Dota 2 fans are questioning ESL’s decision to disqualify NAVI Junior for exploiting the smoke bug. They point out that other teams, notably Team Spirit and Tundra Esports, reportedly used the same exploit without facing similar consequences. This has sparked debate among the community over whether ESL is being inconsistent in its approach to bug abuse. For further news surrounding Dota 2, click here.
What is the Smoke Bug and How Does It Work?
The smoke bug abuse allows players to detect if an enemy has used a Smoke of Deceit by using the Alt + Right-click hotkeys and hovering over the opponent’s inventory. If the item has been used, there’s no pop-up message, allowing the player to safely avoid any enemy ganks. When replays from NAVI Junior’s match against AVULUS showed evidence of this exploit, ESL quickly disqualified NAVI Junior from ESL One Raleigh 2025. While many fans agree with the penalty for NAVI Junior, the issue becomes controversial as other teams, including Tundra Esports and Team Spirit, have also been caught using the same exploit without facing any repercussions.
Tundra Esports and Team Spirit’s Involvement
Following NAVI Junior’s disqualification, clips of Tundra Esports and Team Spirit also using the smoke bug emerged. Fans are now calling on ESL to take similar action against these teams, questioning the fairness of the decision. With multiple teams exploiting the same bug, ESL faces a dilemma: either disqualify the other teams involved or reconsider their decision on NAVI Junior. Since AVULUS, the runner-up, has already been invited to replace NAVI Junior, it’s unlikely that the disqualification will be reversed.
Was ESL Unaware of the Smoke Bug?
It seems that ESL was not aware of the smoke bug until clips surfaced on Dota 2 Reddit, which suggests that ESL may not have warned teams about the exploit. This raises questions about whether the disqualification of NAVI Junior was hasty and premature.
The Future of Tundra Esports and Team Spirit
Given the growing pressure from fans and the potential damage to ESL’s credibility, it’s likely that Team Spirit and Tundra Esports will face penalties for their involvement in the bug abuse. Failure to take action could result in accusations of favoritism, particularly towards top-tier teams like Team Spirit and Tundra Esports. This wouldn’t be the first time ESL has disqualified a team, as they previously removed a team for using a ringer during closed qualifiers for ESL One Raleigh 2025.
This disqualification is a setback for NAVI Junior, particularly for a rising team eager to make a mark in the competitive scene. While only NAVI’s captain, Stanislav “Riddys” Mitroshkyn, was responsible for the exploit, the disqualification impacted the entire team, derailing their debut at such a significant event.
