DRILLAS' participation in the Asian RMR has caused a storm of emotions in the Counter-Strike community. Some players and experts defend the team, pointing out that they acted in accordance with the rules, while others condemn such participation as ‘abuse of loopholes’. The situation has sparked numerous discussions on social media, and opinions are divided.

Richard Lewis' position: ‘It's a farce’

The famous British journalist Richard Lewis sharply criticised DRILLAS. In his post, he wrote: ‘I'm glad this farce is over. A world championship where the rules are exploited to allow a streamer to make money off their own face in the game is rubbish.’ Lewis also called on Valve to close similar loopholes in the future. His words sparked heated discussions, with many condemning the journalist's harsh tone, in particular because of his personal insults. One of Lewis's posts contained a rude remark that caused outrage in the community: ‘Is this normal? He's 40 years old and he writes this!’

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innersh1ne: a harsh position

Russian analyst innersh1ne also spoke out against DRILLAS, saying that the team ‘abused the rules’. He added that he was happy to see them fail at the Asian RMR. However, leniniw responded by saying: ‘What about the Wildcard team? They went to the major with two Swedes and an African. Or the GR team with five Russians at the Asian RMR? Why is it an abuse for DRILLAS and not for them?’ Leniniw also emphasised that the problem should be found in the rules, not the team.

Leniniw also added: ‘DRILLAS didn't invent these rules. How can they get to the European RMR? They can't. In Europe, everything is decided through the ranking, and there are no qualifications.’ His words were echoed by some users, pointing out the shortcomings of the system.

DRILLAS defence

Many popular accounts in X said that the team acted within the rules and did not deserve such a wave of hatred. James Banks, a presenter and journalist, also supported DRILLAS, expressing his gratitude to everyone who supported the team: ‘Much love from a great man to those who supported DRILLAS!’. OhnePixel responded with memes and positive comments about the team, which attracted additional attention.

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Community comments: a split in opinion

Social media was flooded with memes and controversy over DRILLAS' participation. Representatives of the Chinese segment of the community expressed outrage over the European team's participation in the Asian qualification. At the same time, many European and American players, such as Counter-Strike Professor, Mauisnake, and Statmeister, supported DRILLAS, pointing out that the problem lies in the rules themselves, not in their use. Professor Counter-Strike wrote: ‘The DRILLAS story was fun and added interest to the whole tournament, but I'm glad it ended this way.’ 

Statmeister even joked about suggesting line-ups for DRILLAS if they decide to return.

What's next?

This situation has highlighted the importance of revising the rules for regional qualifiers. Although DRILLAS have already left the competition, the debate around their participation will remain relevant for a long time. Leninow concluded: ‘There are rules, and DRILLAS did not invent them. How can they get to Europe? It's all about the rating, and there are no qualifications.’ The Counter-Strike community has once again shown that any controversial situation can cause a storm of emotions and loud debates.