Russian esports team disqualified from Dota tournament for "Z" symbol
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The Russian Dota 2 esports team Virtus.pro, also known as Outsiders, was disqualified on Saturday when a player drew the letter "Z," which is connected on the mini-map during a Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) match, according to the tournament's organizer.
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Player Ivan "Pure" Moskalenko
The Russian Dota 2 esports team Virtus.pro, also known as Outsiders, was disqualified on Saturday when a player drew the letter "Z," widely seen as a symbol of Russia's military operation in Ukraine, on the mini-map during a Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) match, according to the tournament's organizer.
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While waiting in the DPC League tournament match against the Mind Games squad on Friday, player Ivan "Pure" Moskalenko drew a sign that looked like the letter "Z" on the mini-map. His buddies drew hastily over the letter.
Beyond the Summit (BTS) posted on social media that "Outsiders is disqualified from the DPC EEU Tour 2 Regional Playoffs. Mind Games will receive a retroactive forfeit win for their match earlier today. All future matches Outsiders would have played are forfeit as well."
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Following the disqualification, the losing Mind Games team was awarded a technical victory.
Moskalenko stated on the Virtus.pro-social media website that he did not want to insult anybody and that the incident was an accident. Virtus.pro has canceled the e-contract with the e-athlete.
