TL;DR
- Complexity Gaming coach Warden admitted to pointing out hidden opponent during ECS Season 7 match
- MIBR coach zews criticized the violation, citing historical precedents for coach removals
- The incident occurred during crucial 12th round of final map despite Complexity’s dominance
- Warden apologized, calling it a reflexive human error during high-pressure tournament situation
- The controversy highlights ongoing challenges in esports coaching ethics and rule enforcement
While both Complexity Gaming and Made in Brazil faced elimination from ECS Season 7, their Group B clash generated significant controversy that extended beyond the tournament results. The match outcome became overshadowed by allegations of improper coaching conduct that raised questions about competitive integrity.
Complexity secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over MIBR in the elimination match, but the Brazilian organization contested the legitimacy of the win. Serious accusations emerged against Complexity’s head coach Matt “Warden” Dickens, who was alleged to have engaged in clear rule violations visible to the tournament broadcast audience.
During the critical 12th round of the decisive third map, broadcast footage captured Warden actively identifying MIBR player Joao “felps” Vasconcellos on Ricky “Rickeh” Mulholland’s monitor. The visual evidence suggests Rickeh failed to detect felps concealed near the window in the screen’s upper left quadrant. Coach Warden intervened by physically indicating the opponent’s position, constituting a direct breach of tournament regulations governing coach behavior during active play.
MIBR’s head coach, Wilton “zews” Prado, utilized Twitter to address the situation after another official highlighted the incident in social media commentary.
“I wish you had been overseeing our match,” zews stated, “because the assigned referee failed to perform essential duties. This constitutes unacceptable behavior, @coLWarden.”
He further emphasized that coaching staff had faced disqualification for less severe infractions at previous major tournaments. While acknowledging he didn’t believe Warden acted with malicious intent to gain unfair advantage, zews maintained the instinctive action remained inappropriate regardless of motivation.
Warden subsequently addressed the controversy directly with his perspective on the events.
“The action represented a completely instinctive human response and constituted a significant error in judgment,” Warden explained.
He clarified that multiple teammates had verbally alerted Rickeh about the concealed opponent through repeated callouts, yet the player consistently failed to visually identify the threat.
Driven by pure reflex, Warden physically indicated the position, mirroring behavior common during scrimmages and practice sessions. However, such interventions remain strictly prohibited in official tournament environments with significant stakes.
Warden confirmed he had already extended formal apologies to zews and the entire MIBR organization, recognizing the professional implications of his actions.
Complexity Gaming demonstrated consistent dominance over MIBR throughout the series, suggesting the controversial moment likely didn’t determine the final outcome. The North American squad comfortably secured the opening map, Train, even though MIBR had selected it as their preferred battleground. Fifteen-year-old phenom Owen “oBo” Schlatter delivered an impressive performance with 23 eliminations.
MIBR managed to equalize the series by claiming Vertigo, setting up a 1-1 deadlock heading into the final map, Mirage. Complexity ultimately clinched the victory with a tight 16-14 scoreline, with oBo once again seizing the spotlight through his exceptional 27-kill display.
This incident underscores the critical importance of maintaining clear boundaries between coaching during practice sessions and official tournament matches. Professional esports coaches must develop heightened awareness of tournament-specific regulations, particularly regarding player assistance during active rounds. Common coaching mistakes often involve blurring these lines during high-pressure situations, where instinctive behaviors from training environments can inadvertently violate competition rules.
For players looking to master competitive gaming fundamentals, our Complete Guide provides essential strategic frameworks. Additionally, understanding proper Class Guide selection can significantly impact team performance in structured competitive environments.
Tournament organizers typically employ strict monitoring systems to detect coaching violations, including dedicated referee observation, audio monitoring, and video review protocols. Coaches should establish pre-match routines that reinforce tournament-specific conduct standards, including clear communication boundaries with players during active gameplay phases.
Action Checklist
- Review tournament-specific coaching rules before each event
- Establish clear communication protocols with players during matches
- Practice maintaining physical and verbal neutrality during critical rounds
- Develop reflex control techniques to avoid instinctive interventions
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Complexity Gaming coach discusses ECS Season 7 cheating accusations Complexity Gaming coach addresses ECS Season 7 cheating allegations and tournament ethics violations