Valve steps in to ban Kuku from Chongqing Major

gabhernandez Published 06/12/2018

Valve released their much anticipated decision regarding the Chongqing Major racism drama that has stirred up within the Dota 2 community.

Recently, TNC shed new light regarding Carlo “Kuku” Palad’s alleged ban from the event. The SEA organization received sympathy from the Dota 2 community and from some Dota 2 personalities for the seemingly unfair terms imposed on TNC by tournament organizers in China.

In a Twitter post, TNC outlined the consequences should Kuku decide to attend the tournament. Dota 2 personalities such as Grant “GranDGranT” Harris, David “GoDz” Parker, Henrik “AdmiralBulldog” Ahnberg, Vitalii Nikolaevich “v1lat” Volochai, and Paul “Redeye” Chaloner pledged not to attend the Major if the ban persisted.

Valve then clarified in their own recent statement that Kuku was not banned by the Chinese government. The developer also explained that they are stepping in directly because TNC mishandled the situation on multiple occasions.

“To be clear, TNC is not the victim in this case. It is not okay to cover up the situation, avoid any real sense of responsibility and then deflect it onto the community,” Valve posted.

As a penalty, Valve has banned Kuku from Chongqing Major and will dock 20% from TNC’s current Dota Pro Circuit points. This means that TNC will have a stand-in for Chongqing Major and Kuku can return for the next DPC tournaments.

With the saga having finally concluded, more questions were raised that went unaddressed by Valve. How truthful is Matthew “Cyborgmatt” Bailey’s original Twitter post confirming the ban from the event? How reliable was SLTV’s information about the consequences if Kuku attended the event? And why haven’t Chongqing Major organizers haven’t released a statement on the situation?

The Dota 2 community has been on a roller coaster ride in the past few days, but Valve’s statement will likely be the last chapter regarding Kuku’s role in this drama.

Read Also

Esports Betting

Heroic Exits Dota 2, and It’s Bad News for the Scene Owen Harsono Norwegian esports organization Heroic has officially called it quits in Dota 2, dropping its roster after two years in the scene. Despite finding relative success, the organization cited financial constraints as the primarily reason for their departure. If a budget-savvy team like Heroic couldn’t make it work, the Dota 2 scene is in big trouble. On May 4, Heroic suddenly announced they’d be pulling the plug on their Dota 2 ...

League of Legends

Playing League of Legends can improve brain function, study finds Khizar Mundia If you have ever found yourself having to defend the countless you spend gaming online then you may now have a ready-made excuse — researchers have just revealed that video games can improve brain function. A team from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China conducted a study comparing League of Legends with Legends of the Three Kingdoms. The study found both improved brain function, with League of ...

Dota 2

Is Dota 2 dying in 2026? Here’s what the numbers really say Ben Boland The question “Is Dota 2 dead?” has been asked by many people over the last couple of years. Since the game’s player base fluctuates and other MOBAs rise in popularity, it’s understandable that some people feel like Dota 2 is dying and its best days are behind it. However, is this really the case? Let’s find out. Once you start looking for some of the best Dota 2 teams or ...

Dota 2

Every Dota 2 International Champion in History: The Complete Winners List Ben Boland If you know a thing or two about esports, “The International” should ring a bell. TI is Dota 2’s yearly tournament and is one of the most prestigious tournament series in all of esports. It’s best known for its million-dollar prize pools, and every edition tells a different story. Below, we list all the winners of Dota 2’s The International. Every year, Valve hosts an iteration of The International, with ...

Kick

ESL FACEIT Group announces Kick partnership, here’s what we know Khizar Mundia ESL FACEIT Group and Kick have signed a partnership that will allow the platform to distribute and broadcast select official CS2 and Dota 2 tournaments. Esports broadcasting rights are an important element for major streaming platforms, as popular tournaments draw millions of viewers. The esports broadcasting network is substantially fragmented as no one platform holds exclusive rights for major tournaments. Kick has been trying to get into the esports scene ...

Dota 2

Best Dota 2 Players in 2026 Owen Harsono In 2026, pro Dota 2 players are on another level, with a bunch of them even passing 17,000 MMR. However, not all of them can prove themselves on the big stage. Below we have ranked the top 10 best Dota 2 players in 2026 who have championship qualities. We have ranked the top 10 Dota 2 players in the world right now. We primarily considered individual skill and overall contribution ...

Dota 2

Best Dota 2 Teams in 2026 Owen Harsono We're currently in one of the most competitive eras in Dota 2, as many teams have the potential to win an event. But, even though the playing field is very even right now, some squads still manage to win out more often than others. Below are the top 10 best Dota 2 teams this year, including details on their recent successes and any question marks that remain. NAVI went for ...