Gaimin Gladiators has reportedly filed a C$7.5 million (Canadian dollar) lawsuit against four of its former Dota 2 players following their sudden withdrawal from The International 2025, marking one of the most high-profile legal battles in esports history.
As first reported by journalist Richard Lewis, the case, filed in the Ontario court system, names pros Quinn, Ace, tOfu, and watson as defendants. Malady, who joined GG’s Dota 2 roster earlier this year, was excluded from the filing.
The dispute stems from the team’s controversial withdrawal just two weeks before the start of The International in September. Both parties offered conflicting versions of what led to the fallout.
In a statement shared to Lewis, Gaimin Gladiators alleged that the players had “threatened to underperform,” canceled their bootcamp at the last minute, and ultimately indicated plans to compete under a different banner.
Quinn Callahan, however, publicly claimed that the team wanted to represent Gaimin Gladiators but were blocked from doing so. Gaimin co-founder and president Nick Cuccovillo countered this, saying the players “requested to attend TI as independents but did not agree to a settlement with the organization in time for their contract release.”
According to Lewis’ report, the lawsuit accuses the players of breaching multiple clauses of their contracts over 18 months, including failing to meet sponsor commitments and social media deliverables. Lewis’ sources who are familiar with the case allege that the team collectively missed “several dozen” obligations, contributing to growing tensions between management and players.
The most serious issue, however, centers on a controversial remark made by Callahan during a livestream in October 2024, when he said, “I guess you’re just Russian. It’s not your fault you’re born in a trash country.”
This statement allegedly cost Gaimin Gladiators a major sponsorship deal. Sources cited in Lewis’ report claimed that a sponsor who had partnered with the organization earlier chose not to renew its contract following Callahan’s comments. The deal was reportedly worth around $3 million, though that figure has yet to be verified.
In the detailed statement provided to Lewis, the Gaimin Gladiators management further elaborated on the financial impact of Callahan’s conduct. “Comments from Quinn resulted in the loss of a sponsorship in the mid-seven figures. There are over five separate instances of inappropriate communications and behavior toward specific demographics. All of this is publicly available online. The dispute relates to various clauses, including 18 months of unfulfilled social and sponsorship deliverables.”
The organization also claimed that it had made repeated attempts to resolve the situation privately. “We sought relief through a modest assessment of damages, as agreed in advance by the players, after warning them multiple times,” the statement continued. “The players never accepted any measures to attend The International.”
Lewis confirmed he is seeking access to the full legal filing from the Ontario court system and will continue reporting on the proceedings as more information becomes available.
The fallout has effectively ended what was once one of the strongest Dota 2 lineups in recent memory. Gaimin Gladiators were considered top contenders heading into The International 2025, following a dominant competitive run in previous seasons. As the lawsuit moves forward, the hefty monetary claim could still be revised depending on the court’s findings.
At the time of writing, neither Gaimin Gladiators nor the involved players have issued official statements in response to the lawsuit. Dot Esports has reached out to GG and Quinn but has yet to receive a reply. Updates are expected as the case continues to unfold.
Published: Oct 6, 2025 02:24 am