THE ES TIMES — I've recently been following the escalating controversy rocking the VALORANT scene in North America. Riot Games has issued an official response to the mounting allegations of match-fixing, cheating, and integrity violations within Challengers NA competitions.

Statement from Riot's Global Head of VALORANT Esports

Leo Faria, the global head of VALORANT Esports, addressed the matter through the VCT X account, confirming that Riot Games takes these allegations very seriously. According to Faria, Riot began gathering information immediately after the reports surfaced in early May.

To further the process, Riot Games enlisted the help of several integrity partners, including IBIA, Sportradar, and GRID, to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation. To date, Riot has not confirmed conclusive evidence.

Investigating Carefully

"We are thoroughly investigating all allegations," Faria said. He added that community input is welcome, but only credible evidence will inform decisions. He emphasized the importance of whistleblowers and community awareness, but reminded that legal action must be a priority.

Riot also encouraged anyone with credible information to report it directly. The statement read: "If someone approaches you with information regarding misconduct, don't react—report it immediately." I personally like this approach, as it sets a strong example for professionally handling complex issues.

The Controversy Began:Gares' Revealing Video

The crisis escalated after Sean Gares, the general manager of Shopify Rebellion, posted a video titled "The Dark Side of Competitive VALORANT." He focused on a user named "bray," accusing him of paying players to intentionally lose matches. He also linked him to cryptocurrency-related groups rumored to be run by a person known as Cooker.

Both parties denied the accusations. Bray wrote: "I didn't do anything. I have nothing to do with any of this. Stop posting about me." While Cooker tweeted that he doesn't "engage in any manipulation or anything like that."

Accusations against professional players

Gares also presented what he believes is potential evidence implicating Adam "Fair" Elharoun and Bob "Bob" Tran, who currently play for FlyQuest RED. According to him, they intentionally lost a match against Burger Boys and cheated in another match against Shopify Rebellion.

He also mentioned that two other teams may have been involved, but chose not to name them, citing a desire to "protect people."

FlyQuest RED's reaction

In response to the accusations, FlyQuest RED has decided to temporarily suspend Bob. The team will field a replacement player while an internal investigation is conducted. The team's statement read: "We have been informed of the situation and will take the necessary time to evaluate everything."

However, this decision has drawn criticism from the gaming community, with some pointing out that Marvel Rivals player Cooper 'coopertastic' remains on the FlyQuest roster, despite his offensive statements, which included transphobic and sexist slurs.

Looking Ahead

As the investigation continues, attention is focused on the actions of the individuals and organizations involved. Riot's approach appears balanced and, hopefully, leads to a fair resolution. With the rapid growth of the esports industry, competitive integrity must remain a top priority.

Raouf Belhamra – Esports and Gaming writer