The regional League of Legends esports scene has been rocked to its core by a sweeping match-fixing scandal, putting a glaring spotlight on the integrity and future of competitive gaming in the Vietnam Championship Series (VCS). This crisis precipitated the abrupt halt of the series' playoffs and finals as authorities moved to investigate the veracity of these alarming allegations.
Riot Games, the overseer of the League of Legends competition, undertook a decisive action by summoning representatives from all eight teams participating in the VCS to the broadcast studio for a detailed probe into the matter. The immediate consequence of this investigation was the provisional suspension of 32 players from across the spectrum of VCS teams, marking a significant move by the governing body to address the issue head-on.
Widespread Suspensions Cast a Shadow
In an unsettling revelation, it came to light that up to 80% of professional players in the VCS are embroiled in the match-fixing investigations, casting a long shadow over the integrity of esports in the region. The list of suspended players reads as a who’s who of the Vietnamese League of Legends scene:
- Rainbow Warriors: Ky Vuong (Raze), Hoang Nghia (HinieeeC), Trung Hieu (Hyo), Anh Kiet (Yuki), Dinh Khoi (Spot), Van Hau (Artifact), Quoc Hung (K1ller), Trong Tri (2T)
- GAM Esports: Đỗ Đình Sang (Blazes), Lê Viết Huy (Pyshiro)
- Team Flash: Lê Minh Dũng (Dzung), Đinh Bùi Quốc Cường (Marcus), Lê Ngọc Toàn (Draktharr), Nguyễn Hoàng Khánh (Jane), Lương Thành Tài (Puddin)
- Team Secret: Hoàng Công Nghĩa (Eddie), Quách Khánh Hoàng (Qiang)
- Vikings Esports: Lương Hải Long (Gury), Nguyễn Vũ Khang Nguyên (Bunn), Võ Văn Phi (Kairi), Ngô Đức Khánh (Kratos)
- Cerberus Esports: Nguyễn Đăng Khoa (Pun), Trần Bảo Quang (Ikigai), Nguyễn Hoàng Phú (Richard I), Nguyễn Huy Hùng (Slowz)
- MGN Blue Esports: Nguyễn Minh Hào (Sorn), Bùi Văn Minh Hải (Froggy), Võ Hoàng Lê Khang (Ryuk), Đào Văn Tuấn (Rigel), Tiêu Quốc Lương (Zodiac)
- Team Whales: Trần Văn Chính (BeanJ), Lê Ngọc Vinh (Gloryy)
Repercussions and Reactions
The stain of the scandal threatens not only the current competitive standing of the VCS but its place and reputation within the global esports ecosystem. Esports manager Chris Smith and commentator Isaac Cummings Bentley have both weighed in, emphasizing the potential link between the players’ economic hardships and the lure of match-fixing as a means to supplement inadequate salaries.
Speculation abounds regarding the future of the VCS, with rumors of a potential merger with another regional league, akin to the previous amalgamation of the Oceanian League with the North American LCS. Such radical restructuring raises questions about the caliber of competition and the fate of the VCS's representation in international tournaments, notably the upcoming Mid-Season Invitational (MSI).
Some teams have publicly addressed the situation, with Rainbow Warriors and MGN Blue Esports confirming their halt of competition, and Team Whales severing ties with implicated players BeanJ and Gloryy. Meanwhile, Cerberus Esports staunchly defends its members' innocence.
This scandal sends a chilling reminder of the vulnerabilities facing esports, where the integrity of competition can be undermined by financial precarity among its athletes. As the VCS navigates through this crisis, the broader esports community watches closely, evaluating the long-term implications for the industry's credibility and the preventive measures Riot Games and other stakeholders will implement to safeguard the sport's integrity.
Riot Games has pledged to keep the community informed on the investigation's progress and any decisions regarding the resumption of the VCS. The outcome of this probe holds the potential to redefine governance and ethical standards across the esports landscape, reinforcing the need for transparency, fair play, and player welfare as foundational pillars of competitive gaming.