Top Esports jungler naiyou under investigation for potential match-fixing in the LPL

Top Esports has launched an internal investigation and alerted the LPL after detecting irregular play from jungler Yang “naiyou” Zi-Jian, who is now under suspicion of match-fixing during the 2026 Winter Split playoffs.

TES observed irregular behavior from naiyou during recent official matches in the playoffs of the 2026 Winter Split. Credit: Top Esports

Top Esports opened an investigation on March 2nd after observing irregular behavior from naiyou

This Friday, March 6,

Top Esports

released an official statement regarding jungler

Yang “naiyou” Zi-Jian

, announcing that the player is currently under investigation for a potential violation of competitive integrity and suspected match-fixing in the LPL.

According to Top Esports, the investigation began on March 2nd, after the team observed irregular behavior from naiyou during recent official matches in the playoffs of the 2026 Winter Split. The organization launched an internal review and subsequently informed the league of its findings.

Top Esports official statement

In their official statement, Top Esports declared (translated from Chinese):

Top Esports Official Announcement

On the evening of March 2, 2026, following the conclusion of the first stage of the season, we noticed irregular behavior from our jungler Yang Zijian (ID: naiyou) during official matches. As a result, the club initiated an investigation into possible actions violating competitive integrity and promptly reported the matter to the league.

Through our internal inquiry and evidence collection, we found indications that Yang Zijian (ID: naiyou) may have engaged in serious misconduct that violates club regulations and professional ethics, thereby affecting the fairness of competition. The club has submitted all available information to the league and transferred the case to the league’s disciplinary department for further investigation. The league’s disciplinary team has now intervened, and we will handle this matter strictly based on the outcome of that investigation.

Our club has always upheld the principle of fair competition and resolutely opposes any behavior that undermines competitive integrity. We enforce internal discipline with the utmost seriousness. We sincerely thank our fans, partners, and the public for their oversight and support. Top Esports will take this incident as a lesson, remain true to our professional values, and continue to build a compliant, healthy, and positive esports organization.

Top Esports Esports Club

The organization emphasized its commitment to fair play, writing that it “resolutely opposes any misconduct that compromises competitive integrity” and “will deal with internal violations with utmost severity.”

League authorities step in

Top Esports confirmed that all available evidence has been transferred to the LPL disciplinary department, which is now leading the formal investigation.
As of now, no suspension or official sanction has been issued against the player while the inquiry continues.

The statement swiftly circulated on Chinese social media, drawing widespread attention from fans and media alike. Many expressed concern, recalling previous match-fixing scandals that shook the LPL in past seasons, like Cai “Milkyway” Zi-Jun in 2025.

The situation represents a major setback for Top Esports, one of the region’s most high-profile organizations. naiyou, a promising rookie who joined for the 2026 season, had been viewed as a key piece of the team’s rebuilding phase after a disappointing 2025 campaign. If proven guilty, the consequences would not only jeopardize his professional career but also strike a significant blow to TES’ ambitions this split.