“I’m ready to be banned after this, but at least I will have a clear conscience after coming clean”. Ex-Team Empire carry xannii confesses his guilt in match fixing

Qualifying for The International represents the ultimate proving ground where emerging Dota 2 talents showcase their abilities to secure positions with elite organizations. However, numerous skilled competitors find themselves sidelined during this critical period, unable to participate for various complex reasons that often remain hidden from public view.

We received communication from one such professional, Arslan “xannii” Shadzhanov (alternatively known as ksani or Retrograde), who previously competed with Vega Squadron, Gambit, HellRaisers, VP.Prodigy, and Team Empire. Currently unable to reach that competitive level, he chose to disclose his match manipulation narrative with complete transparency.

This scenario begins with familiar elements frequently recounted by disciplined competitors after receiving sanctions: poor performance streaks combined with financial instability, encountering individuals proposing manipulated outcomes, or simply pursuing effortless earnings. What distinguishes this disclosure from typical post-punishment justifications seeking sympathy is the voluntary nature of his admission before any official penalties were imposed.

I must emphasize from the outset that this publication doesn’t seek validation or compassion. My objective involves straightforward honesty regarding events from twelve months prior, during my tenure with Team Empire in the Lower Division when I opted to participate in match manipulation.

During spring 2022, I competed for NoMonkeyBusiness. Due to global circumstances preventing our participation in EEU qualifiers, our sole competitive opportunity involved D2CL tournaments. We participated without contractual compensation, and numerous team members received propositions regarding match manipulation. This represents a common occurrence within tier-2 competitive circuits. I consistently declined these offers and never contemplated 322 activities. We maintained discussions with specific organizations considering our acquisition contingent upon strong D2CL performances.

Throughout that period, I generated zero professional income. From spring 2021 when we failed to qualify for DPC with VP.Prodigy until summer 2022, I earned nothing through Dota 2. Initially, I obtained loans covering living expenses and housing costs from VP management. Eventually the accumulated debt reached 180k rubles [approximately $2.5-3k based on spring 2022 exchange rates]. Ultimately my family settled this financial obligation.

Given my complete lack of funds, I relocated with relatives. During my NMB participation, I resided with them approximately six months while assuring them I would rapidly regain financial independence. However, as months progressed, I still lacked resources for independent housing or demonstrating I wasn’t simply depending on their support.

When team acquisition discussions failed to materialize, xannii received an invitation to join Empire during mid-May 2022. However, the organization (now defunct) also operated without player salaries. This circumstance represents where the competitor asserts he determined to deliberately lose several matches for Sensibility, a controversial EEU professional previously accused of extortion, intimidation, and harassment beforehand, and already serving competitive restrictions for match manipulation during that timeframe.

Truthfully, this didn’t represent life’s optimal chapter, and my Dota 2 circumstances were equally challenging. I felt dissatisfied with my performance capabilities, competitive outcomes, and my current team situation. I became disillusioned with everything and thought, “Forget everything, I’m abandoning competitive Dota permanently”. Consequently I consented to lose two competitive matches for Sensibility, who had previously messaged me during NMB tenure. He guaranteed payment totaling $4.5k for three game engagements.

The initial manipulated match occurred during D2CL S12 versus YNT on June 15, nearly thirty days following his team integration. They arranged that he would announce “lags” during match commencement, which he executed, presumably as future justification for suboptimal plays. Unfortunately Dota 2 experiences technical failures when attempting to load that replay for performance evaluation. Based on statistical analysis, he didn’t adopt completely passive positioning, engaged in team conflicts and maintained some farming efficiency as Tiny carry position, but Empire failed crucial engagements and permitted opponent momentum accumulation.

The subsequent match transpired the following day. This represented a DPC competition during Tour 3 of the 2021/2022 EEU Season. Xannii simply terminated connection during the second game against HYDRA on June 16 and never reconnected. His squad already eliminated 4 defensive structures and maintained 10k gold advantage with him as Alchemist selection at minute 24. Empire needed to compete 4 versus 5, rapidly surrendered their lead and lost the match.

Immediately the subsequent day Team Empire already competed in D2CL tournaments without xannii, featuring Illidan as substitute player. It appears the competitor expressed remorse regarding disappointing former teammates through those actions.

All professionals recognized Sensibility represents an individual requiring zero communication, yet somehow this awareness didn’t prevent my participation. I executed everything emotionally, resembling juvenile decision-making, without considering team implications or long-term repercussions.

During that period, the roster included 633, Shachlo, squad1x and jAMES. I maintained long-term familiarity with Stas [633] and Maxim [Shachlo], they consistently demonstrated positive treatment, and I simply betrayed them accordingly. Naturally, they possessed sufficient intelligence and comprehended everything, the situation appeared completely evident. After several days I recognized the catastrophic error I committed, but resolution opportunities had expired.

Some duration afterward, Empire management messaged me: “We won’t initiate public controversies, but we’ll compete without your participation”. Following that development I contacted 633 and Shachlo explaining my foolish decisions. During that discussion I lacked appropriate responses, simply repeating apologies, self-criticism, acknowledging the situation’s occurrence. They maintained silence, exerted maximum effort and felt profoundly injured by my conduct. Shachlo instantly removed me from friend listings, for understandable considerations.

Seven days following my Empire dismissal, 633 messaged me proposing qualifier participation for ESL One Malaysia 2022. He expressed sentiments resembling, “I disregard whatever problematic actions you undertook, I still desire competitive collaboration with you”. He maintained such profound belief in my capabilities, but I violated that complete trust. This truly represented irrational behavior.

xannii asserts ultimately for these competitive losses he received $2k compensation, which he “predominantly squandered”, representing his initial earnings during 1.5 years. He additionally mentions these arrangements could’ve implemented more subtle approaches, but doesn’t clarify motivations for his transparency.

He discontinued Dota 2 participation for 60 days without planning competitive return. However eventually he determined he wanted reinstatement. He anticipated recognition through dedicated ranked performance maintenance within top-10 positions, but no Upper Division organizations desired his acquisition. His professional standing already suffered complete deterioration, as the incident circulated through private professional networks. Consequently he joined HF within Lower Division competitions.

When I integrated there, Sensibility initiated extortion attempts, demanding additional match manipulation. Initially I simply disregarded his communications, but he began threatening media exposure and Valve notifications. When he disseminated the narrative, individuals started attributing numerous activities I never performed. HF needed to compensate him $2k for confidentiality. The matter reached resolution, but he derived maximum benefit from the situation.

Subsequently I transferred to iVy [he competed there from March through May 2023], and identical circumstances reoccurred. He resumed messaging me again and threatened management reporting, but I completely ignored his communications. These circumstances generated substantial psychological pressure. I resolved toward complete disclosure.

When I initially shared my Empire activities with another individual, I comprehended how singular negative actions can overshadow all previous accomplishments. Initially I informed Nix regarding these events. During our collaborative play, we believed we maintained perfect synergistic coordination. He invested significantly in my development, we competed together, but outcomes proved unsatisfactory. And when certain specifics emerged through media channels, Jamba, our HellRaisers management representative, also messaged me. Both individuals repeatedly inquired whether I manipulated any matches during HR tenure. These discussions proved extremely uncomfortable. Following these conversations I perceived even personal associates felt disappointment regarding me, and we experienced relationship deterioration.

I sought professional reputation restoration, but received categorization as habitual match manipulator. That genuinely disrupted my psychological stability. But not exclusively that consideration, obviously. Recently I activated Twitch streaming for my associates, and some unidentified individual entered my chat interface initiating inquiries, “What sensations accompany perpetual match manipulation?”. Potentially that development represented the concluding catalyst, prompting my decision toward complete transparency.

The competitor accepts complete responsibility and prepares for potential competitive restrictions, stating that conscience clearance objectives and partial reputation improvement motivations prompted his voluntary narrative disclosure. And it appears he additionally recognized he didn’t represent the quality individual he previously perceived himself as, and believes this potentially explains why certain associates achieved success while he experienced failure.

I don’t desire classification as someone participating in activities I never performed. And if judgment occurs, it should address negative actions I actually committed. I acknowledge I exclusively manipulated those two Empire matches, and I’m prepared for evaluation and appropriate sanctions regarding those events. I maintained zero involvement in remaining incidents. I prefer understanding that team invitation absence results from poor performance capabilities rather than assuming everyone considers me habitual 322 participant. And I’m ready for competitive restrictions following this disclosure, but at minimum I’ll maintain clear conscience after complete transparency.

Certainly, periodically I expressed regret regarding my actions, profoundly so, but regarding other aspects I feel appreciation for occurred developments, regardless whether I receive competitive bans or not. I gained substantial understanding and recognized my capacity for executing actions unethical toward myself and others occasionally. This generates psychological disruption, but simultaneously represents sobering realization. Therefore, examining myself externally, I comprehend why I occupy my current position, while my associates, with whom I initiated professional careers, traverse globally between tournament engagements.

I extend best wishes toward EEU organizations for successful TI participation, and for readers of this material, I wish you existence guided by personal ethics and appreciation for current circumstances. I additionally want extended apologies toward former teammates and everyone I disappointed. I anticipate serving as demonstration regarding improper conduct approaches.

Understanding the complexities of professional gaming requires comprehensive knowledge of competitive structures. For those seeking deeper understanding of organized team frameworks, our Class Guide provides valuable insights into strategic team compositions that can help prevent similar ethical lapses.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides » “I’m ready to be banned after this, but at least I will have a clear conscience after coming clean”. Ex-Team Empire carry xannii confesses his guilt in match fixing Former Dota 2 pro xannii reveals match-fixing confession, consequences, and lessons learned from his career mistakes