Leo Faria, Global Head of VALORANT Esports, has released an official statement addressing growing concerns about match-fixing, cheating, and other integrity issues within the North American Challengers circuit. The announcement comes after a recent video by Sean Gares, titled The Dark Side of Competitive VALORANT, exposed alleged misconduct involving players and third parties.
Faria emphasized that Riot Games is treating these claims with the utmost seriousness. He mentioned that the company has been gathering information since early May and has partnered with integrity specialists, including IBIA, Sportradar, and GRID, to conduct a thorough investigation. However, he clarified that no definitive evidence has been found yet.
He also highlighted the importance of whistleblowers in such cases but stressed that only verified proof can lead to official action. Riot Games promised to provide updates once a decision is reached and urged anyone with relevant information to report directly to league officials or Riot, in line with their Code of Conduct.
Sean Gares Exposes Alleged Match-Fixing Scheme
Sean Gares, General Manager of Shopify Rebellion’s esports division, detailed serious accusations in his recent video. He specifically called out a user known as bray, who allegedly enticed Challengers players to intentionally lose matches in exchange for monetary rewards. Gares also linked bray to crypto groups managed by individuals like Cooker.
Both bray and Cooker have publicly denied involvement. Bray insisted he had no part in any wrongdoing, while Cooker stated he would never engage in match-fixing.
Additionally, Gares presented potential evidence against Blue Otter players Adam Fair Elharoun and Bob Bob Tran (now with FlyQuest RED), accusing them of throwing a match against Burger Boys and cheating against Shopify Rebellion. Gares mentioned knowing of two other implicated teams but chose not to disclose their names to protect individuals involved.
FlyQuest RED Takes Action Amid Investigation
Following the allegations, FlyQuest RED has temporarily benched Bob pending further investigation. The organization announced they would use a stand-in until the situation is resolved.
This decision has drawn mixed reactions from the community, especially since FlyQuest did not take similar action against Cooper coopertastic, another player who faced backlash for making transphobic and sexist remarks.
As the investigation unfolds, the VALORANT esports community awaits further updates from Riot Games regarding potential sanctions and measures to safeguard competitive integrity.