About a week ago, as the tournaments in China concluded, the Dota 2 community was given a chance to “breathe” due to the continuous dramas erupting related to professional players.
Among them, the story of Xiao8 hitting his wife, leaving her with a black eye, has been the most discussed and circulated.
This information originated from an account on the social media platform Weibo. The individual posted a private conversation along with a photo of Xiao8’s wife with a bruise around one eye, asserting that the family of the former Dota 2 world champion from 2014 is currently experiencing significant tension.
Shortly after the rumors emerged, Xiao8 held a brief livestream last weekend. He admitted that he and his wife are currently “having many unresolved disagreements” but that it is “not as serious as everyone thinks.” Xiao8 also stated that he has not seen his wife for nearly a week, using this time for both of them to find common ground.
However, things did not stop there. Not long after Xiao8 sent their son to live with his parents, his wife came to their home to claim custody of their child.
According to sources on Reddit, the two sides had a dispute, but it was merely a verbal exchange, not a physical altercation. Nevertheless, it serves as evidence that things are deteriorating. Xiao8 and his wife still have not resolved their issues.
During the livestream that took place on July 27, the thing everyone feared most occurred. Xiao8 confirmed that he is very tired of married life and is considering divorce.
If this becomes reality, Xiao8’s fans and the Chinese Dota 2 community will experience a true shock. Six years ago, Xiao8’s marriage was compared to a fairy tale. After winning the world championship in 2014 and pocketing a prize of up to $1 million, Xiao8 proposed to the girl he had loved since childhood. Their wedding was livestreamed, attracting nearly 500,000 viewers.
The former Newbee player thus became a role model for the younger generation to follow. However, after this incident, many will have to reconsider.
It remains unclear why the dreamlike romance of Xiao8 and his wife is at risk of collapsing.