VALORANT player Joseph ‘Ban’ Seung-min has been handed a year-long suspension from participating in all Riot Games-sanctioned events due to involvement in match-fixing and manipulation activities. This decision marks a significant moment in the competitive gaming landscape, underscoring Riot Games’ commitment to maintaining integrity within esports.
Following an extensive investigation lasting four months, the former Global Esports player was found in violation of Riot Games’ Esports Global Code of Conduct, barring him from competing in any VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) event until the end of 2026. The announcement, made public on December 18th, 2025, highlighted Ban’s breach of Article 4.14, which prohibits match-fixing and any form of match manipulation.
A Closer Look at the Incident
The case centered around a VCT Pacific match on July 19th, 2025, involving Global Esports and Team Secret. Although Ban asserted that he would not act on the discussions, his involvement still contravened the Code of Conduct. Article 4.14 explicitly forbids esports professionals from manipulating match outcomes or encouraging others to do so.
Upon concluding the investigation, Riot Games could not authenticate the screenshots but gathered additional evidence through witness testimonies and document reviews, suggesting Ban’s engagement in match-fixing practices. As a result, he faces a one-year competition ban and is required to complete training on “integrity and ethics” before being eligible to return.
Ban’s Career So Far
Ban began his VALORANT career in 2020 and has since played for several prominent teams in the VCT Pacific and North America circuits. His tenure with organizations like Luminosity Gaming, T1, and TALON yielded varied results, including a notable third-place finish at the 2023 VCT Pacific League. From May to November, he competed with Global Esports, achieving a top-12 placement in Stage 2 of VCT Pacific, before leaving the team in a broader organizational restructuring on November 19th.
The issue of integrity has been a recurring theme in VALORANT esports throughout 2025. In an earlier instance, Riot Games reported the findings from a match-fixing probe within the Tier 2 North American scene, ultimately finding no misconduct. This latest suspension serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to uphold fair play in esports.