TL;DR
- Daxak dropped Urn of Shadows during losing match against PSG.LGD at Riyadh Masters
- Chinese community interprets Urn drops as severe insult involving ‘ashes of parents’
- Player intended strategic buyback play, not cultural offense
- Incident highlights importance of cross-cultural understanding in esports
- Professional players should research regional gaming customs before international events
Games and Esports Articles Dota 2
Tundra’s temporary offlaner Nikia “Daxak” Kuzmin found himself embroiled in significant controversy during the final match of Riyadh Masters tournament. The European squad faced overwhelming odds against powerhouse PSG.LGD, desperately attempting to defend their ancient structure from destruction.
During a critical teamfight engagement, Daxak’s hero was forcibly thrown directly into enemy territory. Just moments before his inevitable elimination, he deliberately placed his Urn of Shadows item on the ground directly in front of the Chinese competitors. Three separate LGD players immediately began spamming pings on the discarded item. While they might have simply been highlighting the unusual action or comprehending Daxak’s tactical thinking, numerous community observers speculated the Chinese professionals could have perceived this as deliberate disrespect.
The controversy stems from deeply rooted cultural interpretations within China’s gaming community. According to established customs among Chinese Dota 2 players, deliberately dropping specific items carries severe symbolic meaning. The Urn of Shadows particularly holds disturbing connotations when intentionally placed before opponents during matches.
Within this cultural framework, the action implies the container holds “parental ashes” of the opposing players, representing one of the most offensive gestures possible in competitive gaming environments. This understanding created immediate tension once Western audiences learned about the cultural significance behind what initially appeared as simple in-game behavior.
After discovering these cultural implications through community feedback, Daxak promptly created an explanatory video for his Telegram channel followers. The recording aimed to clarify his actual intentions and dispel misconceptions about deliberate disrespect toward the Chinese organization.
I intentionally dropped the Urn hoping they would destroy it, enabling my buyback capability. Every teammate can verify I verbally announced this strategy during the match. I placed the Urn anticipating they would break it, but they didn’t take the bait. Sometimes plans simply don’t work out as intended.
Now I must locate someone within their roster who understands English or approach them during fan interaction events to clarify: “I apologize, I cannot control what items other players drop or whether Urns appear randomly. This was purely coincidental from my perspective”.
Nikita indirectly referenced Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf’s trademark celebration. When securing victory, ATF frequently discards Mantles of Intelligence in front of defeated opponents as a signature taunting maneuver.
This incident underscores critical lessons for professional esports athletes competing internationally. Understanding regional gaming customs and symbolic gestures becomes essential for maintaining sportsmanship and preventing unintended diplomatic incidents between competing regions.
Common professional taunting practices vary significantly across different gaming cultures. While Western players often employ quick chat wheel commands or all-chat messages, certain item-related actions carry heavier symbolic weight in Eastern competitive scenes. Professional competitors should research these nuances before participating in cross-regional tournaments to avoid similar misunderstandings.
For players seeking to improve their strategic understanding, our Class Guide offers valuable insights into optimal gameplay decision-making. Similarly, understanding mechanical interactions like those involving Urn of Shadows can be enhanced through our Complete Guide to in-game item management.
Action Checklist
- Research regional gaming customs before international tournaments
- Understand symbolic meanings of in-game actions across different cultures
- Clarify intentions immediately when cultural misunderstandings occur
- Learn basic communication phrases in opponents’ languages
- Consult with regional experts about potentially offensive gestures
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Daxak dropped the Urn in front of PSG.LGD. Now he wants the Chinese community to know why he did it Understanding Daxak's controversial Urn drop incident and its cultural implications in professional Dota 2
