The Meaning of 322 in Dota 2
In Dota 2, like many other multiplayer games, there is a unique language used by players. One term that is frequently used is “322.” This term refers to throwing a match through questionable decisions and plays. It is used when a player or team loses a significant lead in a game due to unexpected and uncharacteristic plays. The number 322 can also be multiplied by two or three, resulting in more advanced versions like 644 and 966.
The Origin of 322 in Dota 2
The term 322 originated from a match-fixing scandal that occurred in Dota 2 in 2013. The scandal involved a Russian team called RoX.KiS who were playing against a weaker opponent called zRage in a StarLadder match. Many fans predicted that RoX would win, and betting sites even offered 3.22 odds for zRage defeating RoX. However, RoX started making questionable plays, which led to zRage winning the match.
After the match, it was discovered that a RoX player named Alexey “Solo” Berezin had placed a $100 bet on zRage winning against his own team. He earned a total of $322 from this bet, which became a timeless meme within the Dota 2 community.
The Aftermath of the 322 Incident
At the time of the 322 incident in 2013, Valve had limited involvement in the Dota 2 competitive scene. They primarily handled The International, while third-party organizers managed most of the other tournaments. Solo, the player involved in the incident, initially received a lifetime ban from participating in StarLadder tournaments. However, the ban was later reduced to one year. Solo went on to have a successful career, earning over $1.8 million in winnings.
This incident marked the last time a match-fixing player received a lenient punishment. With Valve becoming more involved in the competitive scene, punishments for match-fixing became more severe.
In 2014, a team called Arrow Gaming from Southeast Asia was caught fixing matches and received a lifetime ban from Valve events, effectively ending their career.
In 2020, another notable 322 incident occurred involving the legendary organization Newbee. They were caught match-fixing in a StarLadder tournament in China. The players involved, including former TI winners, received lifetime bans from Valve events.
More recently, in 2022, Team Orca was disqualified from the DPC SEA 2021/22 season for having players from their sister team play for them. The players involved, including Cheng “vtFαded” Jia Hao and Lai “AhJit” Jay Son, received lifetime bans from Valve events.
If you happen to throw your team’s lead in a pub match with questionable plays, you may be called out for your 322-like behavior. However, unless you’re betting rare items on the enemy team, you shouldn’t receive a lifetime ban from Valve.