Riot Games Issues Statement on NA T2 Match-fixing Allegations

Riot Games has issued an official statement following recent public allegations made by several notable members of the VALORANT community – allegations of cheating, match-fixing, and corruption. The allegations were targeted towards the North American Challengers League in particular, one of the many Tier 2 VALORANT leagues currently operating but notably one of if not the largest and most visible.

Riot Confirms Investigation to be Taking Place

The official statement served as confirmation by Riot Games of their active ongoing investigation (allegedly begun last week) following the allegations.

Below is the official statement attributed to Riot Games (released 17/05/2025):

“The recent allegations regarding North America Challengers have been under active investigation by Riot Games since they were brought forward last week. We want to be very clear: we take accusations like these extremely seriously, and Riot's Competitive Operations, Anti-Cheat, and Esports Rules & Compliance teams are thoroughly examining the matter.

We appreciate everyone who has raised concerns and provided information. However, suggestions of deliberate attempts by Riot employees to undermine competitive integrity represent incredibly serious accusations that can unfairly affect individuals both personally and professionally. Based on the information provided to Riot so far, there is no evidence of complicity or wrongdoing by anyone involved with Riot Anti-Cheat.

Investigations of this nature require time and careful coordination as Riot conducts interviews and gathers evidence. Riot will follow established procedures thoroughly and carefully, without being influenced or pressured by external voices.”

Riot’s Hand Was Forced

This statement undoubtedly was motivated largely by the public statement released by Shopify Rebellion General Manager Sean “seangares” Gares yesterday (16/05/2025). In it, he referenced the apparent corruption he has uncovered in the North American VALORANT scene, notably at the Challenger level.

“It is infected,” says the former pro player turned desk talent, analyst, coach, and now general manager. “Match-fixing, cheating, underground gambling rings,” he said. “People making hundreds of thousands of dollars on these games that are rigged.”

In his nearly 6-minute video, a visibly shaken Sean Gares dove into the findings of his own investigation of the state of Tier 2 NA VALORANT.

“This is mental, what I’ve stumbled into,” said Sean Gares. He compared it to the former high profile IBP scandal case, where the match was thrown for $700 USD worth of skins. Compared to the amount he alleged has been exchanged in this case, the previous amount is laughable.

“I’ve been looking into this for quite a bit now,” he says. “Trying to clear people behind the scenes, do due diligence, get through the proper channels…”.

In a similar vein, tournament operator MrFunhaver also opened up about his own experience with match-fixing and bribery and how it has affected the lower tiers of NA VALORANT. However, he goes further than Sean Gares, claiming an “active Riot employee” who is “very high in the anti-cheat department” is being “paid off” to allow players to cheat.

“That is a problem. Because if somebody at Riot is employed in the anti-cheat department and letting people cheat – that creates a problem. You have individual players who are actively cheating – and Riot employees know about it – and they’re being paid not to do anything about it.”

Much like Sean Gares, hints and suggestions are given instead of concrete proof. At this time, MrFunhaver’s claims are unsubstantiated however, we’ve included it here as well as part of an overall documentation of the allegations.

A Dire State for Tier 2 NA VALORANT

I’ve been here for a while, and the desperation in the room is unlike anything I’ve ever felt.

- Sean "seangares" Gares, General Manager for Shopify Rebellion.

Sean Gares goes on to list multiple organizations who had fielded rosters are recently as 2022, gone from the scene now. “All of these jobs, gone in a couple years,” he says, shaking his head. “What has happened to the scene?”

However, he claims the actions undertaken by the orgs, regardless of if they were fuelled by desperation, was “unacceptable” and that it had “angered him to his core.”

“I put my whole life on the line for this industry […] and it is depressing. It is, oh, so gross what has happened. But here we are.”

The departure of an entire host of NA organizations from Tier 2 is not a new discussion and is frequently referenced in discussions on the decline of the scene as a whole. However, what Sean Gares alluded to, is that the lack of opportunity and money in Tier 2 had in fact turned many to illegal and unethical methods to earn money.

“All these Tier 1 orgs have left, and these players are desperate,” he says. “They’re getting bribed for tens of thousands of dollars in one instance, to throw a game.” Sean Gares further confirms it isn’t just official matches that these opportunities arise but has permeated the ranked environment as well at the highest level.

“Not only are these people stealing money from the people that are gambling, they’re also stealing the livelihood of the players that are actually doing it fair,” says an angered Sean Gares.

He concludes that while he is not ready to share the exact details currently about what he has found, he confirms that he has been documenting everything and the hopes of the community is that his and Riot’s findings will, sooner rather than later, see the light of day.

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Featured Image Credit: Riot Games

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