- Riot Games has officially announced the completion of a large-scale investigation into possible match-fixing in the Valorant discipline. The investigation did not reveal sufficient evidence to support allegations of cheating or other forms of unfair play.
- The investigation was in-depth: experts thoroughly analyzed in-game actions, studied technical data of accounts, and conducted extensive conversations with players and involved parties. Despite the broad scope and seriousness of the approach, the investigation did not find convincing signs of collusion or fraudulent activity within the framework of esports matches.
The reason for launching the investigation was a video published by former pro-player and current general manager of the Shopify Rebellion team — Sean “seangares” Gears. In it, he openly spoke about the alleged existing agreements and cheating in the North American Valorant Challengers league. These allegations caused a serious resonance and called into question the fairness of the competition, which forced Riot Games to launch its own investigation. However, ultimately no factual evidence was found to support the alleged violations.
Betting, Bribery, and Valorant: How Riot Fights for the Integrity of Esports
Sean Gears made serious allegations, stating that the competitive scene was “tainted” by underground gambling operations, where players were reportedly bribed to intentionally lose matches. Riot Games responded to these claims with significant concern and launched an extensive investigation. They mobilized multiple internal departments and collaborated with external partners, including Sportradar, GRID, and the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), to ensure a thorough review. Over several weeks, the investigative team meticulously analyzed game footage, scrutinized account data, reviewed betting receipts, and conducted interviews with players and staff who were mentioned in the allegations. The goal was to uncover the truth behind these disturbing claims and uphold the integrity of the gaming community.
After a thorough investigation, especially into the controversial match between Blue Otter and Shopify Rebellion, Riot Games has officially closed the investigation. The reason is insufficient evidence. The company noted that it was not able to confirm a single instance of fraud, manipulation, fixed games, or unfair betting.
Riot also commented on statements on social media, which mentioned the possible involvement of one of Riot’s employees in organizing fixed matches. The official release says:
“Despite all attempts to gather evidence or obtain at least some reliable information, no source has provided anything concrete.”
The reaction of the community was mixed. One of the most famous players, Tyson “TenZ” Ngo, spoke out sharply:
“I am not surprised. Since the introduction of the franchise, the Tier-2 scene is in horror. Without proper support from Riot, many players simply lose hope. And in such a situation, it is easy to decide to fix a match – for money that can really change their life.”
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