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The San Francisco Optx started their CEVO Pro Season 5 4:1 match night right on time and even joining the server a bit early. As the match progressed into the late rounds, it was apparent that Optx were not going to run away with the match. In fact as the timer ticked down in the last round, it was even more apparent to everyone that the Optx would lose their first match of the season. Everyone including the Optx. As the bomb timer ticked away, x3o took out the remaining members of Optx then begun to diffuse. Thinking that there was plenty of time for x3o to diffuse, the Optx one by one left the server, the last one parting just as the bomb exploded.

x3o was not able to diffuse in time and the Optx won the round, making it a tied match. Normal procedure would be to play one round of overtime, sudden death. It took a very short period of time for the Optx to realize what had happened, reentered the server, and tried to have x3o just play the overtime. x3o refused stating that since Optx left the server, they had forfeited the final round giving x3o the win. CEVO immediately stepped in and gave x3o the choice of playing the round and they refused. The Optx side argued that there was no rule that disqualified them or negated a round due to leaving the server early.

Several hours after the incident had occurred, without a final ruling on the dispute, CEVO added a new rule regarding leaving the server. The next day the Optx argued that the rule could not be retroactive, CEVO agreed and has informed both teams that they are to play the 1 round of overtime to complete the match.

Several questions arise from this incident with one of the major ones being sportsmanship. Was it unsportsmanlike for Optx to leave the server before the round was absolutely completed? Was it unsportsmanlike for x3o to refuse to play the round? Where do we draw the line between being unsportsmanlike and something being absolutely against the rules? Did CEVO make the correct ruling in the end?

Here are some of your responses to this story, one is by Bryan Olds and the other by Cole Lutter.

Like all Soapboxes, these are solely their opinions.



Just Play OT
by Bryan Olds

What happened was unfortunate and we would all love to think it should go x3o's way...Optx is undefeated and the score was tied at the end. Whether they left or not this is the PROFESSIONAL division and there are no ties and players should not whine and/or try and get cheap wins.

Perhaps x3o knew Optx was CT and in a one round OT they had the advantage? That is my guess to why they didn't want the OT. Play the OT and the better team will prevail. However they should have just rejoined the server and played the last round instead of making this huge mess. I'm biased to Optx but I do believe if the rules we're in fact not clear about this situation until after the match took place then the only just thing to do is give both teams a chance at glory in a one round OT.



Don't Break Your Own Rules
by Cole Lutter

If you want to be technical about the rules then Optx won that round. The Terrorists Win message came up. And whether or not the rule that was later added was meant to be there earlier or not it makes no difference because it was not there. Just like stores have to honor the posted sales price, unless PREVIOUSLY stated on the website/in-store policy that they do not do this.

x3o should not receive a default win for the OT round on account of no one being there for the OT round, because in order for it to be OT you have to lo3 again so the next round after the round in this discussion was a meaningless round.

I can understand the ruling made at the time, having probably never ran into this situation before, CEVO did not know how to handle it. But if the decision is not overturned after proof has been shown that the rules that were in affect at the time of the match stated that unsportsmanlike conduct would NOT result in rounds being overturned and leaving before a match is over is classified as unsportsmanlike conduct (according to Pipher I believe, it may have been a different admin who stated this I'm not sure.)

If the initial decision is not overturned, then CEVO should not even bother to post rules, since they don’t follow their own rules themselves. Not that it matters in reality whether or not OPTX wins this match, either way they are going to go to the playoffs. Although they could lose their #1 seed which could potentially harm their playoff chances. More important though, is the principle of the matter, if CEVO does not have to follow their rules then no one should.

CEVO has been a very well conducted company so far, and it would be unfortunate for them to tarnish their record with a decision going against their own rules, I can’t speak for the community but I know I would not wish to participate or support CEVO in any way if this decision is upheld.

I do not agree with what OPTX did, leaving the match early, and this action should not go unnoticed, or unpunished. But CEVO is certainly not going about it the right way, by breaking their rules. I do not know what an appropriate punishment is, something along the lines of a fine, or taking away some form of benefits that teams have. But the punishment chosen certainly is not the correct one.