Thai professional Dota 2 player Nuengnara "23savage" Teeramahanon of Xipto Esports has shared a striking account of a police raid on his team's training camp in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. According to his Facebook post, the encounter ended only after he proved his skills by racking up 32 kills in a live match played directly in front of the officers.
The incident occurred after the team finished practice and was relaxing. Detectives from Kuala Lumpur entered the house without warning. They confiscated the players' passports and smartphones, cut off the internet connection, and shut down the computers. 23savage, along with teammates Fbz and Oli, were then handcuffed and questioned for roughly two hours. Officers expressed doubt that the group were genuine professional gamers and asked about their work and reason for being in the city.
The situation began to turn when one officer, who knew Dota 2 and recognized the organization Fnatic, reviewed 23savage's Instagram. A photo with Malaysian influencer Ms. Puiyi helped support his claims. After further discussion, the officer removed 23savage's handcuffs and allowed him to demonstrate his abilities by queuing for a match. He selected the hero Kez and finished the game with 32 kills. The performance convinced the detectives of his professional status. The remaining handcuffs were removed, and the players were released to resume practice.
The reason for the forced investigation remains unknown. 23savage also noted that the officers ate two boxes of his Nutella during the detention. The story has circulated widely in the Dota 2 community as an unusual example of a player proving his identity through gameplay under pressure. Even in a match where the stakes involved convincing authorities, 32 kills stands out as a clear display of skill.