TNC Predator has come forward about outstanding prize pool money from China Top from November 2017.
Teams are always on board for high-level competition and especially when it includes LAN experience. In the professional scene, LANs are how exposure is best sought after, the experience is best wracked up and top prize awards are distributed. Or at least that is the expectation.
Unfortunately, time and time again players are reminded that it's not always smooth sailing, especially when it comes to payments.
So far the most recent culprit is China TOP 2017, coming under fire after more than a year from completion date.
Last November of 2017, we were invited to play in China TOP 2017 and we are thankful to the organizers for giving us the opportunity to compete in their tournament.
Since then, after being the champion in the said tournament, we could hardly hear from them with regard to our won prize. As for our end, we did and furnished them all the necessary details and documents needed to eased the settlement, and yet, our claims remain unsettled.
We are appealing to the organizer to settle our claim and we are also asking for understanding in using the social media to address the issue, but there is no longer person, directly in charge to reach out to.-TNC Management
Four teams gathered in Shenzhen, China from November 19-23rd to compete for the lion's share of the prize pool which has not even been identified or at least rescinded since. TNC bested VGJ.Thunder 2:1 to claim the title.
Jimmy "DeMoN" Ho has confirmed that Digital Chaos has also not been paid for the same event and the CS:GO teams that competed have also supported the claim.
In 2019 these stories continue to plague the professional scene even at the highest levels, leaving most of the community frustrated.
Just a few months ago, it was reported that GESC allegedly still owed more than $750,000 to teams. Just prior to that it was Azubu that was accused of outstanding tournament debts this past year, while compLexity Gaming has reported that both their Dota 2 and CS:GO teams were still owed money for WCA 2017.
Unfortunately, Dota 2 has a history entrenched in shady, non-professional or inexperienced figures trying to take a piece of the 'cash cow'.
Time and time again, suggestions come up on how to best deal with the distribution of prize money and tournament organizers integrity. Sadly, there has been no solution identified and as per Valve's M.O., they have remained silent and uninvolved.
