Image: Valve Software
Match-fixing remains a problem in the Dota 2 esports scene even in 2025.
Match-fixing has already cast a shadow over the Dota 2 scene to start off the new year. PGL, one of the most prolific and influential tournament organisers in Dota 2, announced on Wednesday (January 8) that they have banned five players for their involvement in match-fixing.
The players named in the announcement are Cloud (KK), Muhammad “high_shaggy” Ghaznavi (Saadman01), Sonic, ValOdbka, and Dmytro (Logan). While PGL provided no further details about the case, we do know that these players heavily participated in North American competitions.
Who are the banned players?
The recently banned Dota 2 players by PGL are tier-3 and lower competitors, with limited information about their identities available online.
Among the group, one of the more recognizable names is Sonic, who competed with Fart Studios in the North American DPC during 2022. He played alongside well-known Dota 2 personalities, BSJ and Jenkins.
Another banned player, high_shaggy, also known as Saadman01, is a Canadian-Pakistani player who previously played for Arkosh Gaming, a team created by popular host, Jake “SirActionSlacks” Kanner. His ban comes as no surprise, given his notorious admission to match-fixing in 2024.
ClouD, who occasionally goes by the alias KK, is an American-Chinese player known for competing in tournament qualifiers and former Dota Pro Circuit divisions. Similarly, ValOdbka is a regular in the North American Dota 2 scene, although he resides in Ukraine. Finally, Dmytro, also known as Logan, is believed to have played with the North American team TiltedBoys, but very little information is available about him.
High_shaggy responds to the ban
While most of the banned players have remained publicly silent following PGL’s announcement, high_shaggy responded with a bold and provocative statement, saying, “Only 5? I have more names I can give.”
Previously known by the pseudonym Canus Vulpus, high_shaggy also reposted a comment that read, “You forgot shaggy’s win-trading buddy bgod,” referring to Brayden "bgod" Murphy, who most recently played for the North American team The Cut.
As of now, PGL and other relevant parties have not disclosed further details about the case or the specific offenses committed by the banned players.
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