Dota 2 Battle Report: This Week's Tournament Moves, Community Drama, and Historic Milestones

The Dota 2 competitive scene delivered its usual mix of tournament shuffles, personal drama, historic milestones, and roster changes this week. From last-minute tournament replacements in China to relationship controversies in Peru, and from prize pool history being rewritten to VAC bans causing brief panic, the week had something for every type of Dota fan.

XG Steps In for Aurora at PGL Wallachia Season 6

Via X

Xtreme Gaming announced on October 26 that they would replace Aurora Gaming in the upcoming PGL Wallachia Season 6 tournament. The Chinese organization confirmed the roster change through their official social media channels, giving them limited preparation time for the event.

The replacement comes at a critical juncture in the competitive season, with regional qualifying points and tournament experience both at stake. XG's squad will need to adapt quickly to the tournament format and opposition, though their recent form suggests they're capable of making an impact despite the short notice.

Tournament organizers have yet to comment on what led to Aurora's withdrawal, but last-minute roster changes have become increasingly common as teams navigate scheduling conflicts and player availability issues across the packed Dota 2 calendar.

Peruvian Dota Drama Reaches Television

The Peruvian Dota 2 scene found itself at the center of an extraordinary real-life drama on October 27 when professional player Stinger appeared on a televised talk show to discuss a paternity dispute involving fellow player Pakaz. The interview revealed that Stinger had believed he was the father of a child who was actually fathered by Pakaz, bringing years of personal conflict into the public eye.

The situation escalated when Monkeys Forever revealed details during a Twitch stream after Stinger allegedly griefed one of his ranked games playing Nature's Prophet. The clip quickly spread through the Dota 2 community, with players and fans weighing in on both the personal drama and its impact on the competitive scene.

The interview itself provided context for longstanding tensions within the Peruvian competitive community, where personal relationships and professional rivalries often intersect. While the talk show format might seem unusual for esports discourse, it reflects the mainstream cultural presence that Dota 2 has achieved in Peru's gaming landscape.

Community reactions ranged from supportive to critical, with many questioning whether personal matters should be aired so publicly. The incident highlights how the boundaries between professional competition and personal life can blur in tight-knit regional scenes, particularly when social media and streaming platforms amplify every conflict.

League of Legends Surpasses The International Prize Pool

In a historic shift for competitive gaming, the 2025 League of Legends World Championship prize pool exceeded that of Dota 2's The International for the first time ever.

The milestone represents a significant change in the MOBA landscape. Since 2013, The International's crowdfunded prize pools have consistently set records for esports payouts, with Valve's model of community contribution through battle pass purchases creating multi-million dollar tournaments that dwarfed other competitive gaming events.

Via Liquipedia

This year's League of Legends World Championship features 17 teams from global regions competing over multiple months for the Summoner's Cup. The tournament's structure and regional representation mirror the international scope that has made both games pillars of the MOBA genre, though their approaches to prize pool funding have differed dramatically.

The shift raises questions about the future of crowdfunded esports tournaments and whether Dota 2's community-driven model will evolve to remain competitive. It also reflects League of Legends' sustained growth and Riot Games' increased investment in their flagship tournament, bringing the two longtime competitors into even closer comparison.

For players and organizations, the change signals a potential reallocation of attention and resources across the MOBA ecosystem. Whether this represents a permanent shift or a temporary fluctuation remains to be seen, but it undeniably marks the end of an era for Dota 2's prize pool dominance.

Malr1ne's Brief VAC Ban Scare

Professional player Malr1ne received a VAC ban on October 29, sending shockwaves through the competitive community before the situation was quickly resolved. The ban appeared on his account, triggering immediate speculation about cheating allegations and potential competitive consequences.

Teammate Skiter posted a humorous "Looking for new midlaner" message during the brief period when the ban was active, displaying the dark comedy that often emerges in stressful esports situations. Other professional players, including AfrOmoush, commented on the situation as the community awaited clarification.

Via X (here, here, and here)

The ban was lifted shortly after, suggesting it was either issued in error or triggered by factors unrelated to actual cheating. Valve's anti-cheat system occasionally produces false positives, though these incidents remain relatively rare and are typically resolved quickly once investigated.

Malr1ne returned to his regular streaming and competitive schedule following the unban, with no official explanation provided by Valve regarding the initial ban's cause. The incident serves as a reminder that even innocent players can face technical or administrative issues that temporarily impact their standing in the community.

OG Disbands Second Roster of the Season

OG announced on October 29 that they were parting ways with their Western European roster, marking the second team disbandment from the organization this season. The official statement thanked the players for their efforts while confirming that OG remains committed to Dota 2 competition.

"After a difficult start to the season, we have made the tough decision to part ways with our current active Dota 2 roster," the organization stated. They emphasized that this decision doesn't signal their exit from Dota 2, adding a cryptic "stay tuned" message that suggests future roster announcements.

Via X

The double disbandment reflects the challenging landscape of competitive Dota 2, where even historically successful organizations struggle to find consistent roster combinations. OG's previous achievements no longer guarantee success in the increasingly competitive and rapidly evolving professional scene.

For the departing players, the announcement creates uncertainty during a critical period of the season when qualifying opportunities and team slots become increasingly scarce. Organizations typically try to complete roster changes before major tournament deadlines, but mid-season changes always carry risks for both teams and individual players.

The Dota 2 community awaits OG's next move, speculating about whether they'll pursue established players, develop new talent, or take an entirely different approach to roster construction. Whatever direction they choose, the organization's commitment to remaining in Dota 2 suggests they believe they can recapture their previous success with the right combination of players and strategy.

Put Your Knowledge to the Test

With roster changes creating uncertainty and tournaments heating up, now is the perfect time to test your understanding of the competitive landscape. Check out our expert esports predictions for detailed match analysis and outcome forecasts, then head over to Pick'ems to lock in your own predictions. Stay informed, stay sharp, and see if you can call the next big upset before it happens.

TL;DR

• XG replaces Aurora at PGL Wallachia Season 6 with short preparation time
• Peruvian pro scene drama goes mainstream with televised paternity dispute
• League of Legends Worlds Championship surpasses TI prize pool for first time in history
• Malr1ne receives and quickly recovers from unexpected VAC ban
• OG disbands Western European roster, promises continued Dota 2 involvement