On January 18 2015 00:19 Wunder wrote: The scary or sad thing is that while this confirms the iBP/NCG match, there is almost no way to prove that there was or is a larger match fixing circle that involves these players. While some action needs to be taken, I don't see what exactly leagues can do - ban Torqued, ex-iBP and the newly minted CLG team? It's absolutely frightening to think about since it would all but dismantle the NA scene that for once actually started picking up steam with competitive teams.
This is really shameful. I'm pretty annoyed by it all. People have been working their butts off to propel CS:GO towards the forefront of esports, and selfish idiots drag the community down for some skins/money. If all the players involved get banned for a significant amount of time from major tourneys, that is going to leave a gaping hole in the NA scene, and that is a lot of regional progress that will need to be reclaimed. It will take quite a bit of time to recover I feel, considering there are players from ex-iBP, Torqued and C9 (ShahZaM) involved.
But if everything is true, good riddance. Even if it pushes us back, we can't tolerate match-fixing one bit, or that would be the real end of the scene.
On January 18 2015 00:19 Wunder wrote: The scary or sad thing is that while this confirms the iBP/NCG match, there is almost no way to prove that there was or is a larger match fixing circle that involves these players. While some action needs to be taken, I don't see what exactly leagues can do - ban Torqued, ex-iBP and the newly minted CLG team? It's absolutely frightening to think about since it would all but dismantle the NA scene that for once actually started picking up steam with competitive teams.
It'd really just be C9 and random T2 teams.
Not to mention that Shahzam has been in the thick of all scandals surrounding the NA scene, so if some big network would be rolled up, he would be included.
On January 18 2015 11:39 Souma wrote: This is really shameful. I'm pretty annoyed by it all. People have been working their butts off to propel CS:GO towards the forefront of esports, and selfish idiots drag the community down for some skins/money. If all the players involved get banned for a significant amount of time from major tourneys, that is going to leave a gaping hole in the NA scene, and that is a lot of regional progress that will need to be reclaimed. It will take quite a bit of time to recover I feel, considering there are players from ex-iBP, Torqued and C9 (ShahZaM) involved.
But if everything is true, good riddance. Even if it pushes us back, we can't tolerate match-fixing one bit, or that would be the real end of the scene.
Pretty much this, its painful to see our scene to take a step back, but i like to think of it as growing pains given we are just going to come back stronger.
Shahzam knowingly and intentionally profited from the match fix and even informed a friend of it. That alone still sets up him to be punished, although not as badly as the match fixers themselves.
With the news of GX withdrawing from MLG and Hiko announcing his desire to look for another team, we have some rather interesting developments in this scandal. Hiko's statement included this with regard to GX and the scandal:
The other guys felt like until they know what is going to happen with valve and until this cloud of uncertainty goes away that it is in their best not to worry about playing in tournaments.
This is obviously intended to be a rather vague statement, but in combination with another piece of information, it gets quite interesting.
GX plans to attend ClutchCon with desi filling in as a replacement presumably for Dazed, just like he did in the match against Denial that was just played last night. The core of the team (swag/azk/ska) still want to play, it's seemingly just Dazed that doesn't want to play anymore under the "could of uncertainty".
Dazed also happens to be the worst-looking member of the team in the match fixing scandal, having been the owner/operator of the NCG site and thus associated with the other team implicated in the scandal. He's also mentioned by name in the texts that originally appeared in the article.
Obviously I don't particularly believe in coincidence, and indeed I have no reason to with Hiko's statement as proof that this 'break' is due to the scandal itself. Why Dazed is the only one not continuing to play despite the ongoing investigation is certainly an interesting question. Is he going to be the one to take all the blame? Is he indeed the only one TO blame, given that he was IGL and could have influenced the game on his own? The former seems somewhat more likely, but until we know who was paid or given what, all we have to go on is how the players themselves are reacting, and boy does Dazed look guilty.
We can confirm, by investigating the historical activity of relevant accounts, that a substantial number of high valued items won from that match by Duc “cud” Pham were transferred ( via Derek “dboorn” Boorn ) to iBUYPOWER players and NetCodeGuides founder, Casey Foster.
All together, the information we have collected and received makes us uncomfortable continuing any involvement with these individuals. Therefore we will be directing our CS:GO event partners to not allow any of the following individuals’ participation in any capacity in Valve-sponsored events:
Professional players, their managers, and teams’ organization staff, should under no circumstances gamble on CS:GO matches, associate with high volume CS:GO gamblers, or deliver information to others that might influence their CS:GO bets.
In 2014 we witnessed the explosive growth of CS:GO as a competitive eSport, and 2015 has already started strong. But as CS:GO grows, it’s important to consider the substantial impact an individual professional Counter-Strike player has on the health and stability of their sport. Performing before an audience of millions of fans, they are ambassadors for their game – the strength of professional Counter-Strike comes from the integrity of its players and teams.
Incredible! I honestly did not believe it when players and other people were saying Valve were looking into it. What a decision, and I can't say it isn't deserved. It will be a very interesting couple of weeks.
Thank you, Richard Lewis, for the rare yet much needed investigate journalism within our scene, and thanks to Valve for actually taking a proactive stance on the matter and getting things done.
Professional players, their managers, and teams’ organization staff, should under no circumstances gamble on CS:GO matches, associate with high volume CS:GO gamblers, or deliver information to others that might influence their CS:GO bets.
Dear casters (RoomOnFire, Faceit's ddk & james, etc.), please follow that rule too, I really cringe each time you mention betting (especially on csgl). As you want to support the game to grow to be a great e-sport, encouraging under-aged to gamble is not what I call professional.
Professional players, their managers, and teams’ organization staff, should under no circumstances gamble on CS:GO matches, associate with high volume CS:GO gamblers, or deliver information to others that might influence their CS:GO bets.
Dear casters (RoomOnFire, Faceit's ddk & james, etc.), please follow that rule too, I really cringe each time you mention betting (especially on csgl). As you want to support the game to grow to be a great e-sport, encouraging under-aged to gamble is not what I call professional.
Meh, as long as they don't influence the matchs there is no reason for them to be banned from betting. As for not mentionning it on stream, yea that probably would be a good idea, but nothing major.
EPT
