ESIC suspends Ukrainian quartet for two years over match-fixing charges

29-11-2023 11:07

Former Akuma player SENSEi is among those banned, for offenses committed during his time with Project X around the turn of 2021.

The players' bans will expire on October 24, 2025

Dmytro "⁠SENSEi⁠" Shvorak, Max "⁠THRONE⁠" Semenov, Artur "⁠DarkS1DE⁠" Kravchenko, and Danylo "⁠nat1ve⁠" Bakin have been suspended from all ESIC member events for two years due to breaches of their Anti-Corruption code and "significant evidence of suspicious and unusual betting on matches involving these players."

SENSEi, who is most notable for being the highest-rated player of the controversial 2021 Akuma roster, has been banned for "attempted engagement in match-fixing activities" during "several LAN events" at Project X. He played for the latter project between October 2020 and March 2021.

His Akuma side were the subject of an open letter signed by 14 teams including Spirit and Virtus.pro in June 2021, calling for a Valve investigation into cheating allegations against the squad. But, SENSEi's charges only relate to his time before joining that lineup.

Monkeylay handed two-year ban by ESIC over betting offenses

ESIC stated that these two-year suspensions follow investigations into Akuma, Project X, and MAJESTY. The latter two rosters featured Ihor "⁠w0nderful⁠" Zhdanov, who was dubiously accused of being involved in match-fixing at MAJESTY by short-time ESIC employee Alexey "Yarabeu" Kurlov in November 2022, but NAVI's new sniper has not been sanctioned upon the completion of the watchdog's investigation.

THRONE, DarkS1DE, and nat1ve, however, have been banned under match-fixing charges surrounding an unnamed Bulgarian LAN event between August and December 2020. The event is most likely Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2020, MAJESTY's only recorded LAN appearance in Bulgaria.

The four named players were charged on October 24, meaning their ban is set to expire on the same date in 2025.

This announcement follows ESIC's ban of Burak "⁠Monkeylay⁠" Can Turunç for the same term and their provisional suspension of Joel "⁠joel⁠" Holmlund in September, who maintains his innocence.

hmmm

2023-11-29 11:08

9 replies

how much esic? we all know matchfixing dont exist PS. love how they ban players once they stopped playing anyway

2023-11-29 11:11

7 replies

Yeah i should get away with scams because i stopped doing them. FLAG gives you NEGATIVE IQ comment B L O C K E D #fanlogic P.S. ban zonic already ffs

2023-11-29 16:12

6 replies

nah u missed my point point was they dont touch active players aka demqq w0nderful etc, they only ban irrelevant players so sheeps think they are doing something when in reality they are scared to touch anyone inside top50 for whatever reason

2023-11-29 16:19

4 replies

+1 they dont touch w0nderful, weird...

2023-11-29 18:54

2 replies

w0nderful cheated?

2023-11-30 14:03

1 reply

Only accused

2023-12-02 13:01

True

2023-12-04 06:30

his point is ESIC has nothing to do with a scene and is a pointless org that does nothing in a fight against matchfixing

2023-11-29 21:39

Expected, finally

2023-11-29 11:16

too late

finally

Good riddance

Rest in Piss

shitstorm below inc

lol

2023-11-29 11:09

B8 next

rare ESIC W

ESIC not clowns anymore? Promoted to human cannonballs?

2023-11-29 11:20

5 replies

1st not unknown player ban in 10 years of esuck xdddd

2023-11-29 11:28

3 replies

yeah but a player with horrible reputation who half of the community (pro players included) think cheated in on a LAN, so ez for ESIC, no respect gained

2023-11-29 11:33

he also non-active for 8 months already lmao

2023-11-29 11:42

He just joined a team 2 months ago. Not a relevant team but still a team

2023-11-29 20:40

nah, they involved in marchfixing in dota. mafi pay money to hide evidence. watch some videos on youtube

2023-11-29 16:48

sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh

2023-11-29 11:10

So Bulgarians are legit?

Indeed, look at your flag

explain that.

2023-11-29 11:23

He's just dumb.

2023-11-29 16:37

He's not from BULGARIAA that's it

2023-11-29 21:30

Cool only 95% of the scene left

Better late than never

Ofc Just unknown names cuz they know they cant Touch the big orgs, why even bother

sad but true

2023-11-29 12:11

This

2023-11-29 16:14

+1 there would be an atomic bomb

2023-11-29 21:43

ofc sensei ex-akuma is involved lol

2023-11-29 11:12

Ban players after they stop playing

2023-11-29 11:13

exactly, these guys were nonamers even 2-3 years ago, but they only ban them now when even sensei is not even playing anymore LOL

2023-11-29 11:14

Sensei got signed by 7AM month ago

2023-11-29 11:50

GRATZ!

DemQQ, ruskies and Bulgarians next

There will be nothing like that, they will ban Bulgarians out of 500, in about 7 years and that’s it

2023-11-29 12:58

pretty sure ESIC too scared to ban demQQ

2023-11-29 18:26

flag checks out

Yeah forze bois aint fixing in cct :D

2023-11-29 11:29

We are better even in matchfixing blud

2023-11-29 21:29

DEMQQQQ NEXT LETS GOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Who would have thought

Ban DemQQ too

Finally? But better late then never. This time I can say respect to ESIC. Now maybe investigate other 20+ radar teams

2023-11-29 11:15

Kinda doesn't make sense to ban them 3 years later in another game 🤦🤦🤦

Ahahah good point

2023-11-29 21:28

ESIC with prompt action 🤡

Demqq ban when?

2023-11-29 11:17

never, he plays for top7 team

2023-11-29 11:19

esic is a joke

2023-11-29 11:18

Bazooka that Akuma

w0nderful? demqq? hobbit?????? who cars about these frauds

They cant ban them because they are playing on T1 that would be a shock for naive fans esic trash can only ban retired players or au tier 10 teams

2023-11-29 11:40

whatsup with w0nderful?

2023-11-29 17:39

Played for MAJESTY back in the days who were suspended of fixing(that's why nat1ve was banned) but when he got an offer from TS he was checked and proven not guilty harumi said☝🏿

yeah w0nderful is def guilty he is very young and motivated to play at the highest lvl, I wouldnt believe that he's matchfixing with the talent that he has

Ban trash olimp when??

2023-11-29 11:21

The fact that w0nderful has not been sanctioned raises a question why relatively successful and/or promising players are not being punished. How could wonderful not know that 3 of his teammates are throwing the matches? It could be a skadoodle situation - he didn't accept the reward for throwing the matches. Either he is innocent, or they don't want the scene and/or big orgs to crumble, as it's going to be a shitstorm. Or maybe it's the players without a future in the upper echelons of counterstrike that matchfix? P.S. I neither think he is guilty, nor want him banned, but I want to play the devil's advocate.

If all was legit only top10 teams atm would be innocent all outside top10 fix the max they can, beside monte who like to 322 on occasion

2023-11-29 11:25

Because matchfixing in cs has gotten so out of hand that if ESiC were to ban every matchfixer it would completely destroy the reputation of the game. Especially now that wonderful plays for a big name team. Valve and ESiC are a bunch of useless pussies.

Valve are not pussies, ESIC is. UN of CS, lmao, same uselessness

2023-11-29 12:14

w0nderful also featured in both of the teams that had their players banned today, there is literally no way he didnt know

2023-11-29 14:16

so that's why putin got crazy out of nowhere.. but esic, you are kind of late bros..

Special military operation for decheaterization and dematchfixation of Ukraine

2023-11-29 21:26

actual question when was the last time ESIC organised an event? or do ESL and BLAST events come under ESIC?

2023-11-29 11:22

ESIC has alliance with then, and a lot of others tournaments organizers, even some CCT and others lowers tiers organizers.

2023-11-30 11:08

people who talking about when DemQQ you read article? Sensei was banned not for Akuma think what you saying

esic.gg/press-release/esic-update-regard.. What about this? ESIC so slow man

ohh, really? who might think

2023-11-29 11:26

ofc they only punish players that are not even playing anymore

wow really?((( only 1 akuma player after so much years ?:(((( demqq still able to play tier1 lans btw but wp ESIC 1st notable ban of player for all the history of your corporation LMAO

2023-11-29 11:27

good job ESIC with these pathetic matchfixers but why ignore DEMQQ???

DemQQ’s the cleanest one out of the original Akuma. Likely innocent.

2023-11-29 13:46

j3kie is the cleanest one, DemQQ still had that dust2 short smoke moment

2023-11-29 21:24

Hmmmmmmm , so immposible

2023-11-29 11:31

how the fuck 500 isn't banned yet , how much do they pay to esic xddd But about the topic, Sensei deserved ,but i have never heard of the other kids xd

2023-11-29 11:36

im pretty sure they know how to use vpn/proxy/crypto/shady sites for 322 that's why but also those esuck only ban 2 known players in 10 years of their "work" when there are 9/10 games fixed

2023-11-29 11:44

Remember, there is no matchfixing, as being said by HLTV users spamming HOW MUCH LMAO

2023-11-29 11:32

how much lmao?

2023-11-29 11:35

Byee

rip sensei, hes actually a good player but yeah. Deserved + L

nice, but an irrelevant bunch of names

2023-11-29 11:37

literally this , besides Sensei, the others are literally names that i've never heard of xd

2023-11-29 11:43

i doubt any players from top 20 teams will get caught for their past crimes, but i can dream

2023-11-29 11:47

OTHER AKUMA PLAYERS STILL NOT BANNED AHAHHAHAHAHAHA

2023-11-29 11:38

RipBozo

Only 2 years lul

Mommy, when I grow up I want to be a matchfixer

2023-11-29 11:45

when i grow up i want to be a director of esic

2023-11-29 13:03

You can be both at same time

2023-11-29 15:47

ahaha based

2023-11-29 17:52

Basically u wanna seat on that single hotel chair near the bed

2023-11-29 21:23

not surprised bout sensei

2023-11-29 11:51

DemQQ ban and j3kie ban when?

2023-11-29 12:07

DO NOT touch ma boi Jeka

2023-11-29 21:21

322 gaming But only for irrelevant players

2023-11-29 12:36

DemQ next

should ban the entire roster, not just some individuals, do we seriously think they weren't all on it?

2023-11-29 12:38

When will you guys ban that Polish guy Olimp who is Sexual Harassing our boy JLs Girlfriend

2023-11-29 12:46

dark lords

2023-11-29 12:49

Nice, they finally got banned But Esic, can you move faster and ban players before their career ends?

2023-11-29 12:53

they could have said that they were collecting money to help their army and then they would have been forgiven for sure

2023-11-29 12:56

0/8

2023-11-29 13:35

their career`s are dead already goodjob ESIC always on time no one doesnt care about your fishy ban for 322 moves Ofc if u did this 2 years ago it should be nice move

2023-11-29 12:57

a couple akuma players missing

2023-11-29 13:06

deserved

2023-11-29 13:29

Demqq was innocent?

2023-11-29 13:32

feels bad for team 7am, sign him just for him to get but eh i guess it was expected

2023-11-29 13:34

wonderful and demq next pls. if no ban just shows this shit excuse of a 'integrity comission' is a joke + akuma dirty cheaters they all deserve ban

2023-11-29 13:41

2023-11-29 13:57

2023-11-29 14:13

They wait until they stopped playing to ban them lol.. How come w0nderful isnt banned?

2023-11-29 14:32

SKADE still isn't touched XD

2023-11-29 14:34

How can u fix a game if ur rating it’s 0.80? U can’t even be the favorite

2023-11-29 14:39

you dont need to be favorite there is many betting possibilities not only win/lose match but example win pistol round. Just use cheats pistol round and ezpz

2023-11-29 20:35

1 akuma player from his time before he was on the team. ESIC are useless

2023-11-29 14:42

2023-11-29 14:47

skade when?

2023-11-29 14:59

Nice but 2 years late

2023-11-29 15:00

nice, time to ban demq

2023-11-29 15:01

Zelenskyy discussing how to add HLTV to the terrorist list right now!

2023-11-29 15:15

50% of his income depends on it

2023-11-29 18:42

The efficiency of ESIC is impressive. Ban 3 inactive players and SENSEI after a few years. Nice Job.

Internet Explorer, none of them are playing anymore lmao

2023-11-29 15:46

flusha, jw next?

2023-11-29 16:01

Finally, deserved. Now rest of the Hakuma bois

2023-11-29 16:09

sensei deserves worse grrr

2023-11-29 16:17

Ukraine most corrupt country in europe what do you expect lol.

2023-11-29 16:44

ty for money na <333

2023-11-29 17:01

yh just bought a new plane for my dog

2023-11-29 21:20

Akuma when?

2023-11-29 17:21

ESIC is a joke

2023-11-29 17:42

Corrupted like the government.

2023-11-29 17:45

The problem is the lack of law giving in online gaming. S. Korea is the only nation where it is unlawful to cheat in online games. I am confident that this would be by far the best incentive to make most players not even consider cheating / matchfixing.

Oh no cheating in a video game please don’t put me in jail. A country like South Korea does that shit because half of their youth population spends their time staring at a loading screen and they have LoL players making more money than actual athletes. No one in America (or most of the western world) is going to give a fuck about kids cheating in esports. Now the organizations themselves can institute these policies and punish players but thinking this can be solved via legislation is laughable.

2023-11-29 20:16

Such arrogant anger... Where does it come from? You present zero proper counter argument, just the typical NA emotional bullshit, somehow believing it's an argument.

2023-11-29 20:29

BTN when?

2023-11-29 17:53

Akuma probably didn't cheat lol, for s1mple cry is free

2023-11-29 17:54

STAFF wwtf

2023-11-29 18:09

there should be over 100 players on this list

2023-11-29 18:27

overdrive was right once again

2023-11-29 18:36

DemQQ when?

2023-11-29 18:39

2023-11-29 20:18

Gucci academy and Paloma next please

2023-11-29 18:40

expected

2023-11-29 19:53

only 2 years? clown law just like worldwide law clown world

2023-11-29 20:14

matchfixing on LAN confirmed :O

the fun fact is that Project X never played any LAN)))

2023-11-29 23:34

Not a suprise they where cheating/fixing but when esic is actually banning active players and t1/t2 players

2023-11-29 20:36

About time

a known cheater now is also a know match fixer I hope you die in a cold ukranian jail

2023-11-29 22:49

fuk u esic ur done company

2023-11-30 00:01

expected from Ukrainian

2023-11-30 00:02

2023-12-04 07:49

how soon the same will happen for DemQQ and woro2k?

2023-11-30 04:19

Jail them

2023-11-30 09:10

Ok, go defend your land now !

2023-11-30 09:58

ofc demqq full clean ;))) clownsic

2023-11-30 17:37

hello esic , how do i get my money back i lost on betting these matchfixers? :D cs is bs and match fixing happens everyday , just most of them are smart and using crypto/family account to bet lmao.

2023-12-01 06:15

your fault if you bet on tier 4

2023-12-01 06:40

byebye hahahah

2023-12-01 07:38

50% of those tier 2/3 matches are fixed in someway. on round handicaps. to win or lose a pistol round. to lose or win a map. i know a ppl who told me that bettors have already tried to entice/corupt him several times, and that the proposals were very good. some players receive less than 2K/month, and some of then didnt even receive something. those bettors offers 3x that just to throw a pistol round or some rounds to get the handicap. wake up guys...

2023-12-01 18:05

Wont ban w0nderful bc hes on a t1 team

2023-12-03 03:30

2023-12-04 11:09

Not surprised that all of them ukranians

2023-12-03 11:37

Ukraine good, Russia bad, always. At least that's what they keep saying, like a mantra. Russia may be the offender, but the western media are clearing Ukraine of every little single negative publicity, creating a skewed version of the conflict, easily enabling skepticism when you begin to realize how much relevant and readily available information are being downplayed, or straight out omitted from media reports. The exposure/increased level of misinformation from MSM and government authorities about various subjects, Lies about wars, lies about weapons, lies about vaccines. Using highly biased experts when talking about subjects, like hiring a bank worker to describe the economy....his job is to make money for his employer, his job is not to inform you of what would hinder this process, etc etc. It has become a long string of bullshit, the peoples trust are diminishing at a record pace, a fact which is also being ignored. They keep playing their game as being the all informed goodie two shoes who just wants to make you, the voter/reader/listener/viewers life better. Completely entangled in a web of a myriad of tiny manipulative lies, creating a gigantic lie when put together as a whole.

2023-12-04 05:33