OhnePixel: "I wonder why more teams don't do it [like DRILLAS]. Maybe it's because of backlash. I said f**k it" Interview
2024-11-13 14:49:00DRILLAS coach Mark "ohnePixel" Zimmerman commented on the backlash around his team's attempt to qualify for Shanghai Major 2024. His answer to critics was "rules are rules, we just follow them" and that players "got to pay their bills." The streamer spoke about this on the official broadcast after the elimination.
It felt like 90% [of the community] was on our side and 10% against it. People that are against are always the most vocal. Rules are rules, it is what it is, we just follow them. The players gotta pay their bills. If there's a chance to make it to the Major, they take it. Stupid not to do it. I wonder why more teams don't do it. Maybe it's because of the backlash, but it is what it is. I said f**k it.
DRILLAS assembled short before the Major qualifiers. OhnePixel played a role of their sponsor, who would take care of expenses in exchange for a cut of a sticker money in case they'd make it to the event. He also took over the coaching position, since the stack didn't have one.
They played in MENA and made it to the APAC RMR. The multinational team had two players on the roster from Israel, and hAdji with dual citizenship of France and Morocco. Before the RMR, the squad replaced one of the Israeli players with their substitute, SENER1. They became a European squad by Valve's definition but kept their slot.
The replacement caused a lot of criticism towards DRILLAS. The team was accused of abusing a loophole in the rules. After their elimination from the RMR, some figures, including Richard Lewis and OverDrive, stated they were happy that the squad didn't make it.
