Recently, the Dota 2 scene experienced a historic moment when the average Matchmaking Rating (MMR) in a match soared to an unprecedented 12,000.
This remarkable achievement highlights the exceptional skill required to reach such a pinnacle. In Dota 2, MMR is a measure of a player’s skill level. To achieve an average MMR of 12,000 in a match, each of the ten participants must possess a rating close to this figure.
12K MMR Dota 2 game (Image credit: Quinn of Dota)
The First 12K MMR Dota 2 match
The milestone match had an average MMR of precisely 12,017. It featured nine professional players who are well-known in the Dota 2 community, including Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen, Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf, Oliver “skiter” Lepko, and Matthew “Whitemon” Filemon.
The first 12k MMR average pub match ever was played 23h ago. https://t.co/z2EfwjFant #Dota2 pic.twitter.com/srKI1iSTp1
— Dota2ProTracker 🇺🇦 (@dota2protracker) January 21, 2024
The gameplay quality in this match was at par with that of professional tournament games, offering viewers a spectacle of high-level strategies and exceptional plays.
Increasing Frequency of 12K MMR Matches in Dota 2
This event marks a growing trend in high-level Dota 2 play. Another notable match reached 12,168 MMR and featured well-known players like Amer “Miracle-” Al-Barkawi and Alimzhan “watson” Islambekov. These matches, primarily occurring on the European server, indicate a rising standard in professional Dota 2 gameplay, promising more such high-rated games in the future.
Dota 2 pro players on a 12168 MMR game (Image credit: Dota 2)
Pro players’ smurf account bans
The increase in high MMR matches can be attributed to Valve’s recent policy changes regarding smurf accounts. Smurf accounts, used by high-level players, often mask their true skill level, resulting in one-sided games. In response, Valve initiated a crackdown on these accounts in Frostivus 2023, targeting professional players’ smurfs and normal players alike, including Miroslav “Mira” Kolpakov, Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov, and Hector “K1” Rodriguez.
Even RTZ is on the cutting board
Artour “Arteezy” Babaev’s blocked smurf account is a notable example. With more pro players competing on their main account, the instances of matches exceeding 12000 MMR are becoming more frequent. The first player to breach the 13000 MMR threshold was Nuengnara “23savage” Teeramahanon in December 2022, marking an evolution toward a new era where high-MMR Immortal ranked games become the norm, elevating the game’s true competitiveness to unprecedented heights.
