Dendi lost DPC slot. B8 incident and the imperfection of the system
Author: Hawk Live LLC
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What happened in B8, why Danil «Dendi» Ishutin was kicked from the roster and how the team's DPC slot was lost. Let's look at the situation from both sides and try to understand why Valve did not provide for a similar situation in the Dota Pro Circuit.
DPC season
In the beginning of 2021, Dendi is assembling a B8 roster with three Brazilian players: RdO, Sexyfat and Duster. But they could not play well in the lower division of the CIS. Last place and elimination. Then were changes in the team, the Brazilians left and the roster was not even completed.
Then Dendi came up with what seemed like an ingenious plan. The XactJlepbI team remained in the lower division and still had a slot. A merger took place, as a result of which B8 were able to stay in the DPC again and completed their roster.
The DPC slot also provided other opportunities: the creation of team bundles, guaranteed prize money and participation in regional qualifiers for TI10. But in fact, the slot belonged to the manager XactJlepbI, who joined the new team together with Alexander «NoFear» Churochkin. After failing in qualifiers for The International 10, NoFear left the team.
The slot was lost
On October 24, the organization moved watson, Limitless and [T]SA to the reserve. In fact, this means that they were kicked. Everyone is waiting for changes from the legendary player.
But, completely unexpected for everyone, Dendi was kicked from roster. The organization explained that this situation was due to a disagreement with the owner of the DPC slot. Yes, the person who registered the slot for XactJlepbI team earlier this year.
Dendi explain
Dendi explained the situation in details on his Telegram channel:
Before the start of the second season, we parted ways with the Brazilians, after which we began to assemble the roster and invited NoFear to the team.
Initially, our formed roster did not have any guarantee on the slot and every day we expected a response from official sources, preparing in advance to get together for the bootcamp and play open-quarters. At that time, more than 2 people each changed in B8 and XactJlepbI (from which NoFear and their manager Tony, to whom the slot was technically registered), and there was a mess with the rules. As a result, by the decision of the admins, we ended up in the second division without qualifications.
Together we played in B8 for the entire second season and the qualifiers for TI, but did not show high results. At the same time, thanks to the hard work of the team and organization, we have retained a slot for the next season in the second division.
After the formation of the roster, Tony showed a desire to help the team, taking on some of the managerial responsibilities - such as finding a CW match, etc.
After some time, Tony began asking for payment for the work done, despite the fact that he initially offered help for free. Tony was offered a full-time job at B8, but he turned it down. Then the conversation turned into this direction: B8, in a gentlemanly way, pays Tony monetary compensation for his involvement and agrees that he, as the owner of the slot, undertakes to use the slot in the interests of B8. As a result, the organization settled with Tony, he confirmed in writing that the slot would be used only in the interests of B8, but he violated the agreement.
We can talk about the merit of Tony or NoFear to be in the second division of the second DPC season, thanks to the saved XactJlepbI slot, but it was through the joint efforts of the team and the B8 organization (including the organization of bootcamps, training process, salary, etc.) that we got the result that saved the slot B8 in the second division next season.
The DPC team registration system is designed in such a way that technically the person who registered the slot can kick anyone at any time. In our case, there were agreements with this person that he completely violated.
We are working on a new roster and are ready to play open qualifiers, but the community and Valve should be aware that the system is imperfect and the rules need to be improved. certain people, guided by personal or other goals, may take the credit of teams and organizations for their own benefit.
Slot owner response
However, the former team manager, tony, wrote his point of view on this situation and explained why this happened:
It all started in the spring when the first season of the DPC ended. From XactJlepbI team, I, NoFear and Watson remained. Then Dandi contacted NoFear and invited the guys to play in B8. For the XactJlepbI, this meant that there would be a salary, bootcamps, an organization. For B8, this meant that they would be able to play in the DPC league (they lost their slot and made a complete disband), they would be able to play quals for TI, and they would be able to profit from the team bundle (for some reason everyone forgets about this, and this is a lot of money)... Everyone was happy, including me, because they made it clear to me that the salary would be mine too. A month passes, the players receive their first salary. I am not getting anything. To my questions, they answer me that there is no money, and in general we have not agreed on anything. Here I admit my mistake, I should have achieved clearer agreements. But I'm a simple hard worker, I'm used to the fact that when I come to the employer, the initiative in discussing conditions, paperwork, etc. comes from him. And I certainly do not expect that the employer will simply keep silent aside, hoping that I will work for free.
Turns out the B8 was in financial trouble. Moreover, there were no clear and written agreements within the organization. In fact, the manager agreed that as long as the organization does not have sponsors and additional funding, then he works virtually for free. For him, it was primarily experience and hope for the future. As a result, both parties were able to agree on the payment of 5% of the prize money for the slot.
Over time, B8 had money, they began to form teams in other disciplines and look for people to work with. At the same time, the owner of the slot was remembered only after NoFear left.
After NoFear was kicked, the organization sharply recalled my existence, began to write and call, ask about my opinion about the fate of the squad, and make plans for further cooperation.
We agreed that I would stay with the B8 and that we would use the DPC slot for the benefit of the team. It was then that I was paid some money for the first time - $700. It was the promised percentage of the prize money, the promised salary, the promised bonus for helping with the CS roster.
Tony said that in addition to not paying the money he owes, the organization has stated that it does not need him:
After that, B8 said they no longer needed my services. And finally, they obliged me to teach everything to their new manager. Because, according to them, it is a common practice at work - an old employee turns things over to a new one. So I was still an employee or a free slave? And all this against the background of the fact that they promised me a job and made some kind of joint plans while they needed a slot. But as soon as they received from me a formal consent not to pass it on to anyone, I suddenly became unnecessary again.
According to the manager, the players did not want to play with Dendi anymore, for which they were actually kicked. After that, tony himself kicked the legendary player from his own team, turn back the DPC slot.
Dendi's comment
To this Danil Ishutin replied that in fact there was a agreement, but the manager violated it:
I saw Tony's answer, and in his blog he only confirmed the essence of my previous post - he agreed to use the slot only in the interests of B8, but in the end, having received the agreed payment for his work, he simply violated the agreement. It is obvious from the text that the slot is assessed as personal an attribute that you want to use more financially.
The player noted that this happened due to the imperfection of the DPC system:
I can only reiterate my conclusion that the rules of the DPC system are imperfect and without their revision such situations may arise in the future.
Previous incidents
Valve's Dota Pro Circuit rules are imperfect. However, they can be understood, because they tried to somehow fix possible problems with a lot of teams without organization in the system.
The first problems began in North America, where the number of rosters without organizations, due to capital outflow during the COVID-19 period, was the largest.
The first to raise the problem was EternaLEnVy, who, due to conflict with the owner of the DPC slot Black N Yellow, could not rebuild the roster, and as a result, the team was disbunded. But despite the conflict, both sides agreed that the rules for owning a DPC slot are strange and require changes.
EternaLEnVy:
But although we have 3/5 members of BnY we will be unable to compete as Zero holds the "ownership" of the team.
I find it bullshit that a player has 'ownership" of a team just because they did the sign up. As I'm writing this he has removed me from the BnY roster as well I have not left.
Zero:
This is a shitty situation for everyone involved. I do find the "ownership" vs 3/5 situation a little strange and should be further looked at from Valve but I think they were expecting teams to have amicable relationships. I do not wish to be in this situation. I am not holding the slot hostage, I refuse to give it to EE after what he has done to the team. I have removed EE from the BnY team because I do not wish to further negotiate with his antics.
Resume
Ofc, the case with B8 once again confirms the existence of a serious problem in the rules of DPC slot ownership. Unfortunately, teams and organizations do not have a legal guarantee in such a case that this will not happen again with them due to internal conflict.
After all, if you imagine, then in theory this can happen with any top team. After all, the slot is assigned to a specific person, and you need to negotiate with him.
As for the incident with B8, there is a carefree attitude towards both the person and the legal aspect. Summary:
- the manager took what belonged to him by the rules
- B8 and Dendi will play open qualifiers as they should
- three players were left without a team
Hopefully Valve will pay attention to this situation. The new season of Dota Pro Circuit and changes in the rules by Valve will be announced soon. The developers hoped that the players and managers within the teams themselves would be able to resolve all issues. After all, it is impossible to legally assign a slot to absolutely the entire team. But even one person, as it turned out, decides too much. Now the need to change the rules of DPC slot ownership and regulate such problems is more urgent than ever.
