GOMTV Announcement regarding NaNiWa - Page 94

On December 16 2011 01:02 turamn wrote:


Because he made a mockery of their league and their sponsors. He consistently mocks tournaments he plays in and will continue until someone puts him in his place. GOM had the balls to do it.

On December 16 2011 00:20 gTank wrote:
its so hilarious that even long after naniwa admitted the mistake and realised himself, ppl here are still thinking he didnt break any rule!

if he, who actually "played" that game, understands and can see why it was unacceptable, why can't ppl here?

On December 16 2011 01:12 DevineRa wrote:
Naniwa for president!

On December 15 2011 06:33 GOMTV wrote:
1. GSL's stance toward the NaNiWa incident

Not only progamers, but professional athletes in every sports prove and showcase their skill through the game and by doing so entertain their fans. Since professional athletes do this for a living, competing in tournaments is a means to make money in order to sustain themselves. While money is an essential factor in a professional athlete’s life, it is the sincere competitive spirit that enables a mere athlete to become a professional athlete. This spirit entails the will to improve, work hard and try one's best no matter what. It also encompasses a mutual respect between those who share the title of professional athlete, which consequently leads to a certain code of professional conduct. It is this underlying competitive spirit, which goes beyond and is unrelated to any amount of prize money, of every professional athlete that touches and entertains many fans. We believe that the reason why so many people are such avid fans of baseball, soccer or e-sports has next to nothing to do with money. Korean e-sports fans generally share this understanding of the term 'professional athlete’ or in this case 'progamer', and might be less likely to tolerate a deviation from these core values compared to overseas communities.

On December 15 2011 06:33 GOMTV wrote:
A lot of people share the opinion that NaNiWa has not broken any rules and should therefore not receive any punishment.

It is true that NaNiWa has not taken actions that break any explicit rules, like for example using a cheat to gain an unfair advantage. NaNiWa has however purposefully not tried his best and shown this in a disrespectful manner. This was not only disappointing for his opponent NesTea and the GSL, but also for the many fans who had anticipated a great match. This behavior does not match with the definition of a progamer as laid out in the paragraph above.

We do however not doubt the sincerity of NaNiWa's competitive spirit. NaNiWa has come the long way to Korea just to compete in the GSL after all. We know very well how hard it is and the determination it takes to come to a foreign country and take the challenge to compete.

We want to make clear that NaNiWa will not be banned from the GSL for his actions. We will however revoke his candidacy for a Code S seed, which means that he will have to requalify for the GSL.

On December 15 2011 06:33 GOMTV wrote:
2. Doesn't that mean that the GSL is depriving NaNiWa of a Code S seed that he rightfully earned?

It seems like a lot of people have been under the impression that NaNiWa has received a Code S seed for taking 2nd place at MLG Providence. The truth however is that NaNiWa has received the right to compete in the Blizzard Cup for his 2nd place achievement at MLG Providence.

We have introduced our new format for the 2012 GSL Tour a while ago, which includes changes to the way international seeds are being given out. Since we have not explained these changes to the seeds in detail yet, this misunderstanding seems to have arisen.

On December 15 2011 06:33 GOMTV wrote:
In 2012 the GSL will have 2 Code S sponsor seeds. These seeds will be determined by outstanding results in international tournaments. In 2011 the GSL schedule luckily matched very well with MLG's schedule. For this reason we were able to introduce a system that allowed high-placing players at MLG to compete in the following GSL season in a regular manner. In 2012 we will again do our best to provide a schedule that matches well with MLG and other international leagues. As the GSL format has changed and a season now lasts for significantly longer, it will this time however not be possible to perfectly match our schedule with MLG's. Apart from that we would also like to consider players of other remarkable tournaments and have therefore introduced this change to our international seeding system.

On December 15 2011 06:33 GOMTV wrote:
NaNiWa has been considered as one of the players to receive a Code S seed for the 2012 GSL Season 1 as a part of the this new seeding system due to his recent impressive results. Other players under consideration were IdrA (MLG Orlando 4th, IEM Guangzhou) and Sen (Blizzcon Battle.net Invitational 3rd) among others. During this phase of consideration aforementioned incident happened, which led us to the decision to remove NaNiWa from the top of the list of considered players. This is not to be seen as a direct punishment resulting from the incident, the incident did however understandably have an influence on NaNiWa's position on the list of candidates.

On December 15 2011 06:33 GOMTV wrote:
What we would like to ask from all of the GSL fans is to not simply see this incident as just a simple meaningless single game between NaNiWa and NesTea. The act of purposefully losing a match, whatever the underlying reasons may be, does always also have a psychological effect on the other players. By tolerating such behavior, purposefully losing might be deemed as a legitimate action and we might see more of such matches in the future, which is something that surely neither the fans nor the players would appreciate.

On December 15 2011 06:33 GOMTV wrote:
Both Korean as well as international fans are important to us. We hope that no one gets the wrong picture and believes that NaNiWa is being treated disadvantageously because he is a foreigner. On the contrary, if a Korean had been involved in a similar incident, it is possible that a much harsher reaction would have followed. It is also very likely that the player's team would have taken firm action before the GSL could have even reacted to it.

On December 15 2011 06:33 GOMTV wrote:
The GSL is a tournament that is open for fans and players from all over the world. We are lucky to live in the internet era, which allows us to easily connect and share our passions. At the same time, we have to live with the time difference and can experience an interesting mix but sometimes also clash of cultures. We would be very happy to be able to always satisfy everyone, but unfortunately that is not realistically possible. We would like everyone to know that we tried to make a fair decision to the best of our ability in this unfortunate situation.

On December 16 2011 00:16 jspark703 wrote:
its weird when people think that Naniwa should get an apology for having to play a meaningless game.. -_-

"meaningless" games exist in any sport and in any tounament. it does not mean you can forfeit and disrespect the opponent by intentionally thowing the game, because of professionalism and the expectations of the fans. it just isnt morally correct. rules are not everything in this world. there are no rules about respecting a person, but we are still encouraged to do so. if somebody tells me that there is no need to respect others because there isnt a rule about it then that person doesnt deserve any respect.

On December 16 2011 01:23 Voldron wrote:
you compare athelets to progamers. Allright then. I live in europe. Football ( soccer ) is pretty huge out here. Do you think that a team will go a play a friendly match before champions league? ( best EU football league ) No. Would they play a match that matters nothing and tire their players before their important matches? NO. Would a Boxer get into a boxing fight for nothing while he has an important match coming up soon? ( GSL code S for example ) NO. Would he reveal his tactics or risk his body for nothing? NO. If it was right for naniwas fans or not it is his fans choice to decide. They might keep supporting them or might not. It is not your call to decide and punish him for letting down his fans. You have a stupid bracket wich makes players play games they dont have to. Do you get punish for it? NO. Quit the acting you stupid idiots make me rage. I am not a naniwa fan. I dont evel like the guy. But what you are saying insults my me and hurts my brain just thinking of how stupid you think we are. This guy wastes his life following his dream and trying his best. You should not wreck a mans dream like that only because he made a mistake wich he apologized about and wich you were wrong also. Shame on you.

Would a team walk off the pitch right after the start of a friendly? Because that's what NaNiwa did. He could have cheesed (equivalent of sending your B-team out) and nobody would have cared all that much. But no, he decided to simply walk out right at the start.

On December 16 2011 01:22 4of8 wrote:

yeah... thats one interpretation but not a proven fact, there are several examples of 'progamers' who didn't behave this way and got even their own Fan-Clubs because of this behaviour. The guy at MLG who proberushed White-Ra in 2 games, because he thought it was not ok to get a freewin vs him in the Winner-Bracket. No one not even White-Ra felt offended by this. At IPL 3 in the Groupstage Idra did withdraw two of his groupmatches, because he didn't thought he could bring his A-Game (because he was jetlagged) and he wanted to get some sleep for the main tournament. Guess what basicly no one felt offended. Now think of a marathon at olympia, how many of these professional athletes do give up before they come to the finish, because they have no more chance to reach a good place?Results of the marathon of the last olympic games. Another example? Take a look at the Tour de France and if you ever followed this event you know what happens before they arrive at the mountains... a lot of the sprinting specialists withdraw from the Tour because they only had the goal to get some money and fame for winning or getting a good placement in one of the early stages. Do they get any punishment? Does anyone feel offended? No nobody does.
These are only a few examples, there are a lot more (f.e. the shame of gijon in soccer), so I can prove that the interpretation of GOM is wrong, there is no ethical code or whatever that prevents professional athletes from withdrawing/ not trying to win, when there is nothing more to win.
And BTW Naniwa said never in his recent interviews that his main goal is to get a lot of money, he always said he wants to become the best.



Maybe there is again a missunderstanding but since when is revoking a candidacy not a punishment?
And if he didn't break any rules, why should they revoke his candidacy, I always thought in a professional league you qualify by accomplishments ( like getting a good placement in a qualification tournament). Only exception you brake any rule. GOM says he didn't brake any rule, therefore revoking his candidacy makes no sense in a professional way. Otherwise name me one other professional tourney who does that.




It has arisen because no one said else and even MLG didn't get that news, because their you could find news that in fact Naniwa had earned this spot. Liquipedia, which knows normally everything didn't get it, too. I couldn't find any clear statement from officials that Naniwa didn't earn a Code S spot, before the incident. Call me crazy but I call this unprofessional. Maybe now it is the time time to prevent this missunderstandings and explain how the foreigners or not Code S players can get their spot in your league...



... hmm I still have no clue how you can know, that you qualified ? Basicly this means you have a couple of players, which could be get the invite, but no real qualification. I thought this was a professional league and not a casting show. Make a clear statement to the players before a tourney like you did with MLG last year and everyone is fine.



I still have no clue why people, who won or got a good placement about two month ago, are getting prefered to people, who had better showings in the past or similar, like Xigua (2nd place WCG), Kas (3rd place WCG), Titan (4th Place WCG), Puma (1st Place NASL, 2nd Place Dreamhack), Nightend ( 3rd place Dreamhack), Haypro (best not Code S Player at Providence despite Naniwa), Stephano (1st place ESWC, 1st place IPL3), Mana (2nd place ESWC), TheSTC (3rd Place MLG Orlando). Is this somekind of who has the most fans invite? Again I want a professional league no casting show, where you get invited because the audience likes you more.



Again wrong assumption. It doesn't have always a psychological effect on the other players, like I proved with facts above. If you really want to prevent such things make a rule for this. Naniwa stated more then clear it was not his attention to offend anyone, his attention was the opposite, he didn't want to offend us with a game where both players, couldn't play their A-Game. Maybe he was wrong with this, but there was no way he could have known he did something wrong.



I don't think Naniwa is being treated disadvantageously because he is a foreigner. I think he is being treated disadvantageously. On the contrary, just look at Idra someone who did withdraw from the GSL Code S shortly before the season started, gets a goodbye-video and a direct invite into Code S, shortly after he returned to Korea. I mean I am happy to see Idra back in Code S, but he didn't do anything more to qualify for Code S as Naniwa.
And if a Team punishes a player for their bad behaviour, they do it because they have the right to do it, but only if the player signed a contract which said, he is not to do such things. And here we go again he broke no rule.



You needed one day for this decision even in the Coca incident you thought longer about this. Sorry but like my facts show your decision where not fair and if this is your best I am very disappointed.

On December 16 2011 01:38 Luigy wrote:

Well that's just not comparable. And here's why.
Cheesing or proberushing would both be a quick loss/win which would require a minimum of concentration and 1 - 10 minutes of his time.
When it comes to the soccer metaphor, you are talking about going into a 90 minute game. Cheesing would not be equivalent of sending out your b team cause you would still have people doing their best (tho the players are not the a-team these people will perform at their best to show their worth.) and would require 90 minutes of play, a manager and sub-manager would have to be there and the players would still get money.
Naniwa didn't get any money for playing that game. I still don't agree with what he did, but think this has been blown out of proportion.

If you're seriously so emotionally distraught you can't even attempt to play a single game, tell the organizer you'd like to forfeit. Nani said himself on LO3 that he never asked them if he could forfeit.

On December 16 2011 01:18 Jameser wrote:

That isn't how an organization should behave it's childish and unprofessional, I don't even know why you would think it's okay for a tournament to "put someone in their place". they either violate the rules or they don't end of story

Also Naniwa got $850 to just show up for the tournament... I think it's the least you can ask that he actually makes some attempt to try in all his games. Pay me $850 and I can at least use my keyboard and micro my probes if I'm probe rushing

On December 16 2011 01:44 Krogan wrote:
I do find it curious that the very player Naniwa was playing himself threw the final of blizzcon vs mvp yet received no punishment for his actions what so ever, despite the fact that what Nestea did ruined an entire tournament.

On December 16 2011 01:23 Voldron wrote:
you compare athelets to progamers. Allright then. I live in europe. Football ( soccer ) is pretty huge out here. Do you think that a team will go a play a friendly match before champions league? ( best EU football league ) No. Would they play a match that matters nothing and tire their players before their important matches? NO. Would a Boxer get into a boxing fight for nothing while he has an important match coming up soon? ( GSL code S for example ) NO. Would he reveal his tactics or risk his body for nothing? NO. If it was right for naniwas fans or not it is his fans choice to decide. They might keep supporting them or might not. It is not your call to decide and punish him for letting down his fans. You have a stupid bracket wich makes players play games they dont have to. Do you get punish for it? NO. Quit the acting you stupid idiots make me rage. I am not a naniwa fan. I dont evel like the guy. But what you are saying insults my me and hurts my brain just thinking of how stupid you think we are. This guy wastes his life following his dream and trying his best. You should not wreck a mans dream like that only because he made a mistake wich he apologized about and wich you were wrong also. Shame on you.

On December 16 2011 00:45 Hrrrrm wrote:


You must not follow any sports at all for something like this to come out of your mouth. Organizations as a whole give up ALL THE TIME, through benching their best players to minimize injury, trading their average players to other teams once they have no chance of making the playoffs in hopes of next season getting lucky through draft picks, and players just don't go 110% on the field. The ONLY reason players show up to games that are "meaningless" in real sports is "country/team pride" which is mostly for the Olympics and because showing up on the field is what pays the bills(contractually obligated). Games sell tickets and those tickets pay their salary and television contracts.

If players weren't contractually obligated to show up to meaningless games and go through the motions NO ONE would show up. Players give up all the time in games, they just don't scream it out of the roof tops because no one likes "a quitter" no matter how meaningless the game. All Naniwa did was not pretend as well as he should have about the game like the rest of the players do in that EXACT situation.

On December 16 2011 01:18 Jameser wrote:
That isn't how an organization should behave it's childish and unprofessional, I don't even know why you would think it's okay for a tournament to "put someone in their place". they either violate the rules or they don't end of story

On December 16 2011 01:23 Voldron wrote:
It is not your call to decide and punish him for letting down his fans. You have a stupid bracket wich makes players play games they dont have to. Do you get punish for it? NO.