9 Pandas Penalized at The International 2023

Valve had established specific rules for Dota 2 players competing in The International 2023. However, 9 Pandas learned the hard way that not complying with these regulations can have serious consequences.

Media day is a day before the tournament when all the teams participating in the tournament take turns in front of the camera, participating in activities like Q&A sessions and content creation. The primary purpose of this day is to create content for the tournament that is valuable to the fans.

LGD Gaming at The International 2023 Media Day.
Credits: Valve

Some players took this day as an opportunity to showcase their personalities, but some found it boring because sometimes a photo session could take up to hours. However, for 9Pandas, they were unintentionally late for make-up on one of the media days. Thus, Valve issued them a 110 seconds penalty during the drafting stage for their mistake.

Yes Midone applying Make-up on Media Day. Enjoy.
Credits: Valve

The Consequences

Unfortunately for 9 Pandas, their penalty couldn’t come at the worst possible time, as it came into effect in their upper bracket series against LGD Gaming. Had it not been for this penalty, the match could have been a back-and-forth series. Due to being on the back foot during the drafting stage, 9 Pandas had to make hasty decisions.

Despite playing at a disadvantage, the team tried their best and still performed remarkably well. Roman "RAMZES666" Kushnarev played an exceptional Morphling  in the game. However, it was not enough to bring them back from the brink of defeat, as LGD outmanoeuvred them. The results could have had a negative impact on 9 Pandas' morale, as LGD dominated them in game 2, winning with a score of 43-10.

Not A Good Start 

9Pandas did not have a terrific start in The International 2023. However, they made it through the group stages, and at the seeding decider series, they triumphed over their inter-regional rivals, BetBoom Team.

Although this is the first time the team has lost to LGD Gaming, unfortunately, it is not the first time for Roman "RAMZES666" Kushnarev and Alexey "Solo" Berezin. The duo has had a history of losing streaks against LGD on TI's main stage.

This incident highlights the importance of adhering to rules and regulations set by tournament organisers. At The International, where the stakes are high, even a minute mistake can have dire consequences due to the fierce competition it embodies. As such, players must remain vigilant and ensure they follow all the rules to avoid unnecessary penalties and setbacks.

The incident is not the first time Valve has penalised 9 Pandas. At the Summer Tour, the team received a penalty for disrespecting the tournament organisers.

Featured Image Source: Twitter.@GosuGamers

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