Similar to the Solo situation, Taiga becomes synonymous with 322 memes
If you're a regular viewer of professional Dota 2 matches, you've likely seen a surge in chat messages spamming Taiga's name lately. For those out of the loop, Tommy "Taiga" Le, a well-known Dota 2 pro player, finds himself embroiled in match-fixing allegations. The Norwegian, once part of OG Esports, now serves as the new emblem of match-fixing, colloquially referred to as 322 in Dota 2 slang.
What is 322 in Dota 2?
Ever witnessed a team making catastrophically bad decisions, only for a chat to erupt with "322"? If you're puzzled, we'll clarify its meaning and origin.
A Fresh 322 Meme - Taiga Linked to Match-Fixing
Recently, a prominent Russian content creator known as morphine released a 30-minute video presenting his personal investigation into Taiga. The video compiled audio recordings, Discord messages, payment receipts, and various evidence implicating Taiga in match-fixing incidents during his tenure with OG. (For a detailed breakdown of Taiga's 322 case, refer below.)
The evidence showcased in morphine's investigation is damning, although it awaits official validation. Nevertheless, professional players and community members alike have expressed disappointment in Taiga. Consequently, Taiga's name has inundated Dota 2 streams.
Chat users mention Taiga whenever a team makes a questionable play or throws a match. Phrases like "Taiga moment," "Taiga has joined the game," or "TaiBet" are commonplace, insinuating suspicions of match-fixing.
Other Players Associated with the 322 Label
This pattern mirrors previous instances of match-fixing or account-sharing scandals. The earliest notorious case involved Russian player Alexey "Solo" Berezin, who placed bets on his own matches, earning $322 and coining the term. Solo's name was long linked with match-fixing, akin to Taiga's current predicament.
In March 2022, Malaysian pub star Cheng "vtFαded" Jia Hao was caught sharing accounts during an official Dota Pro Circuit tournament. He subsequently became the subject of account-sharing scandals, with Dota 2 chat users joking about him logging into players' accounts mid-match.
As of now, OG is the only entity to respond to the newly surfaced evidence against Taiga. Apart from that, Taiga himself and his current organization, LEVIATAN, have remained silent. We'll provide further updates on the Taiga 322 case as more information emerges.