Due to the rise in smurf accounts, Valve imposed a strict no-smurfing policy on its Dota 2 player base. Valve has been actively banning and taking stern action against smurfs and accounts related to smurfing or other prohibited activities. Recently, it surprised such players with “Highly Toxic Lump of Coal” during the Frostivus event, perma-banning their accounts. Even after such actions were taken, some players in the community seemingly still continue to smurf.
One such instance is Egor "Nightfall" Grigorenko, the carry player for BetBoom Team, who was caught smurfing on an alternate account. Nightfall was promptly called out by prominent Dota 2 streamers Janne "Gorgc" Stefanovski and Max "qojqva" Bröcker. Both Gorgc and qojqva were not happy to see the BetBoom Team carry play on his smurf and did not mince their words on stream.
Nightfall Called Out For Smurfing
Dota 2 streamers Gorgc and qojqva were matched in a public game where they noticed a smurf account which they later confirmed to be Nightfall of the BetBoom Team. Infuriated by this, Gorgc asked the Russian player if he was proud of smurfing. qojqva, sharing similar sentiments, said, “Enjoy your last few games on that account, Nightfall Doto.”
qojqva, who was not happy with Nightfall smurfing, said, “I’m reporting this sh*t after.”
Gorgc took it one step further and added, “Hope you get perma’d [Permanently banned]. Learn to read English. It’s literally not allowed anymore dumba**,” and then proceeded to report Nightfall for smurfing.
Gorgc was left staggered by Nightfall’s decision to smurf despite the recent bans on smurfs. He questioned, “How is he so dumb? Does he not know that smurfing is not allowed anymore? Literally, learn how to read English. F**cking dumba**.” Holding no words back, Gorgc called Nightfall a “piece of sh*t, a literal piece of shi*t.”
He also went on to add how Valve usually dishes out these bans in waves and by the next wave, Nightfall would most likely be “warned” for his actions by the publisher.
Valve has been very actively pushing its no smurfing policy and has been actively banning accounts related to smurfing. In September 2023, over 90,000 accounts were banned for smurfing and this was promptly announced in a blog post that was titled “Smurfing is not Welcome In Dota.” Just recently, Mason "mason" Venne was banned live on stream for utilizing behavior booster services but was allowed to play Dota 2 on an alternate account.