VALORANT - VCT Pacific: Ban suspended for 12 months by Riot after match-fixing-related discussions

Riot Games issued its ruling on December 18, Seungmin “ban” Oh has been suspended from all publisher-sanctioned competitions for twelve months, following an investigation into potential match-fixing within VALORANT VCT Pacific. The case relates to the Global Esports vs Team Secret match played on July 19, 2025, and to private exchanges referencing a proposal to manipulate the match, including financial terms.

According to Riot Games, ban entered into conversation with individuals behind these proposals and discussed their conditions rather than immediately refusing and reporting the approach. While the player maintains that they did not intend to follow through, Riot considers that mere participation in such discussions is sufficient to constitute a breach of the Global Code of Conduct.

Riot Games stated that it could not conclusively authenticate the screenshots that initially prompted the allegations; however, the investigation conducted with support from Sportradar (Riot's integrity partner) compiled witness testimony and corroborating material suggesting conduct inconsistent with competitive integrity standards. A competitive performance review of Ban in the match at issue did not, however, definitively establish an intentional underperformance designed to influence the outcome, which contextualizes the twelve-month suspension imposed.

The suspension takes effect immediately and is accompanied by a requirement to complete competitive integrity and ethics training through an independent third-party provider, a prerequisite for any return to Riot’s esports ecosystem. Overall, the ruling reinforces Riot Games’ established posture on match-fixing matters across its titles, namely a strict approach not only toward proven acts, but also toward attempted circumvention, or even conduct that facilitates it, backed by formal investigations and immediate sanctions for those deemed involved.

In an article published in July 2025, Norwegian media outlet Josimar revealed that Sportradar, the integrity partner of UEFA and Riot Games, supplies live sports data that ends up powering huge illegal and loosely regulated betting markets, including operators like 1xBet. Despite the company’s public claim that it does not sell data to unlicensed bookmakers, and even while its own financial filings acknowledge significant revenues from jurisdictions with little or no licensing framework, creating ideal conditions for match-fixing on low-level, high-risk events such as corners and yellow cards.