CGN Esports, reigning champions of the Prime League Spring Split, have faced a dramatic turn of events this summer. After a series of problems with their player lineup and organizational issues, the team was removed from the Prime League’s first division and disqualified from all ongoing competitions. The decision marks a harsh end to a turbulent period that saw CGN struggle to meet league requirements and deadlines.

Jungler Muhammed “Agurin” Kocak has now spoken out, providing a detailed explanation of the team’s internal challenges and addressing the league’s disciplinary actions. His statement globally offers insight into the personal and management difficulties behind the scenes, as well as criticism of the league’s communication and sanctioning process.

Organizational struggles and communication breakdowns

Agurin explains that the issues began when he extended his stay in North America “because I was under a lot of mental stress due to a personal issue.” This unexpected extension complicated team management, as their new manager, Kalle, “a very nice, young and sincere guy,” faced difficulties securing eligible substitutes and handling lineup submissions.

Several mistakes occurred, including “a simple copying error in the line-up sheet” and confusion around emergency substitutes. Agurin highlights the lack of proactive communication from the league, noting that “there was no direct communication with our management to discuss the problems and prevent the forfeit.”

He further points out that despite their openness—“we made a conscious decision to communicate honestly with the league”—the league rejected multiple proposals to resolve the issues, including the use of an emergency substitute already present in the lobby.

Criticism of penalties and League management

Agurin criticizes the severity and scope of the punishment, arguing it unfairly applies across all splits despite the problems occurring only in Split 3. “Since the misconduct relates exclusively to Split 3 [...] the penalty should also relate exclusively to Split 3,” he says.

He also stresses that “the penalties should be designed in such a way that they do not destroy sporting competition—and above all do not punish the players who are not responsible for these mistakes.” CGN even proposed withdrawing as an organization so the players could continue competing under their original team name (Dung Dynasty), an offer the league declined.

In conclusion, Agurin expresses disappointment with how the situation was handled: “I am disappointed with the way the Prime League has handled this incident [...] I regret that the Prime League [...] neither sought nor took up our offer to talk.”