iLTW Slams Valve Over Permanent Ban: '10K MMR in Two Weeks'

iLTW Defiant After Permanent Dota 2 Account Ban

Former Nigma Galaxy carry Igor "iLTW" Filatov has broken his silence following a permanent ban on his primary Dota 2 account. While a Steam ban of this magnitude usually signals the end of a professional career for some, iLTW remains unfazed, questioning the effectiveness of Valve’s enforcement measures.

On January 13, iLTW’s account was hit with a permanent suspension. While Valve has not publicly stated the specific violation, the Dota 2 community points toward a high-profile Reddit thread that recently documented the player's smurfing activities. Despite the setback, iLTW took to his stream to explain why the ban feels like a minor inconvenience.

"I don't understand the logic. Valve should ban me from playing Dota at all... I'll farm a new account and get 10K MMR in two weeks. I just don't understand the point of banning me."

The Loophole: Items and Smurfing

One of the biggest concerns for high-tier players with expensive inventories is the dreaded trade ban. However, iLTW confirmed that his ability to trade remains intact. "I can exchange items. I wasn't given a trade ban. I can transfer everything from my main account," he noted. This allows him to move his valuable cosmetics to a fresh profile and continue his climb back to the top of the leaderboard.

Betting Perspective: What This Means for iLTW’s Future

From a betting and professional standpoint, this ban puts iLTW in a precarious position. While he claims he can return to 10K MMR in a fortnight, his status as a "pro player" is currently in limbo.

• Roster Stability: For bettors looking at teams potentially scouting iLTW, this adds a layer of risk. Valve has historically been inconsistent with these bans—notably restoring Rostislav "Rostik999" Protasenya’s account after a lengthy feud.
• Performance Volatility: If iLTW is forced to play on unverified accounts, he may be barred from participating in Valve-sanctioned events or Tier 1 qualifiers, significantly lowering his market value for top-tier organizations.
• Upset Potential: If iLTW joins a stack for open qualifiers (like the upcoming ESL One Birmingham cycle), expect high volatility. A player of his caliber playing on a fresh account can lead to massive upsets in early rounds, but the looming threat of a mid-tournament DQ is a factor bettors must consider.

For now, the Russian carry seems intent on proving that a ban is just a temporary speed bump on his way back to the 10,000 MMR club.