The first word that came to my mind when I received an e-mail was – it's time to make the knockdown. What was in it? Actually it was a translation of an article written by Jaroslavas Dambrovskis (the manager of “Reset”, the team that won ESWC 2004 in Lithuania) where he told the whole truth about qualifying rounds in Lithuania, CybersportUnion and personally Igor Shyshakov (aka Taigun). This letter shocked me to say the least.
I always wanted to write an unmasking article about this marvelous organization – CybersportUnion. I even planned to do it straight after ESWC in France but I was really exhausted due to tournaments and journeys. When CU announced that they will organize qualifying rounds of ESWC 2005 in Russia, I felt that this kind of news can't bring anything good.
I’m not afraid of Igor Shyshakov, I am not related to him or his organization by any means besides living in the same country for 1 year.. The only thing he can do is use his vote in ESWC Strategic Board trying to deprive me of my accreditation. But I strongly doubt he will succeed =)
You know it all seems to be very nice in theory (the qualifier, paid trip, etc) but it is completely different in practice. Here are some bombast statements from CU's press-release made two months after ESWC (basically) (frankly speaking it makes me sick):
“Summing up we can say that the main results were:
1. Russians have victories
2. United delegation of Russia, Belorussia and Lithuania took part in ESWC (Estonia and Latvia refused to join the delegation)
It is hard to say now how our victory will affect Russian cybersport in general, but we are convinced that world gaming community has a great respect for Russia and that we NEED to take part in international competitions from now on.”
I feel like Michael Moor who denounced G.W. Bush in the sensational movie “Farenheit 9/11”...
But lets get down to business.
1. Has it been for long that we consider a third place to be a victory? Maybe I’ve missed something? Thank you, then… At least I know it now.
2. We’ll discuss “point 2” later. Believe me there are a lot of things to talk about.
As for “our victory” practically Russian national Quake 3 team and Virtus.pro have nothing to do with CU. Both of them paid for their trip to France and back by themselves, without any compensation from CU. Last paragraph really bores me to death. Russia is respected without any help from CU/ and of course it is not respected because of a man, who is wearing sport trousers, torn t-shirt and old shoes even when he has a meeting with solid people.
Let’s read? further.
“How much did it all cost?
License - 12 000 USD
Sending delegation - 12 000 USD
Organizing qualifying rounds and final – 4 600 USD
Total: Cybersport Union paid for ESWC 28 600 USD”
I wonder why Igor Shyshakov asked for 560$ from each person to go by bus if the plane ticket I bought from Riga and back costed me bloody 400$. And it's even cheaper if you go to France from Moscow… Maybe it was because of the hotels where they all had to spend some nights during the trip? Most likely Taigun was not planning additional expenses and trip by bus seemed the cheapest for him, tho it did not turn out this way.
- As is evident from our experience, the only adequate punishment for tournament disruption through the organizers’ fault is a 12-month ban of ALL players of the town at ALL Cybersport Union tournaments. You’d better not assume such a responsibility unless you are sure to carry the event through!
If I ever have a chance I’ll make Igor read this statement a hundred times so that he could remember it for the rest of his life.
“How much will it cost in 2005?
License will be about 16 000 – 18 000 USD
Organization of qualifying rounds in 40 regions of Russia – more than 12 000 USD
Sending delegation – more then 15 000 USD”
Last year CU bought license for 3 years, this means they don’t have to buy another one. We can skip the second point because last year CU didn’t give any prizes. The last point really makes my small, weak heart bleed – Igor, Are you going by plane?
And now some curious facts and the Lithuanian story for desert…
Pro.girl team (winners of wicked tournament held by CU for female teams)
I found out that Igor Shyshakov told pro.girl that if they don’t take part in tournament Territory.ru, they wouldn’t go to France. Girls had no choice: they played only one game and had to travel to Moscow and then to France for their own money of course. Naturally CU didn’t cover these expenses. He could at least make an exception for the girls and send them to Fracne via plane.
Virtus.pro team
I’ve already mentioned that the winners of qualifying rounds of ESWC had to pay for their trip to France and back - CU didn’t cover these expenses! And when team manager told Taigun that they would go by plane he refused to give them any money back. It means that 560 USDx6 Taigun kept for himself.
Qualifying rounds in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia
When CU bought license for organizing qualifying rounds in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia no one expected anything good from it. By May they didn’t even start preparing.
Here is the story of Sergey Rigov (the owner of disconet.lv – the most popular web site about cybersport), who was tricked by CU.
When I found out that CU is searching for a partner to organize qualifying rounds of ESWC in the Baltic region, I reacted immediately because I had the web site and a club at my disposal. Before the tournament I asked Taigun several times if CU would cover all the transfer expenses. He always said, “Yes, of course”.
Since then the sum of money required for this ‘free’ trip began to grow. It turned out that the trip Warszawa (there Russian delegation picked them up) - Paris - Warszawa would require expenses for visas, insurance and self-paid trip to Warszawa.
I know that this sum is actually not that big, but some of the members couldn’t afford that. So we had to drop the trip. In a few days it turned out to be that Latvia end Estonia would not take part in ESWC next year because they got banned.
So, Latvian team had a “wonderful” trip to ESWC. Taigun tried to persuade promo-group Pro Games, who organized perfect-ass tournament Intel Cyberspot Cup, to hold the qualifier in Latvia. He even sent them a letter that started with the words, “Okey. There's no time to hesitate, you must arrange qualifying rounds.” Sounds a bit of USSR style, doesn't it? Of course, no organization will work for free and Pro Games refused to do it.
As for Estonia, no letter was sent to CU expressing passionate desire to work with them. That is why there were no qualifying rounds at all. CybersportUnion were not attempting to find anyone willing to host the qualifier according to my sources in Estonia's cybersport scene.
In Lithuania internet-club “Reset” whose team later won the qualifying rounds organized the competition. So here is the tasty and amazingly interesting dessert, translation of the earlier mentioned article published in Lithuanian PC related magazine:
For the first time in the history of Lithuanian cybersport our team took part in the world championship «ESWC 2004», which was held from 6 to 11 July in France. Unfortunately, we had to cover a lot of difficulties not connected to sport to organize this trip. Here is interview with Jaroslavas Dambrovskis manager of team “Reset”.
“«ESWC 2004» Counter-Strike qualifying rounds took place on 5-th of June in Lithuania. The main prize was the trip to the final of «ESWC 2004» in France. The winner was the team called “Reset”. The tournament took place in Kaynas in club that got the right to make the tournament from Cybersport Union (Russia), which had a license for organizing «ESWC 2004» tournaments in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The president of CU is Igor Shyshakov (I.Sh.).
“Reset” sent all the information needed and were waiting for the further instructions when situation changed completely. CU announced some changes:
1. Every member had to pay in to CU 90$, which in Total would make it 450$
2. For trip from Vilnius to Warszawa and on the way back from Warszawa to Vilnius team has to pay, too. 50 USD x 4, total: 250$
Practically the prize appeared to cost 700$. Plus some money for the food. Because the food that which was provided by Ligarena was not enough ;).
To clear the situation I decided to contact I.Sh. personally. I asked if we would have to pay for our trip by our selves and he said “yes”. I reminded him that last year one of the members of “Reset” won the «WCG» tournament and the first prize was trip to Seoul (Korea). He didn’t pay anything for the prize, it was won not bought. I.Sh said that sponsors of these two tournaments are different.
We decided to talk to one of the organizers of ESWC in France Gregorio Machadinho. We explained the situation and Gregorio promised to talk to I.Sh.
Soon we received an e-mail from Gregorio with the part of the letter he sent to I.Sh. reminding that CU must pay all the traveling expenses. I.Sh. answered that there must be a misunderstanding and that the trip is already paid.
Later when I talked to I.Sh. I understood that situation didn’t change. He still wanted money from us but told French that he won’t ask team to pay any thing. Then I received a letter from Gregorio, he said that Igor guaranteed that the team wouldn’t have to pay for the way to France and back. We only had to reach Warszawa by our selves.
In Warszawa while we were waiting for CU bus I.Sh. called me and asked to look for two teams from Latvia and Estonia that were supposed to be on the same bus stop. It was very strange because we all knew that Latvia and Estonia are not coming to France because they had no money to buy the prize they won.
In the bus we discovered that there were almost no free places left. I wonder where did they wanted to place two other teams if I.Sh. really didn’t know that they are not coming, where was he planning to locate the teams once they are on the bus? I didn’t understand why he needed to play this role.
After first time we stayed overnight I.Sh. asked us to pay for the trip. We showed him the letter from Gregorio Machadinho with guarantees that I.Sh. won’t make the team pay any money. I.Sh. was not very pleased and said he will discuss it with Gregorio Machadinho. I was eager to do that, too.
In Germany I.Sh. said that if we don’t give him 450$, we will have to look for the hotel by our selves. We were shocked because some of members of the team were under 18 and for the next 2 hours we were thinking of where to spend the night.
Later that day I.Sh. talked to “Reset” captain. He said that 450$ is not a problem for an organization like CU and he will pay it if the team in interviews will tell that CU is their sponsor. The team agreed.
The next day (in France) I.Sh. demanded money again.
When we at last arrived to «FUTUROSCOPE» park. The team successfully passed the registration and received passes to the park. I.Sh. promised to get me the pass himself, because the money I’ve paid included:
1. Bus to France and back.
2. Hotel room during the championship.
3. Pass to the park where the competitions were held.
When I asked I.Sh. for the pass he said I have to pay 60 euro because the team didn’t give him 450$.
I was so tired of Mr. Shyshakov’s money machinatitions that I asked him to organize a meeting with Gregorio Machadinho. But I.Sh. was very rude and said that if I need him so much I have to find him myself.
I found out that Gregorio Machadinho was not available that day. So I decided to pass the registration by myself. It turned out to be that team manager doesn’t have to pay for the pass and it is absolutely free. On the last stage of registration I bumped into I.Sh. who was making a pass with my name on it for the Russian guy (he was not a member of the team, he just came with I.Sh. for the holidays). I showed my passport to the lady in the registration and asked for the explanation. She was confused and called somebody on the phone. After that the problem was solved as follows:
- Russian guy was made a “manager of Lithuanian team” because I.Sh. asked for it. I guess I.Sh. thought that if our team wins some money they would be given to the “manager” of the team.
- I was given a pass of a coach just to settle the conflict.
On the opening ceremony I.Sh. said that Latvian and Estonian teams didn’t manage to come. Of course, he didn’t say any thing about the money he demanded from them.
During the tournament I.Sh. didn’t ask for money and avoided meeting with me and Gregorio. On our way back history repeated – again extortion and threats.
One night in Poland I.Sh. was quite drunk. He came to the room of Belorussian player shouted at him then kicked him out of the room and felt asleep. No comments.
There were some good things in this trip. I was very pleased to meet members of Ukrainian and Belorussian delegation. Without their support it would have been much harder to over come all the difficulties that were prepared by CU president Igor Shyshakov.”
Interesting, isn’t it?
Some more facts…
France
I don’t know why but Taigun registered himself as pro.girls manager. Every time I met Igor in FUTUROSCOPE I couldn’t stop smiling. You can call me a snob, but I can’t understand person who is wearing one t-shirt almost a week. More than that, this t-shirt was his cloth all the way from Moscow to France. How can he consider him self a Serious Person, President of Cybersport Union, That is a Symbol of Russian Cybersport? He looked like a clown when he went to the stage wearing ugly sport trousers and old sketchers. But he made people happy, they laughed so sincerely…
About savage people
On CU web-site I’ve four out that all the people who are not coming with CU are savages. Thanks a lot, I didn’t know that those who choose plane over bus are savages, now I do.
CU and Russian Shield
Some internet-clubs are not very satisfied with the new organization. Konstantin Syrkont, the leader of Russian Federation of Cybersport has a word on that:
“Some computers clubs told me that they are puzzled over the strange things CU does. Representatives of CU visit clubs and on the behalf of Russian Shield (Association of producers and inventors of software. Its main aim is to protect their rights.) and advice them to buy some games that have license.
After they buy it CU supposedly guaranteed that Russian Shield won’t bother them any more. The only price they should pay for this service is becoming a member of CU. I’m sure that Russian shield has nothing to do with it because it is well known respected organization.”
4m & ESWC Moscow
Quotation from the news:
“Yesterday Counter-Strike 5x5 qualifying rounds of ESWC 2004 took place in Moscow. All the strongest teams competed there. Unfortunately one of the favourites - 4m (ex-ForZe - Xenitron, Antikiller, Romashka, Patr1ck, Maddog) didn’t take part in the championship. It was mangers fault - he didn’t bring money for registration in time.”
I didn’t quite catch organizers point. They need money just in time or they want to make good and interesting competition?
Other funny news
9 people who won the qualifying rounds in WarCraft III first had to pay for the championship in their region then 500 (about 20$) more rubles to take part in the final games.
They didn’t get any prizes except strange piece of paper of a very bad quality with some text on it, supposedly called a book written by Taigun.
Teams like M19 and iTs|Mega refused to take part in ESWC 2004 qualifier. Like few other famous teams they choose WCG 2004 over ESWC 2004 because of CU. Probably, because they didn’t want to have anything in common with the nice man, who considers him self to be a Symbol of Russian Cybersport.
P.S. a lot of comments were maid due to this article. People were shocked. Here is only a very small part of them. Most of the others were quite rude.
Some comments (from cyberfight.ru)
#10 - 16:21 / 23 Aug '04 - bug
õì...
imho we have to forward a petition to the court for extortion and threats
GJ Lexx =)
#17 - 17:16 / 23 Aug '04 - C-Krom
It is really pity guys from Baltic countries couldn’t come. It was not their fault!!!
#34 - 18:56 / 23 Aug '04 - lancer.spail
I think Taigun has to be in prison and not even dare to dream about ESWC 2005
#87 - 11:16 / 24 Aug '04 - Purpur
Thanks god we have other organizations like NPCL, for example. And if they want to make ESWC, they’ll have sportsmen support. For sure! |
