Akuma deny team involvement in betting on own matches

The Ukrainian side are ready to cooperate with the investigation into suspicious bets placed by their former boss.

Dmytro "⁠SENSEi⁠" Shvorak has posted a statement on behalf of Akuma, responding to ESIC receiving evidence of the former Project X CEO Oleksandr Shyshko having placed bets on "highly suspicious Project X matches" at a time when the core of Akuma represented the organization.

The 22-year-old AWPer, who was playing under Project X in the matches in question, has denied his team's involvement in betting on their own matches, adding that the players "cannot be responsible for our ex-CEO's activities on betting websites." The team has also offered to provide ESIC with all necessary information.

Although ESIC has brought the case to light after receiving evidence of Shyshko's betting activities through the Suspicious Betting Alert Network (SBAN), the commission is not currently planning on launching a full investigation into the matter, as it does not have the jurisdiction to do so given that the tournament organizers responsible for the matches in question are not partnered with ESIC. Instead, the esports watchdog has referred the evidence to Valve "for further consideration."

The information has placed Akuma under heavy fire from the community, adding to the widespread suspicions that the Ukrainian side were receiving live match data to gain an unfair advantage during their matches at the EPIC League CIS Regional Major Ranking event, in which they secured convincing victories over Natus Vincere and Virtus.pro en route to third place. Several high-profile figures in the CIS region share the suspicions of foul play, including the vast majority of the teams who took part in the tournament, who have called on Valve to investigate the allegations and enforce strict protocols to help prevent live match data from being abused at future events.