Win.gg
Dota 2
All the problems with Bali Major, from cheating to stream errors All the problems with Bali Major, from cheating to stream errors
Since it began on June 29, 2023, the Bali Major has run into more problems than any major before this year.
2023 has been a rough year for Dota 2 esports fans. Between the
production catastrophes
of the Lima Major, which ultimately ran on
secondhand equipment, and the current issues in Bali, some fans have gone as far as to compare it to the infamously terrible Shanghai Major. While the Bali Major has certainly had its problems, is it really enough to draw that comparison?
Bali Major problems include cheating, stream bugs, and more
The production of the event is the first to come under fire. The stream has bugged out on several occasions, with massive pauses interrupting multiple key matches. Fans have decried the repetitive ads showing everything from luxury Indonesia resorts to gambling sites. The drone flybys were impressive the first time, but the 100th time doesn’t have the same impact.
But the biggest problems of all with the Bali Major were the multiple cheating scandals. The biggest of all was related to the best game of the event so far, with BetBoom grinding out Tundra in over 100 minutes to close their upper bracket series 2-0. However, it was revealed that Ivan “Pure” Moskalenko tabbed out during a lengthy pause to check the stream. This resulted in BetBoom’s win being voided and Tundra getting the win. Tundra was also penalized for a player leaving Spotify open on the tournament PC, taking a draft penalty for its series against Liquid.
And that isn’t even the only cheating problem. In a series between Azure Ray and nouns, the former team stood accused of bug abuse for
clicking on watchers out of the fog
to determine enemy movements. The bug was ruled illegal in between games one and two, leading to massive controversy for flip-flopped enforcement. The bug remains in the game completely unpatched as of the day of the grand finals.
All of these problems combined have made 2023 a rough year for the production quality of Dota 2 majors. Combined with all the mishaps of the Lima Major, it could be argued that this year had the worst average international event quality in history. However,
the Shanghai Major
still likely takes the cake as the worst individual event for its technical nightmares and theft issues.
Read Also
Dota 2
TI15’s opening ceremony weaves a tapestry of emotion for Valve’s storied title
Michael Hassall
The main stage of The International 2026, TI15, kicked off today with the traditional opening ceremony heralding the start of the biggest celebration of Dota 2 on the calendar. On Aug. 20 fans in Shanghai, China, and at home, were treated to a rousing 11-minute series of performances and video packages, introducing TI15’s main stage show. Here’s how the magic unfolded: The ceremony began with a graphic which quite literally ...
Dota 2
The International 2026 (TI15) Playoffs preview and predictions
Michael Hassall
The Group Stage of The International 2026, TI15, is in the books and we’ve whittled down 16 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams to just eight finalists. One of these talented lineups will be the ones lifting the Aegis of Champions come Sunday, Aug. 23, but until then, there’s plenty of playoff shenanigans that could go on. Below we’ve put together a preview of the upcoming Playoff Games, along ...
News
The Esports Nations Cup Has Been Postponed to November 2027
Ben Boland
The 2026 Esports Nations Cup has been suspended until 2027. The Esports Foundation announced the delay on August 18, citing ongoing regional uncertainty. The inaugural competition was scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, comprising over 100 national teams and featuring 16 different games, including League of Legends. According to the Esports Foundation, this decision follows ongoing developments in the region and consultation with key stakeholders. Moving the event ...
Dota 2
Team Spirit vs Iron Wing at TI15: Best Betting Predictions and Picks
Owen Harsono
The playoffs for TI15 starts off with an absolute banger of a match between Team Spirit and Iron Wing, and the betting odds could not be any closer. Here are our TI15 Team Spirit vs Iron Wing predictions. Tournament: The International 2026 (TI15) Stage: Playoffs Game: Dota 2 Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: This is the closest series we have at the first round of the TI15 playoffs, as ...
Dota 2
Who Will Win The International 2026 (TI15)? These Are Our Best Picks
Owen Harsono
The TI15 group stage is over, and we’re down to the top eight teams. We’ve now got a pretty good idea of which teams are the favorites heading into the playoffs based on recent performance and season results, so here are the teams we think have the best shot at winning TI15 and claiming some of The International prize pool. The TI15 group stage saw eight teams exit the event ...
Dota 2
The International 2026 (TI15) Elimination Stage Preview and Predictions
Owen Harsono
The TI15 Group Stage is almost over, and all that’s left is the very deadly Elimination Stage, which will eliminate five teams and allow the five survivors to advance to the playoffs. Below, we’ll walk you through how the Elimination Stage works, the matchups, and our best picks. The Elimination Stage is the final phase of the TI15 Group Stage. The modified Swiss format promotes the top three teams directly ...
Dota 2
Team Spirit vs TEAM VISION at TI15: Best Betting Predictions and Picks
Owen Harsono
We’re two days into TI15, and we have our first significant match of the tournament. Team Spirit will take on TEAM VISION (PARIVISION) for the first playoff spot. Here are our predictions for the big match. Tournament: The International 2026 (TI15) Stage: Group Stage Game: Dota 2 Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: TEAM VISION enter TI15 as the tournament favorites, but Team Spirit are playing under zero pressure at ...
