ESIC Update Regarding NA ESEA Match-Fixing Investigation

OVERVIEW:

For some time now, ESIC has been investigating several instances of match-fixing behaviour which took place in the North American region amongst CS:GO players participating in an ESEA tournament series. While this investigation is still ongoing, ESIC has made this release for the purposes of issuing an interim update.

To date, this investigation has been subject to significant cooperation with law enforcement agencies, anti-corruption supporters, and other stakeholders in order to ensure that the behaviour being perpetrated is thoroughly investigated and prosecuted under ESIC’s Anti-Corruption Code.

As of the date of this interim release, ESIC announces sanctions against three participants and is still in the process of conducting 34 additional investigations relating to this matter.

Notably, ESIC has observed compelling evidence that suggests that organised crime groups and foreign betting syndicates were involved in fraudulent activities during the course of Season 35 of the ESEA Premier: North America.

INVESTIGATION OVERVIEW:

In early 2021, in the course of our existing investigation into allegations of match-fixing and betting fraud in season 35 of the ESEA Premier, we were provided with a recording, a transcript and other evidence relating to a conversation between members of one of the teams in the competition, Rebirth. The conversation involved three members of the team and also made reference to two players from an opposing team, ‘Russian Canadians’. This recording, evidencing a conspiracy to manipulate the outcome of matches in the tournament, was subsequently published online in April 2021.

Prior to publication, ESIC was treating this evidence as just one part of a far larger investigation involving multiple players and teams and associated individuals in cooperation with law enforcement and other stakeholders. However, due to this part of the investigation being put into the public domain, ESIC took the view that it ought to be, if possible, dealt with separately and an outcome reached in the public interest. Consequently, ESIC began a separate, but related, investigation into the recording and the individuals involved and mentioned in the conversation. This statement explains the conclusions and outcomes reached.

ESIC emphasises that the remainder of the larger investigation is ongoing and the outcomes announced in this release may not be the final outcome for the various participants mentioned.

INVESTIGATION OUTCOMES TO DATE:

ESIC has issued Notices of Charge against the following individuals for breaches of the ESIC Anti-Corruption Code and sanctioned each with the suspension from all ESIC member events for the period specified in each case:

Sebastian “retchy” Tropiano:

5 Year Ban Issued

Ban Start: 2nd April 2021

Ban End: 1st April 2026

Kevin “4pack” Przypasniak (also known as ‘Yugorov Prezpasniak’):

5 Year Ban Issued

Ban Start: 2nd April 2021

Ban End: 1st April 2026

Carson “nosraC” O’Reilly:

111 day ban issued*

Ban Start: 2nd April 2021

Ban End: 22nd July 2021 (ban served)

*See sanction details in the following section.

FURTHER NOTES REGARDING PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE PUBLICISED ‘REBIRTH’ RECORDING:

Carson “nosraC” O’Reilly participated with only one inconclusive sentence in the widely publicised audio recording in which discussions were had about team Rebirth match-fixing. Importantly, as a result of his involvement in that conversation, he was, along with the other participants, refused entry into ESEA competition ever since that conversation was made public.

Articles 2.4.4 and 2.4.5 of ESIC’s Anti-Corruption Code operate so as to place a positive obligation on any party with information about Corrupt Conduct to inform ESIC of such conduct without unnecessary delay:

“2.4.4 Failing to disclose to ESIC (without unnecessary delay) full details of any approaches or invitations received by the Participant to engage in Corrupt Conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code.

2.4.5 Failing to disclose to ESIC (without unnecessary delay) full details of any incident, fact, or matter that comes to the attention of a Participant that may evidence Corrupt Conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code by another Participant, including (without limitation) approaches or invitations that have been received by another Participant to engage in Corrupt Conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code.”

As Mr. O’Reilly did not disclose to ESIC the Corrupt Conduct that was the subject of the widely publicised recording, he has now been formally charged with an offence under Article 2.4.4 and 2.4.5 of the ESIC Anti-Corruption Code.

After assessing Mr. O’Reilly’s participation in the conversation, ESIC further engaged in investigatory lines of enquiry to seek out any evidence of further involvement in any corrupt behavior beyond the recording. As at 22 July 2021, ESIC has concluded that there is currently no evidence that suggests that, unlike Mr Tropiano and Mr Przypasniak, Mr. O’Reilly perpetrated any other breaches of the Code. Consequently, time served by Mr. O’Reilly under effective suspension from the period of 2 April 2021 to 22 July 2021 has been deemed, by the Commissioner, as a sufficient sanction proportionate to his offence and he has been free since 22 July 2021, to play in ESIC member events.

As at the date of this release, Alex “vek” Voynov and David “J0LZ” Jolin, both named during the audio recording, are not currently charged with any breach of the Code and are free, as far as ESIC is concerned, to participate in any ESIC member event.

APPLICABILITY OF SANCTIONS:

As per all investigations conducted by ESIC, our determinations have effect across all of our membership. This includes ESL, DreamHack, WePlay, BLAST, LVP, Nodwin, Eden, Relog, UCC, Allied, Kronoverse, Estars and 247 Leagues. ESIC also requests that all non-ESIC member tournament organisers honour these bans.

FURTHER INVESTIGATORY ACTIVITY:

ESIC appreciates that the broader investigation has been longstanding and ongoing. This is for good reason, as ESIC is seeking to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders in order to arrive at an outcome that best serves the interests of integrity in esports. Furthermore, it is noted that the sensitive nature of the alleged conduct compounds additional layers of complexity which work against a quick resolution.

In order to facilitate further contextual understanding of ESIC’s activities on this matter outside the subject of this release, a simplified summary of key points has been provided below:

ESIC, having resolved charges against three individuals named in this release, is still investigating and resolving charges for 34 individuals for breaches of the Anti-Corruption Code during their participation in the ESEA Premier: North America.
Investigations into each individual comprise one ‘sub-investigation’ which holds its own host of challenges and complications.
ESIC has continued to work with law enforcement on all relevant overlapping areas of investigation.
ESIC is also working with a network of 40+ Anti-Corruption Supporters and non-member organisations to draw out betting data relevant to the investigation. This process is time consuming and ongoing.
ESIC is, in addition, working with stakeholders to negotiate logistics for the examination of non-betting related data relevant to this investigation.
Most pertinent to the complications faced and the length of this investigation is ESIC’s observation of compelling evidence that suggests that organised crime groups and foreign betting syndicates were involved in fraudulent activities during the course of season 35 of the ESEA Premier: North America.
Finally, in order for ESIC to functionally eradicate or to the greatest extent mitigate the existence of bad actors in esports, the investigation must be completed with the time and attention required – no matter how long – to provide the appropriate punishments and create a meaningful deterrent to future recurrence.

FUTURE UPDATES:

ESIC will provide all functional updates relating to this matter (not sanction outcomes) through its newly established Open Investigations Register. This is part of ESIC’s Transparency Initiative which can be read about here. Sanction outcomes will still be delivered via public release.

The original article can be found here.

Monday, 23 August 2021