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The Dota 2 community woke up to a bombshell this week: Gaimin Gladiators will not be competing at The International 2025 (TI14). Valve confirmed the withdrawal in an official statement, citing contractual disputes between the players and the organisation. Now, just weeks before the biggest tournament in the esport, Valve is scrambling to find a replacement team.

“Internal Matters” and Legal Talk

The news was backed up by Gaimin Gladiators’ co-founder and president, Nick Cuccovillo, who shared on social media that “some internal matters between the players and the organisation made it impossible for us to move forward with a roster.” He added that legal considerations are currently preventing him from sharing more details.

That explanation didn’t exactly sit well with the community. Fans were quick to speculate, with some suggesting the dispute was tied to how the team’s cut of TI’s prize pool would be split. One fan bluntly replied: “Just say the organisation wanted a good chunk of TI14’s prize money from players, so we can move on.” Another chimed in saying, “Legal considerations? That’s just funny.”

While nothing has been confirmed, the timing of the announcement has only added fuel to the fire. Just hours before Valve’s update, Gaimin Gladiators themselves had posted a countdown to TI14, making the sudden withdrawal even more shocking.

A Rare Situation in TI History

Withdrawals like this are almost unheard of at The International. In fact, this is only the second time in the tournament’s 14-year history that a qualified team has pulled out this late. The first happened way back in 2012 at TI2, when Malaysian side MUFC couldn’t attend due to last-minute visa issues. Valve ended up holding a best-of-five playoff between mousesports and World Elite to fill the slot.

What Valve plans to do this year remains unclear. They could turn to the Dota Pro Circuit standings and invite the next team in line, or they may extend a direct invitation to a squad that narrowly missed qualification. Either way, the replacement announcement will have to come soon, with TI14 fast approaching.

From Dominance to Uncertainty

The situation is even more jarring when you look at Gaimin Gladiators’ recent history. Since signing most of their current roster in 2022, the team has been nothing short of dominant. They became the first squad since OG (2016–2017) to win three Majors in a row, lifting the Lima, Berlin, and Bali Major trophies in 2023.

In 2024, they added the Riyadh Masters title to their resume and secured back-to-back runner-up finishes at TI 2023 and TI 2024. Across the past three years, the Gladiators cemented themselves as one of the most decorated teams in Dota 2 history, raking in millions in prize money and building a reputation as a powerhouse.

Now, all of that feels like it’s hanging in the balance. With legal disputes ongoing and their TI dreams cut short, the future of the roster is suddenly uncertain.

What’s Next?

For now, fans are left waiting, for both Valve’s announcement on who will replace Gaimin Gladiators at TI14, and for clarity around what really went down between the team and its organisation.

Until then, the Dota 2 community is buzzing with speculation, frustration, and disbelief. TI is famous for drama, but this year, it feels like the fireworks started before the first draft screen even loaded.