TL;DR
- ESIC banned 35 CSGO players globally after a two-year investigation into betting violations
- Ban durations ranged from 12 to 60 months based on severity of offenses committed
- Players engaged in collusive behavior including betting against their own teams
- The investigation revealed systemic issues affecting lower-tier competitive circuits
- Ongoing cooperation with law enforcement aims to prevent future match-fixing incidents
The competitive Counter-Strike: Global Offensive landscape faces an escalating challenge with match-fixing incidents threatening the fundamental integrity of professional esports competitions. These violations undermine competitive fairness and erode fan trust in tournament outcomes.
Following extensive global investigations, the Esports Integrity Commission has imposed competitive bans on 35 professional players found guilty of violating the Anti-Corruption Code across multiple CSGO tournaments. The comprehensive inquiry spanned competitive scenes in Australia, Europe, and North America, revealing sophisticated manipulation schemes.
Investigators discovered that implicated competitors placed wagers on their own matches or deliberately bet against their teams during ESIC-sanctioned events. The commission’s findings highlighted organized collusion where players shared insider information about predetermined match outcomes with external parties, enabling coordinated betting activities.
ESIC issues sanctions against 35 players for betting related offences & extends bans for 2 players previously sanctioned in October 2020.
ESIC will continue to investigate further offences in Australia, NA and Europe in cooperation with law enforcement.
(1/2) pic.twitter.com/KgVudv0d9t— ESIC (@ESIC_Official) January 22, 2021
Who Faced CSGO Match-Fixing Bans?
Among the penalized Australian competitors was Joel “PEARSS” Kurta, who had recently transitioned to competing in Valorant. His 12-month suspension creates uncertainty regarding his professional future in Riot Games’ tactical shooter, demonstrating how disciplinary actions transcend individual game titles.
Every professional player implicated in these integrity breaches received formal charging documents from ESIC outlining specific violations and available appeal procedures. Suspension periods varied significantly from one-year bans up to severe five-year exclusions from competitive play. The commission confirmed that all violators have been reported to appropriate law enforcement agencies for potential criminal proceedings.
“Maintaining competitive purity requires professional athletes to completely avoid gambling on matches within their revenue-generating discipline. This abstinence is essential for preserving international esports credibility and preventing malicious actors from exploiting competitive systems,” ESIC emphasized in their comprehensive findings report.
Suspended Competitors
- Jeremy “motion” Lloyd (Control) — 12-month suspension
- Patrick “falcon” Romano De Sousa (Control) — 12-month suspension
- Johnathan “Del” Sackesen (Lese) — 12-month suspension
- Grayson “vax” Uppington (Overt) — 12-month suspension
- Aidan “meta” Wiringi Jones (Overt) — 12-month suspension
- Kaito “minusthecoffee” Massey (Aftermind) — 12-month suspension
- Mason “msn” Trevaskis (Aftermind) — 12-month suspension
- John “jcg” Grima (Integral Nation) — 12-month suspension
- Isaac “prodigy” Dahlan (Integral Nation) — 12-month suspension
- Billy “beetee” Thomson (Integral Nation) — 12-month suspension
- Kieren “Muzoona” Jackson-Clapper (Integral Nation) — 12-month suspension
- Matthew “zilla” Zdilar (Mako) — 12-month suspension
- James “roflko” Lytras (Vertex) — 12-month suspension
- Damon “damyo” Portelli (LAKERS) — 12-month suspension
- Jak “jtr” Robinson (Rooster 2) — 12-month suspension
- Daniel “rekonz” Mort (R!OT Gaming) — 12-month suspension
- Nicolas “lato” Gullotti (Skyfire) — 12-month suspension
- Marcus “mdk” Kyriazopoulos (really weird) — 12-month suspension
- Joel “pearss” Kurta (Waterbottle, Valorant) — 12-month suspension
- James “jamie” MacPhail (Downfall) — 12-month suspension
- Ioan (Ionica) “bowie” Tuleasca (Lese) — 12-month suspension
- Joshua “joshaaye” Wilson — 12-month suspension
- Ryan “kragz” Clarke (Incept) — 12-month suspension
- Roman “matr1kz” Santos (Forbidden) — 24-month suspension
- Cailan “caily” Lovegrove (Aftermind) — 24-month suspension
- Andy “Noobster” Zhang (Ground Zero) — 36-month suspension
- Jayden “foggers” Graham (Control) — 48-month suspension
- Sam “tham” Mitchell (Buckets) — 48-month suspension
- Mate “habbo hotel” Poduje (LAKERS) — 48-month suspension
- Samuel “samy” Jarvis (Caught off Guard) — 48-month suspension
- Daniel “deezy” Zhang (Aftermind) — 48-month suspension
- John “wots” Zhu (Forbidden) — 48-month suspension
- Matthew “jam” Castro (Overt) — 60-month suspension
- Alvin “Gravins” Changgra — 60-month suspension
- Wilson “willyks” Sugianto (Vertex) — 60-month suspension
Modified Suspensions
- Akram “ADK” Smida (Rooster) — 24-month suspension (increased from 12)
- Daryl “Mayker” May (Ground Zero) — 48-month suspension (increased from 12)
CSGO Match-Fixing: Systemic Esports Integrity Crisis
Australian competitive CSGO participants faced serious allegations in 2019 for orchestrating the deliberate loss of five tournament matches. These athletes placed wagers opposing their own squads, creating financial incentives for competitive failure.
“We encounter predominantly young males, typically aged 19-20 years, lacking previous law enforcement interaction,” explained assistant commissioner Neil Paterson during the initial inquiry. “These individuals become involved in corruption-related violations during formative career stages, facing substantial professional consequences.”
Veteran CSGO professional Jake “Stewie2K” Yip expressed significant frustration regarding the situation, asserting that lower-level competitive circuits experience disruption from questionable team operations. He believed organizations outside elite competition tiers perceived match-fixing as low-risk activity, ultimately discouraging legitimate competitors from participation. The professional referenced earlier competitive integrity scandals occurring within the 2014 CSGO competitive environment.
We saw the big regrets from iBP when they match fixed. They were set as an example to never do it again and got pushed away from competitive CS for it
People still matchfixing and thinking they’re sneaky since they aren’t tier 1
Get your shady ass outa here and keep the dirty $
— Jake (@Stewie) September 4, 2020
As competitive integrity violations persist within professional Counter-Strike and broader esports ecosystems, ESIC maintains commitment to identifying professional competitors engaging in prohibited activities.
The ESIC investigation reveals critical vulnerabilities in esports governance that require systematic addressing. Professional players, particularly in developing competitive regions, face substantial financial pressures that can motivate integrity violations. Understanding these systemic pressures is essential for developing effective prevention frameworks.
Competitive organizations should implement comprehensive educational programs covering ethical competition standards, gambling addiction resources, and financial management guidance. Regular integrity training sessions and confidential reporting mechanisms help create environments where violations can be identified and addressed before causing widespread damage.
Tournament organizers must establish robust monitoring systems for unusual betting patterns and performance anomalies. Early detection mechanisms combined with clear disciplinary frameworks serve as powerful deterrents against match-fixing attempts. The cooperation between ESIC and law enforcement agencies establishes important precedents for treating esports integrity violations with appropriate seriousness.
For competitors navigating the professional gaming landscape, maintaining ethical standards is paramount. Those interested in competitive integrity frameworks may find our Complete Guide to competitive standards valuable. Additionally, understanding proper Class Guide selection and Weapons Unlock progression systems provides context for structured competitive environments.
Action Checklist
- Review ESIC’s Anti-Corruption Code and understand prohibited activities
- Implement personal betting restrictions and avoid gambling on competitive titles
- Participate in integrity education programs offered by tournament organizers
- Establish confidential reporting channels for suspicious competitive behavior
- Monitor official ESIC communications for updated integrity guidelines
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » ESIC has just banned 35 CSGO pro players for match fixing Comprehensive analysis of CSGO match-fixing bans, investigation processes, and esports integrity protection measures