Parker benched after throwing: Dota 2 drama explained

Heroic star David “Parker” Nicho Flores has benched after an apparent throw in a qualifier match, but that’s just where the drama starts.

Dota 2 fans are no stranger to pro player egos, but the latest incident featuring Heroic’s carry player is an extreme example. During the qualifier for ESL Bangkok, carry Parker appeared to intentionally lose the match during a major team fight. Shortly after the game, Heroic announced he would be benched for the foreseeable future. Amid fan speculation and player accusations, Parker has released his own statements on the incident.

Here’s what both sides had to say about the event that got Parker benched on Heroic.

Did Parker throw in the qualifier for ESL Bangkok?

Parker appeared to throw a massive team fight after buying back in the qualifier for ESL Bangkok, which led to him getting benched.

The incident took place in game five of the grand final of South America’s ESL Bangkok qualifier. In a crucial 46-minute Roshan fight against beastcoast, Parker’s Medusa was caught by an Earth Spirit ultimate, ran out of mana, and died. After a brief delay, he bought back and used Boots of Travel 2 to rejoin the fight.

ESL One Bangkok 2024 Closed Qualifiers – Day 3 – SA

However, instead of finishing Roshan, Parker chose to walk mid and push the wave, removing himself from the fight. This allowed beastcoast to claim Aegis and the eventual win at 50 minutes.

While it does seem that Parker chose to throw the game and subsequently get benched, he claimed he genuinely believed it was the right move. His plan may have been to threaten base, force a TP back, and then use Boots of Travel to rejoin the fight. However, when the rest of Heroic disengaged, that was no longer a possibility.

Parker’s response to getting benched

Parker issued a response through social media after being accused of throwing and getting benched on Heroic.

In his response, Parker listed 10 issues with Heroic that prompted him to play suboptimally in a crucial game. The list included problems with drafting decisions, teammate egos, and work ethic. He called out German transplant Cedric “Davai Lama” Deckmyn for allegedly playing other games during practice sessions. He also accused coach Igor “kaffs” Estevão of taking too much credit for winning drafts and having a poor understanding of matchups.

It is unlikely that Parker will continue to play with Heroic after getting benched. The player has already put out a request for inquiries on his Facebook page. Teams may be hesitant to pick up Parker regardless of his skill after this incident.