In 2021, Valorant decided to ban and fine two Singaporean players after investigations revealed that they plotted to throw a competitive match to wager against their team, even coercing other teammates to follow suit.
A couple of years later, the law comes for the duo.
Valorant Game Fixers Sentenced
Malcolm "Germsg" Chung Wai Kiat, the former captain of Singapore-based Valorant pro team Resurgence (RSG), has been handed a four-month jail term for his involvement in a match-fixing scheme that unfolded during the EPULZE Royal Southeast Asia Cup Tournament, a part of the prestigious Valorant Ignition Series in 2020, AFKGaming tells us in a report.
Alongside him, Ryan "Dreamycsgo" Tan, a close friend and fellow gamer, was also convicted and sentenced to at least six months of reformative training due to his active participation in the scandal.
The history between Dreamycsgo and Germsg traces back to 2014, when they began their journey as professional gamers, playing Counterstrike together. Eventually, their paths aligned, and they both joined Team Resurgence (RSG) 's Valorant squad, with Germsg assuming the role of captain.
A Closer Look at the Scandal
It all started when Dreamycsgo, known for his gambling habits, borrowed a substantial sum of SGD 1,000 from Germsg in August 2020.
However, as fate would have it, Lady Luck turned her back on Dreamycsgo, and he found himself unable to repay his debts. As time passed, tensions between the two players escalated, setting the stage for a shocking climax.
With Dreamycsgo owing Germsg a significant amount, tensions reached a boiling point, and an audacious plan was hatched.
The Match-Fixing Scheme
Enter Tan, a cunning individual who proposed a devious scheme to resolve Dreamycsgo's debt crisis. The plan? Bet on their own team, Team RSG, intentionally losing a crucial match.
To ensure victory, Germsg would deliberately underperform, paving the way for Tan to profit from the bets and ultimately repay the debt.
In a desperate bid to recoup his money, AFKGaming reports that Germsg agreed to the plan. Dreamycsgo, determined to make the scheme a reality, convinced his older brother to lend him SGD 3,000, which was then transferred to Germsg.
With the funds secured, Germsg placed five bets against his own team on an illicit gambling website, utilizing his personal account.
How the Plan Went
The fateful day arrived on September 22, 2020, as Team RSG faced off against Team Blackbird Ignis from Japan. The stage was set for betrayal as Germsg intentionally delivered a lackluster performance and instructed his teammates to follow suit. The result? Team RSG suffered a heartbreaking defeat, handing the victory to their unsuspecting opponents.
This nefarious match-fixing scandal remained shrouded in secrecy until June 24, 2021, when the chief operating officer of RSG, overcome by suspicion, filed a police report.
The revelation sent shockwaves throughout the esports community, resulting in dire consequences for Team RSG, leading to the disbandment of their once-promising Valorant team.
Now, the Valorant community faces the arduous task of moving forward, leaving behind the shadows of this shocking match-fixing scandal.
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