Riot Games conducts own investigation into Valorant match-fixing among gamers



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Sources informed Dexerto that Riot Games had conducted a series of interviews among Valorant players regarding allegations of match-fixing, including those believed to have participated in such activity in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

This investigation is completely independent of that undertaken by the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC), and it is not clear to what extent, if any, there is overlap between the two.

A source, who was approached in connection with the investigation, explained that it began following a public speech regarding alleged match-fixing activity in the North American Mountain Dew League (MDL) operated by the ESEA league owned by MTG. The issue was at the heart of a months-long ESIC investigation that many expected to be released to date.

Several of the players suspected in this investigation had moved to Valorant to seize the opportunities of Riot’s new first-person shooter.

Riot games

Riot’s internal investigation could have an impact on the Valorant Champions Tour.

Meanwhile, several organizations had expressed concerns about the commitment to offer player contracts as it was unclear what the outcome of the investigation would be, nor what Riot’s response would be to the bans issued in an esport. completely different.

One such example occurred in September of last year.

value did not pledge to sign Ryan ‘Shanks’ NgoDespite his stellar performances, amid rumors he was one of the players under investigation. Kevin “ ready ” Ngo was also released. The two had played together on MDL’s CSGO teams which were repeatedly accused of match-fixing.

After DIG’s decision, several top Valorant players tweeted their thoughts.

It is still not known publicly whether or not the allegations made against these people have a basis.

“Currently there is a team of people investigating the CSGO allegations and they have interviewed a number of actors who they believe are named in the ESIC investigation,” the source told us.

“They interviewed players and owners as they tried to verify the overall integrity of their scene. Several organizations told the players involved that they couldn’t sign them until Riot cleared them, prompting Riot to get involved.

What’s not clear is what information Riot would be able to gather that ESIC wouldn’t, especially since the allegations were made in a league that held a Valve title.

ESIC’s partners include several leading betting sites and gaming commissions that cooperate to tackle integrity issues and as such their ability to gather evidence is significantly greater.

ESIC bans 35 other CSGO Counter-Strike players for betting infractions.
Valve / ESIC

ESIC is currently investigating a number of matchfixing cases in the CSGO Mountain Dew League (now ESEA Premier).

Another source who was interviewed as part of the investigation was not convinced by Riot’s line of questioning.

“Many of the questions were vague and did not relate to specific times. I was asked if I knew something about [one of the accused players] never fix a game and other issues like that. Everyone knows which players did it. We all talk to each other. A few [players] confessed privately, but if they don’t when Riot asks them, I don’t see what they can do about it.

Whatever the outcome of the investigation, it should be seen as a welcome move from Riot Games.

While the developer has already issued several bans on players caught cheating in tournaments, it’s unclear what their stance will be on match-fixing issues. There is certainly a suggestion that they could be lenient on integrity issues based on incidents that they have already dealt with.

Last year, a Riot investigation cleared Ardiis ‘Ardiis’ Svarenieks of any wrongdoing, although another professional player said he was approached by Svarenieks to start a match, and that a public recording being disclosed featured the player saying he would be ready to make the game. for two other parts.

The fact that they are deploying resources to investigate the influx of former CSGO players into their game suggests that they may well take action against convicted players, even if the infractions did not occur within. Valuing.

Ardiis plays CS: GO
ESL

Ardiis, now on G2, was licensed by Riot in 2020.

Our sources couldn’t tell us if Riot Games intended to make their findings public.

The timing for this investigation appears to have come before ESIC announced that their investigation had been slowed down due to the involvement of law enforcement, especially the FBI, as revealed by Slash32.



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