OhnePixel probably would do it again if he could, just to get DRILLAS stickers in CS2.
CS2's APAC region is happier than ever after DRILLAS, a team sponsored by the famous streamer ohnePixel, failed to qualify for the Perfect World Shanghai Major via the Asia RMR on Nov. 13.
OhnePixel and DRILLAS got a lot of heat in the past few days for attending the Asia RMR with just two CS2 players from the region and three European players. Teams must have at least three players from a region to attend its RMR, but DRILLAS got away with an extra European player because Sener "SENER1" Mahmuti came on as a substitute to Meytar "AMSALEM" Amsalem ahead of the Asia RMR.
The APAC CS2 community saw this as an attempt to steal one of the APAC slots back to Europe just so ohnePixel and his players could win sticker money from the Major sales, and the backlash has been immense. OhnePixel, though, probably would do it again if he had the chance.
"Rules are rules, it is what it is, we just follow them," ohnePixel told James Banks following DRILLAS elimination from the RMR to FlyQuest. "The players gotta pay their bills. If there's a chance to make it to the Major, they take it. It's stupid not to do it. I wonder why more teams don't do it. Maybe it's because of the backlash, but it is what it is. I said fuck it."
Why DRILLAS' loss was important for the APAC region in CS2
APAC is the region with fewer opportunities in CS2 esports. Not only does it have fewer slots in the most important tournaments, including Majors, but APAC players who want to have a chance of being competitive must leave their region and move to Europe to get quality practice and get themselves noticed.
Not to mention that the sticker money that organizations make allows them to continue investing in the APAC scene.
The MongolZ earned an additional spot for APAC in the Perfect World Shanghai Major after their performances at the PGL Copenhagen Major earlier this year, for much happiness of everyone else in APAC. Should ohnePixel's DRILLAS have qualified for the Chinese Major, The MongolZ's efforts would all be in vain.
Similar attempts will be impossible next year as Valve will no longer run RMRs for the Major. The developer will use their official ranking to determine which teams get to attend the next Majors.
Related articles
Richard Lewis, among others, celebrates DRILLAS and ohnePixel's demise
Richard Lewis, one of the hosts of the Perfect World Shanghai Major, didn't hold back after DRILLAS were eliminated by FlyQuest.
"[I'm] glad this 'Drillas' nonsense is over," Richard Lewis wrote on X. "A world championship having its rules exploited because a streamer wants to make money by having their face in the game is garbage. Hoping the loopholes that allowed this farce are closed moving forward."
Nikola "Lobanjica" Mijomanović, a famous CS2 streamer, criticized Valve from allowing this to happen at the APAC RMR.
"Hey Drillas don't worry there is always next year, just this time bring 5 EU players for the Asian RMR," Lobanjica wrote on X. "Valve will allow it, you know they don't really care about rules or cheating if they can make bank from Ohne stickers."
And, even though The MongolZ didn't say anything on socials after DRILLAS loss, they must be happy after FlyQuest won. The Mongolian team urged the rest of the teams to defend their "home" yesterday, after defeating DRILLAS themselves in the upper bracket.
Will DRILLAS project carry on?
DRILLAS will most likely disband now that their Asia RMR journey concluded, according to one of their players Tal "meztal" Hahiashvili.
"I don't think we will continue, this was just a project for the Major after all," meztal told HLTV after DRILLAS loss to FlyQuest.
There's no incentive for ohnePixel to continue investing in this set of players now that he won't get sticker money from the Perfect World Shanghai Major.
