One of the memes that is without a doubt among the most well-known in the realm of Dota 2 esports is none other than the infamous 322.
In the first place, the term "322" refers to a scenario in which a team or player performs in a manner that is either disappointing or absurd, even when they were initially in a position to win during a game. This is the same as pointing out that a team is intentionally losing the game, and here is the reason why they are doing so.
Explanation of the 322 Meme in Dota
The 322 meme came into existence as a result of the actions of a professional player in Dota 2 who purposefully lost his match in exchange for a small wager of $322. It is generally agreed that Alexey "Solo" Berezin was the first person to play 322 Dota.
It is essential to point out that Solo only suffered a single defeat throughout the entirety of the sixth season of the StarLadder StarSeries. When RoX.KIS was competing against the stage; he placed a wager against his team, RoX.KIS, which was also competing. As a result, the wager that was worth $322 and that Solo, for some reason, did not end up acquiring became the legendary symbol for the game 322 Dota.
Although StarLadder initially decreed that Solo would be banned for life, the company ultimately decided to shorten the ban to just one year.
A number of players voiced their dissatisfaction with Valve's apparent lack of response to the incident and criticized StarLadder for what they perceived to be its leniency during that time period. Nevertheless, supporters of Solo argued that he did not participate in a sanctioned Valve tournament for Dota 2, thus leaving the decision of his ban severity in the hands of StarLadder.
What Is the Best Way to Incorporate the Dota 322 Meme Into Twitch Chat?
What is still considered off-limits in the world of esports has transformed into a widespread meme that players incessantly share. Today, viewers frequently witness the Twitch chat flooded with "Dota 322" messages whenever a team loses a fight despite having an advantage.
This does not necessarily imply that the teams are actively involved in match-fixing, but it does allude to the possibility of match-fixing. Occasionally, viewers resort to spamming 644, a product of 322 Dota, as a means of expressing their dissatisfaction when the opposing team loses a fight or makes mistakes. Consequently, we now have two different versions of the 644 meme and 322 meme being utilized at the same time.
Regardless, Solo is undeniably one of the fortunate individuals who participated in 322 Dota in Esports, which was not widely discussed at the time. Today, just a few months after the well-known Dota 322 incident, players who imitated the act faced significantly harsh consequences from Valve.
Additional Instances of Dota 322
An infamous incident of Dota 322 that garnered excessive attention in 2014 involved Arrow Gaming's Yi Liong "ddz" Kok and Hsien Wan "Lance" Fua. Synergy League issued a permanent ban to the duo due to their questionable decision-making and feeding despite having an advantage in their match.
The two players initially refuted the Dota 322 allegations on Reddit, posting under the title "I AM DDZ, I am NOT 322".
Additionally, clashes with the team leadership and allegations within the group led to the eventual admission of guilt by both players. Regrettably, Valve has chosen to address this matter with utmost gravity, resulting in a permanent ban from all Valve-sponsored tournaments. This could have serious implications for one's career, as Valve is responsible for overseeing the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC), Majors, and the International Championships.
The impact on the players' professional reputation has resulted in teams being reluctant to recruit them. Furthermore, the remaining members of Arrow Gaming were also subjected to severe implications, yet no concrete evidence was presented to support these claims. The other players did not receive a permanent ban from Valve, but they still encountered the 322 meme in their chat.
322 Is a Significant Number in the Current Dota 2 Scene
Valve and numerous other well-known tournament organizers have unequivocally stated their zero-tolerance policy towards any form of match-fixing or game-throwing. However, despite the passage of time since Valve exposed Arrow Gaming, we still occasionally come across instances where individuals, often from Southeast Asia and South America, are caught in the act.
Merely twelve months ago, Team Orca and Apex faced the consequences of their actions as they were prohibited from participating in DPC 2022 due to their unfortunate entanglement in match-fixing. Notable players in the lineups included Cheng “vtFαded” Jia Hao and Lai “AhJit” Jay Son, who has previously competed in the TI Championships. Omega Esports, a team hailing from the Philippines, had their reputation marred when some of their talented players intentionally lost matches without the knowledge of their management.
Given the ongoing prevalence of match-fixing cases, the number 322 will forever remain a symbol ridiculing these players' foolishness.