WCS
Supplementary information has been added in blue text. The original documents can be downloaded HERE.
StarCraft 2 Match-Fixing Investigation Result:
- 8 indicted and arrested, including a top-class progamer
The Changwon Regional Prosecution Service’s special investigations division investigated match-fixing in StarCraft 2 between January and April of 2016 and identified eleven individuals involved. Eight have been indicted and arrested, two have been indicted but not arrested, and one individual remains at large.
- One top-class StarCraft 2 PROGAMER, a GSL champion and WCS runner-up in 2015, is charged with receiving 70,000,000 won (approximately $62,000 USD) to manipulate two matches. Four BROKERS are charged with using personal relationships to solicit match-fixing. Two FINANCIAL BACKERS are charged with providing cash in compensation for match-fixing. One individual responsible for the placing of bets is also charged. These eight individuals have been indicted and arrested.
- One StarCraft 2 PROGAMER is charged with receiving 30,000,000 won to manipulate one match, and later turned himself in to the authorities. One FINANCIAL BACKER is charged with providing compensation for the match-fixing; he has already been arrested in a previous case. One additional financial backer is currently at large.
The Changwon Prosecution Service’s first investigation in October of 2015 resulted in the indictment of nine individuals involved in StarCraft 2 match-fixing (read the October report here). This second investigation confirms esports match-fixing is occurring on a broad large scale, highlighting the need for not only continued policing, but extreme measures from the Korea eSports Association.
We plan to continue enforcing the law against match-fixers who would impede fairness in society.
I. The Defendants and Official Charges
*Though the investigators did not directly release any names, many identities have been effectively confirmed through the details of the investigation.
1. PROGAMER “A” (age 19)—Life
- 2015-05-03 KeSPA Cup match, “A” vs. “L” (Terminator): After receiving 35,000,000 won from broker “B,” Life intentionally lost in his match with “L.”
- 2015-05-04 KeSPA Cup match, “A” vs. “M” (Dream): After receiving 35,000,000 won from broker “B,” Life intentionally lost in his match with “M.”
2. BROKER “B” (age 25)
- 2015-05-03 KeSPA Cup match, “A” vs. “L”: Transferred 35,000,000 won of compensation to Life for match-fixing in the aforementioned matches. “B” earned winnings from online betting on those matches.
- 2015-05-04 KeSPA Cup match, “A” vs. “M”: Transferred 35,000,000 won of compensation to Life for match-fixing in the aforementioned matches. “B” earned winnings from online betting on those matches.
3. Employee “C,” who worked for financial backer “D” (age 30)
- 2015-05-03 KeSPA Cup match, “A” vs. “L”: Using information on the manipulated match, “C” placed bets on internet gambling sites and earned winnings.
- 2015-05-04 KeSPA Cup match, “A” vs. “M”: Using information on the manipulated match, “C” placed bets on internet gambling sites and earned winnings.
4. FINANCIAL BACKER “D” (age 41)
- 2015-05-03 KeSPA Cup match, “A” vs. “L”: Put up 50,000,000 won for betting manipulated matches, earning winnings from bets on those matches.
- 2015-05-04 KeSPA Cup match, “A” vs. “M”: Put up 50,000,000 won for betting manipulated matches, earning winnings from bets on those matches.
5. FINANCIAL BACKER “E”—Enough, a former StarCraft 1 progamer and games journalist. He had already been arrested and convicted as a broker in the October ‘15 match-fixing investigation
- 2015-05-03 KeSPA Cup match, “A” vs. “L”: Gave 35,000,000 won of compensation to Life for match-fixing. Enough also earned winnings from online betting on those matches.
- 2015-05-04 KeSPA Cup match, “A” vs. “M”: Gave 35,000,000 won of compensation to Life for match-fixing. Enough also earned winnings from online betting on those matches.
- 2015-05-13 GSL Season 2 Code S Ro32, “P” vs. “J”: Using information on manipulated matches, Enough placed bets on internet gambling sites and earned winnings.
6. BROKER “F” (age 25)
- 2016-01-15 GSL Season 1, “J” (Bbyong) vs. “N” (DRGLing): Conspiring together with financial backers “H” and “K,” “F” gave progamer “J” a total of 30,000,000 won in compensation for match-fixing. “F” earned winnings from online betting on the match.
7. BROKER “G” (age 31)
- 2016-01-15 GSL Season 1, “J” vs. “N”: Conspiring with financial backer “K,” gave progamer “J” 20,000,000 won in compensation for match-fixing. “G” earned winnings from online betting on the matches.
8. FINANCIAL BACKER “H” (age 33)
- 2016-01-15 GSL Season 1, “J” vs. “N”: Conspiring with financial backer “K,” gave progamer “J” 20,000,000 won in compensation for match-fixing. “G” earned winnings from online betting on the matches.
9. BROKER “I” (age 31)
- 2016-01-15 GSL Season 1, “J” vs. “N”: Conspiring “G,” “F,” and financial backer “K,” gave progamer “J” 20,000,000 won in compensation for match fixing.
10. PROGAMER “J” (age 24)—Bbyong
- 2016-01-15 GSL Season 1, “J” (Bbyong) vs. “N” (DRGLing): After receiving 30,000,000 won from financial backers “H” and “K,” Bbyong intentionally lost in his match with “N.”
II. Investigation Timeline
October, 2015: Twelve individuals identified, nine arrested and indicted related to match-fixing in StarCraft 2 (first investigation).
January, 2016: Second investigation commences after the apprehension of a broker at large.
January-April, 2016: Eleven individuals identified. Eight indicted and arrested, two indicted but not arrested, one at large.
III. CASE DETAILS.
1. Well-known, top-class progamers involved in match-fixing.
- Progamer “A,” one of the greatest StarCraft 2 players at present, and Zerg player with the most premier tournament championships, received 70,000,000 won from a broker to intentionally lose in two games.
- Progamer “J,” a top-class progamer, received 30,000,000 won from a broker to intentionally lose one game.
2. Systematic execution with clear division of roles.
- The crimes were perpetrated with clear division of roles: Financial backers to put up the compensation for match-fixing, brokers to solicit the match-fixing and transfer the funds, and an employee in charge of receiving gambling funds and placing bets on gambling sites.
- Approaching progamers under the guise of being fans: Broker “B” approached progamer “A” under the guise of being a fan and established a relationship. Afterward he solicited match-fixing, claiming that ‘all the other pros are making money from match-fixing.’
Brokers “F,” “G,” and “I” also approached progamer “J” under the pretense of being fans. They later solicited match-fixing and arranged a meeting with financial backers. - Match-fixing funds put up by financial backers: “E,” a former StarCraft 1 progamer and games journalist, acted a financial backer. He delivered the match-fixing funds through broker “B,” and employed “C” to place bets on gambling sites. During the investigation, “E” was already on trial (he has since been convicted) for his involvement in the PRIME match-fixing case as a broker.
Financial backer “D” received information on fixed matches from “E,” and gave him funds for gambling.
Financial backer “H” gave progamer “J” compensation for match-fixing directly.
3. Profiting from illegal online gambling sites.
- Financial backers “E,” “D” and “H” gave match-fixing compensation to progamers directly or through brokers. Afterward, they placed bets on the fixed matches through illegal gambling site, taking in earnings and replenishing funds for future match-fixing.
The maximum bet for one person on illegal gambling sites was 1,000,000 won, while the payout was roughly 1.3~1.5 times the bet. As earnings were low when betting on only one site, backers ordered their employees to register on many gambling sites and place multiple, simultaneous bets.
(Conclusions, etc. omitted)
I get why Prime players match fixed, I get why Life match fixed, I am still waiting why Bbyong did it. Because I think he had some problems too, that's why you care about players with problems, to keep them strong so they can say "No".
