“*** [Damn], one of my favorite players”—the Russian-speaking community on TaiLung’s ban by PGL
The Dota 2 community has been discussing the controversy surrounding LGD Gaming midlaner Santiago Gustavo “TaiLung” Olivosa Agüero, whom PGL has barred from participating in The International 2026 and banned for life from competing in its tournaments. Russian-speaking players, commentators, and analysts shared their opinions on the incident.
Quotes are reproduced with the source’s spelling and punctuation intact
Former Team Spirit player Bogdan “Iceberg” Vasilenko expressed shock and disappointment over the actions of one of his favorite players:
I’m *** [horrified], what? I wake up, and TaiLung got disqualified at PGL for “322,” what? <…> TaiLung, come on, you’re *** [just a kid], *** [damn], you’ve got such… You play well, so *** [why]? *** [Damn], he’s one of my favorite players. ...> Where did you guys get your brains? Where were you when they were handing out brains? Were you watching anime at that moment? *** [Horrible], that’s upsetting.
Former esports coach Timur “Ahilles” Kulmukhambetov recalled suspicious matches involving the player and urged young esports athletes not to repeat his mistakes:
Taylung’s most “memorable” performance this year came at DreamLeague Season 29—
right after they had become Ex-Heroic.
They had a substitute offlaner, Batyuk.
Aside from their simply abysmal performance, there were also HUGE wagers placed on Heroic’s defeat at this tournament.
It’s
all very sad. A young and promising talent from his region turned out to be a 322 idiot.
A lesson for everyone (MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO LAST A LIFETIME IN JUST ONE TOURNAMENT, YAY!)
Don’t get involved in this mess. Either your conscience will eat away at you, or you’ll get exposed and punished
Commentator Nikita “4ce” Kotkov described the situation:
The Great Dragon turned out to be a rotten apple. What a disgrace.
Analyst Kirill “Sunlight” Kachinsky briefly commented on the news:
That’s brutal.
Analyst and commentator Vladislav “BLACKARXANGEL” Ivashchenko noted that the lifetime ban explains the sharp decline in LGD Gaming’s mid laner’s performance:
Tailung was banned for 322
It’s heartbreaking, of course))) but now I understand why the young player started performing poorly in so many games.
Analyst Khaled “sQreen” El-Habbash is upset by the young talent’s actions:
Tailung banned for 322
He’s one of the few high-level new players to emerge on the pro scene
in recent years. It’s sad
Commentator Daria “Eiritel” Morozova pointed out the timing of the ban right before the biggest tournament of the year:
An interesting start. LGD’s mid laner is being permanently banned for 322 right on the eve of TI
Commentator Dmitry “CrystalMay” Korchevinin compared the esports player’s achievements at such a young age to his own teenage years:
TaiLung from [LGD Gaming]
has earned himself a permanent ban from PGL at age 17. When I was 17, I was running from the police for tagging behind some garages before an Amatori concert. But Tai has already managed to start—and end—his career
Former Tundra Esports and Gaimin Gladiators player Anton “dyrachyo” Shkredov condemned the actions of Santiago Gustavo “TaiLung” Olivio Agüero:
You’ve really got to screw things up that badly)) Maybe at least he made some decent cash out of it
But seriously, the guy just isn’t all there
Earlier, former OG Dota 2 coach Mikhail “Misha” Agatov commented on Santiago Gustavo “TaiLung” Olivio Agüero’s suspension from The International 2026: “Dota 2 will die faster from ‘322’ than from a lack of updates.”
Photo — Esports Foundation.
