TL;DR
- Professional CS:GO players allu and Jamppi encountered blatant cheaters during Red Bull Flick finals
- FACEIT’s anti-cheat system and real-time monitoring failed to prevent live-streamed cheating
- The incident reveals critical gaps in tournament security and accountability structures
- Real-time cheat detection requires multiple verification layers beyond basic anti-cheat software
- Tournament organizers must implement mandatory anti-cheat and proactive monitoring systems
During the Red Bull Flick tournament broadcast, viewers witnessed something extraordinary—professional CS:GO competitors from ENCE, Aleksi “allu” Jalli and Elias “Jamppi” Olkkonen, encountered opponents displaying physically impossible reaction times and precision. The two-versus-two competition format, played on specially designed maps, became a stage for one of the most obvious cheating displays in recent esports history.
What made this incident particularly alarming was how easily observable the cheating behavior was to both the professional players and the live audience. Even players at the Silver 3 skill level could identify the suspicious gameplay patterns, highlighting how blatant the cheating had become during the tournament’s showcase match.
Multiple video clips from the event demonstrate the accused players not merely performing rapid flicks but consistently tracking both allu and Jamppi through solid walls before executing perfect headshots across different maps in the championship rounds. Tournament officials’ failure to intervene during these obvious violations raises serious questions about event oversight protocols.
Red Bull’s statement blames FACEIT for Flick’s cheating scandal
Red Bull’s formal communication regarding the incident directly attributed responsibility to their tournament operations partner FACEIT:
Red Bull’s official remarks were originally released in Finnish. They has been edited for clarity.
“The Red Bull Flick final tournament was held yesterday, May 23, and there has been a debate around the tournament about suspected [hacking]. Red Bull hosted the tournament and FACEIT, with [their] extensive experience in hosting major CS: GO tournaments was responsible for running the tournament, [and provided] admins and anti-cheat software.
Anti-cheat software was available to all players throughout the tournament and FACEIT admins monitored the finals of the final tournament in real-time. Due to the large amount of feedback we receive, FACEIT’s official anti-cheat admins go through all the game recordings for the final tournament and qualifiers and all other material submitted to FACEIT afterward. If abuse [has occured], they will report this separately during the early part of the week.”
This incident represents significant reputational damage for both Counter-Strike: Global Offensive esports and the FACEIT platform, particularly concerning if the translation accurately states that FACEIT administrators were actively watching the tournament as it happened. The substantial volume of community reports suggests the suspected players faced scrutiny beyond just the finals match.
Red Bull’s wording indicates FACEIT’s anti-cheat tools were “accessible” to participants, but crucially doesn’t confirm whether their use was compulsory for all competitors—a critical security oversight in high-stakes tournaments.
The official statement leaves ambiguity regarding whether the community reports specifically targeted the two players in question. However, competitors willing to cheat during a broadcasted exhibition match against established professionals likely employed similar tactics in earlier tournament stages.
This cheating scandal exposes fundamental vulnerabilities in current esports tournament security frameworks. Professional players competing against obvious cheaters during live broadcasts indicates systemic failures in both technological detection and human oversight systems.
The psychology behind cheating in high-visibility situations reveals much about modern competitive gaming culture. Players willing to risk exposure during streamed matches often operate under the assumption that tournament anti-cheat measures are insufficient or that the prestige of victory outweighs potential consequences.
Effective tournament security requires a multi-layered approach: mandatory anti-cheat software, dedicated live monitoring staff, delayed broadcast buffers for intervention, and post-match analysis protocols. Tournament organizers must implement these comprehensive security layers rather than relying solely on basic anti-cheat solutions.
For players concerned about competitive integrity, understanding proper tournament preparation includes verifying security measures before participation. The incident demonstrates why competitors should research event security protocols as thoroughly as they study game mechanics.
The community now awaits FACEIT’s final determination, but this episode represents a disappointing conclusion to an otherwise promising competitive event. The lasting impact may drive necessary improvements in tournament security standards across the esports industry.
Advanced players should also consider how proper game mastery development provides the most reliable path to competitive success, unlike shortcut methods that ultimately damage both individual reputations and competitive ecosystems.
Action Checklist
- Verify mandatory anti-cheat requirements before registering for any competitive event
- Report suspicious gameplay immediately with timestamped evidence
- Research tournament organizer’s security track record before participation
- Advocate for delayed broadcast buffers to allow real-time cheat intervention
- Support tournaments with transparent security protocols and enforcement histories
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Pro players run into blatant cheaters during Red Bull Flick showmatch How pro players exposed blatant cheating during Red Bull Flick finals and what it means for esports integrity