On October 17, the biggest tournament in the DOTA 2 scene, The International 10, wrapped up with Team Spirit from the CIS region taking the championship. This marked the first TI title for CIS in 10 years, since Natus Vincere won the very first TI. The runner-up was China’s PSG.LGD.
Right after the event, a drama unexpectedly exploded on Weibo involving PSG.LGD’s coach xiao8. A legendary former DOTA 2 player in China, xiao8 remains an esports icon despite retiring and being involved in past controversies. This time, the accusations come from his ex-wife, his second wife.
According to his ex-wife, xiao8 placed bets on matches involving PSG.LGD and other games. She shared screenshots from a betting group that included xiao8 and some fans. More seriously, she accused him of bringing women home while she was pregnant. She also claimed he had a relationship with a female fan who later suffered from depression and tragically took her own life.
Additionally, she said xiao8 spread false rumors about her in conversations with fans, leading to online harassment against her. His family reportedly prevented her from seeing their child and physically abused her to the point she needed police intervention. She also revealed she suffered from depression and saw a therapist, but was later scolded by xiao8 for it.
Her post includes many screenshots of bets on matches involving PSG.LGD and other teams from an account named “znzn9966,” which she claims belongs to xiao8.
However, this post sparked intense debate among Chinese netizens, with most criticism aimed at the ex-wife. Although she explained she waited to post to avoid affecting PSG.LGD members, some questioned her timing, suggesting she only spoke out because xiao8 just became TI10 runner-up. Others argued the TI10 prize money was enough that xiao8 wouldn’t need to bet. Still, some supported her or called for a thorough investigation. Some even urged her to present the evidence to PSG.LGD and authorities.
“ – Why now? Have you thought about your son?
– How could a coach like xiao8 influence a match to bet on it? Don’t you understand how a team works? The evidence isn’t clear. I believe xiao8 isn’t involved in betting.
– The betting odds and picks were suspicious. He’s had similar drama before. Who’s still defending him?
– You can contact the police, but I doubt PSG.LGD will do anything.
– Why not post recent evidence? These seem old.
– For those asking why only old evidence: they divorced long ago, so how could she have recent proof?”
The evidence from xiao8’s ex-wife seems limited, and it’s unclear if she has more. But one thing is certain: xiao8 is no stranger to drama in the DOTA 2 community. Past controversies involving domestic abuse and betting have already shaken the scene years ago.
If these allegations prove true, it would be a huge blow to Chinese esports, especially DOTA 2, where xiao8 is considered a legend. The scandal could also impact PSG.LGD’s other members, raising concerns about the team’s future, especially if betting involves other players.
