COMPETITIVE RULING: “GERMSG”, “DREAMYCSGO” & RESURGENCE 2020 ROSTER
Following an ongoing investigation into the Resurgence versus BlackBird Ignus match during the VALORANT Ignition Series in September 2020, VALORANT Esports has ruled that Malcolm “Germsg” Chung and Ryan “Dreamycsgo” Tan have violated Rule 7.2.1 and 7.2.4 of the VALORANT Global Competition Policy for manipulating the outcome of a competitive VALORANT match for monetary gain. They will be banned from VCT for 36 months.
The rest of the Resurgence roster will receive reduced penalties based on their level of culpability and their level of their cooperation with the investigation.
CONTEXT
After becoming aware of allegations of match-fixing in the Resurgence versus BlackBird Ignis match during the VALORANT Ignition Series on 22 September 2020, VALORANT Esports immediately launched an investigation into the matter.
Riot’s investigation found that Malcolm “Germsg” Chung and Ryan “Dreamycsgo” Tan coordinated to bet against their own team, Resurgence. Germsg initiated the scheme and Dreamycsgo provided the capital. Germsg then informed the rest of the Resurgence roster about his bet. Riot found that the rest of Resurgence’s roster did not want to throw the match, but purposefully concealed the issue from their management and VALORANT Esports officials because they were concerned about penalties and risking their contracts with Resurgence.
Following the match, which resulted in a 2-0 win for BlackBird Ignis, Germsg attempted to pay off other individuals in the Resurgence roster. However, this was rejected by the Resurgence players. The roster was disbanded the following month.
Maintaining the competitive integrity of our tournaments is our top priority and we take such matters extremely seriously. All players are expected to abide by the rules of fair play, agreed upon prior to participation in the tournaments. Violations of the rules of fair play will not be tolerated by VALORANT Esports.
RULING
Malcolm “Germsg” Chung and Ryan “Dreamycsgo” Tan have violated Rule 7.2.1 and 7.2.4 of the VALORANT Global Competition Policy and will be banned from VCT for 36 months. The ban is considered to have begun with the original suspension date on 22 April 2021. They will be eligible to return to VALORANT in April 2024.
The rest of the Resurgence roster involved at the time will also receive penalties for participating in the match despite being aware of the situation and failing to inform tournament officials and VALORANT Esports.
The severity of these penalties were reduced for individuals based on the level of culpability and their cooperation with the VALORANT Esports investigation. Penalties for roster members at the time are as follows:
- Justin “Boplek” Wong Chong Cheng and Sengdala “Jabtheboy” Jamnalong will be banned from VCT for 1 year
- Du Min “Mortdecai” Yeo and Benedict “Benaf” Tan will be banned from VCT for 6 months
These penalties are considered to have begun with the original suspension date on 22 April 2021. Du Min “Mortdecai” Yeo and Benedict “Benaf” Tan will be eligible to return to VCT in October 2021. Justin “Boplek” Wong Chong Cheng and Sengdala “Jabtheboy” Jamnalong will be eligible to return to VCT in April 2022.
RELEVANT RULES
Rule 7.2.1 and 7.2.4 of the VALORANT Global Competition Policy:
7.2.1 Match-Fixing
No Team Member may offer, agree, or conspire to fix a match or take any other action to intentionally and unfairly alter, or attempt to alter, the results of any game (or any play or component thereof). If a Team Member is asked to “fix” the outcome of a game or to otherwise take part in any actions prohibited by this Global Policy or the applicable Event-Specific Rules, that Team Member must immediately report this request to the Tournament Operator.
7.2.4 Gambling
Gambling on the outcome of a tournament, match or game in any esport competition (including any plays or components of a game) can pose a serious threat to the integrity of, and public confidence in, esports competitions. Team Members are not allowed to (a) place, or attempt to place, bets on any esports competition (or any plays or components thereof), or (b) associate with high volume gamblers, or deliver information to others that might influence their bets.