X Drama Ensues as Quinn Weighs in on Gaimin Gladiators’ TI Withdrawal

For the first time in The International history, an org has willingly withdrawn from the tournament. It was announced on August 22nd that Gaimin Gladiators will no longer take part and that the TI organisers are currently searching for a suitable replacement team. 

Now, after the org released an official statement on their X account which said that the “team’s representatives communicated the players’ preference to compete independently”, mid laner Quinn “Quinn” Callahan is now the first player to speak out on the situation. 

GG players wanted to compete with the org

In his tweets, Quinn seemed to deny the allegations that the players wanted to compete independently from the org, presumably in breach of their contracts. 

“We explicitly communicated, in writing, that we were ready, willing and able to compete in The International under Gaimin Gladiators banner. Gaimin Gladiators, however, refused to allow us to do so.”

We explicitly communicated, in writing, that we were ready, willing and able to compete in The International under the Gaimin Gladiators banner.  Gaimin Gladiators, however, refused to allow us to do so.

— Quinn Callahan (@ccncdota2) August 23, 2025

As the situation is still ongoing with clear legal implications, there is still no concrete information about what actually occurred between the org and its players, despite all parties alluding to not being able to come to an agreement as being the reason for GG withdrawing from TI. Quinn also confirmed in his tweets that there have been ongoing issues that require them to retain legal counsel. It is speculated that this has all come about due to financial compensation from the event. 

Gladiators’ President Responds

Because no one seems able to keep their hands to themselves, Nick Cuccoville, Gaimin Gladiators’ co-founder and president also responded to Quinn’s tweets, calling them “misleading”. It’s quickly becoming a “he said she said” and despite all the talk of legal implications, more accusations are being thrown around.

Following the post from Quinn where he stated GG made a unilateral decision to withdraw from TI, his statement is misleading. We did in fact withdraw the team from TI but this decision was predicated by a request from the team to terminate their contracts with GG so they could…

— GG | Nick Cuccovillo (@GGNickcvillo) August 24, 2025

As the situation unravels more and more, it seems that, according to Nick, the players did request to be released from their contracts which caused the org to inform Valve that they would not be able to field a roster for TI and by the time the team agreed that they would compete in the tournament but by the time that decision was made, communications had broken down enough that the trust was broken.

So long story short, it’s a bit of a sh*tshow. 

Not another case of esports financial mismanagement?

In recent years, financial mismanagement has become something of a theme among esports orgs, raising many questions over the future of esports. In years gone by, both orgs and players would do anything it took to take part in an event as prestigious as The International but with the tournament falling off a cliff in terms of prize pool, perhaps the times are changing. 

It’s a sad state of affairs but from the responses from other players like cr1t, talent including Lyrical and fans, it’s clear that the community is standing with the players. Their livelihoods depend on being able to compete in tournaments of this calibre and despite a tough season, we have to remember that GG were a real contender for TI14.