptly because Fei wasn’t listed as an official attendee. It was an oversight that was only discovered later, but by then, the damage had been done.
As a result of their negligence, Valve has revoked PSG.LGD’s right to have priority selection between Radiant or Dire in their upcoming series against RNG. This loss could prove costly in the group stages, especially considering the impressive performance of their Chinese rivals. Currently, PSG.LGD holds the third spot in Group A, with six wins and four losses, while Royal Never Give Up sits at the top with nine wins and one loss.
This upcoming series becomes crucial for PSG.LGD’s chances to secure an upper bracket spot.
Furthermore, PSG.LGD will not be granted any reserve draft time against BOOM and Gaimin Gladiators. While still considered the favorites in these matches, this penalty could significantly disrupt their strategy.
Luckily, no other attendees of The International 11 tested positive for COVID-19. If it had been one of the players, PSG.LGD would have faced the challenge of finding a replacement. However, it remains to be seen how these penalties will affect their performance today, if at all.
Dota 2 is a game where every small advantage matters.
Therefore, even the slightest penalties in TI11 can have significant consequences.
PSG.LGD, Dota 2, The International 11, Valve, COVID-19, penalties, Radiant, Dire, RNG, Group A, upper bracket, reserve draft time, rivalry, performance.