Tommy “Taiga” Le, once a rising star in the Dota 2 professional scene, found himself at the center of a major scandal. His recent return to competitive play with Leviatán, following a hiatus prompted by a self-confessed gambling addiction, has been overshadowed by shocking allegations.
Taiga is accused of deliberately throwing matches during his time with the prestigious OG team.
Taiga: Origins of the Scheme
Taiga’s match-fixing activities were exposed by Morf, a prominent Russian Dota 2 content creator known for investigating corruption within the Eastern European scene.
Morf revealed that Taiga, burdened by a gambling addiction, was targeted by Alexander “Sensibility,” a disgraced former pro with ties to the infamous “322 Mafia.”
Their relationship quickly devolved into a sinister scheme, initially focused on “betting by info.” Taiga used his insider knowledge to place bets on fixed match outcomes, profiting alongside Sensibility.
Manipulation and Escalation
Taiga soon started gambling on unrelated events like CS:GO and football, only to incur massive losses and soon enough, Sensibility found a way to exploit this.
Taiga was pressured to provide vital insider information about OG’s strategies and team dynamics. Together, they escalated the scheme to directly betting on OG matches, jeopardizing the integrity of the competitive scene.
This scheme reached its peak during the DPC encounter between OG and Entity. Despite Valve’s zero-tolerance policy for match-fixing, Taiga was manipulated into ensuring OG would secure “first blood” in the match and their plan succeeded.
A Trap of Blackmail and Resistance
Initially, the scheme proved profitable, with Sensibility slowly offsetting the losses Taiga incurred through reckless gambling. Soon, they escalated to betting on every OG match during DreamLeague.
Their first major setback came during the OG series against reigning TI champions Team Spirit. They’d placed a massive bet on OG securing first blood, but Spirit outsmarted them, resulting in a significant loss.
Taiga tried to break free, hoping to compete fairly for a chance to qualify for The Riyadh Masters. This attempt was met with blackmail, trapping him deeper. He was eventually forced to throw the entire final series against Team Liquid.
Taiga: The Fallout
The aftermath of DreamLeague proved devastating for Taiga. Whispers of his involvement in match-fixing intensified after The Berlin Major, ultimately leading to his being benched under the guise of mental health concerns. Though investigated, no definitive conclusions were reached.
In a desperate attempt to break free, Taiga severed ties with Sensibility. However, this act of defiance had consequences. Believed to be working with a different network of match-fixers, Taiga remains entrenched in this illicit world. In retaliation, Sensibility approached Morf, armed with the evidence that led to this shocking exposé.
The Reactions
Taiga’s fall has shattered the trust fans placed in their competitive idols. While some voices rose in condemnation, many were simply at a loss for words.
OG, stained by this scandal, has swiftly distanced themselves from their former player. As the dust settles, the community is wondering: how can they regain faith in the sport they love, and what measures must be taken to stop something like this from happening again?
