Valorant NA Match-Fixing Scandal

Riot Investigates Match-Fixing in Valorant NA Challengers League

The North American Valorant competitive scene is facing one of its biggest controversies to date, as serious match-fixing allegations shake the Tier 2 Challengers League. The accusations surfaced following a high-profile exposé by former Counter-Strike pro and esports personality Sean Gares, who shared screenshots and claims of coordinated attempts to manipulate match results. With the integrity of competitive Valorant now in question, Riot Games has officially responded, detailing the steps it's taking to investigate and maintain fair play.

The Allegations: Match-Fixing in Valorant’s Tier 2 Scene

On May 24, 2025, Sean Gares published a YouTube video titled The Dark Side of Competitive VALORANT. The nearly hour-long video has since gone viral within the esports community, quickly climbing YouTube’s Gaming trending tab with over 70,000 views.

In the video, Gares presents what he claims is evidence of match-fixing in the Valorant NA Challengers circuit, including screenshots and team names allegedly involved in suspicious activity. The implications are severe—not just for individual players and teams, but for the competitive integrity of the entire league. Fans and analysts alike are now questioning how far this behavior may have spread and whether boosting tactics were used to climb or maintain rank in the tournament dishonestly.

Riot Games Issues a Second Official Statement

Just hours after Gares' video gained traction, Riot Games published a follow-up statement on its official channels. In a post titled An Update Regarding Recent Reports on NA Challengers, Leo Faria, Head of Valorant Esports at Riot, addressed the growing controversy head-on.

“As we shared last week, we began an investigation into allegations of match-fixing, cheating, and other competitive-integrity concerns earlier this month,” Faria wrote. “We take all allegations extremely seriously.”

Riot confirmed that it has partnered with third-party integrity firms—including IBIA, Sportradar, and GRID—to conduct a thorough and unbiased investigation. These partners specialize in identifying irregularities in betting patterns and competitive outcomes, which are often the first signs of teams using match-fixing to guarantee boosting their financial gains against the rules.

Faria acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stressing that Riot’s investigation will take time as it carefully verifies all claims and gathers solid evidence. He also issued a public call for whistleblowers to come forward, noting that firsthand accounts can be crucial in uncovering and resolving such issues.

Criminal Consequences on the Table

Importantly, Faria reminded the community that match-fixing is not just a violation of tournament rules—it can be considered criminal activity depending on jurisdiction. Riot is cooperating with law enforcement and regulatory bodies where necessary, a move that underscores how seriously the company is treating these allegations.

“Protecting the integrity of the sport is a shared responsibility,” said Faria. “Players, teams, tournament organizers, and Riot must all work together to ensure a fair competitive environment.”

For those within the Valorant ecosystem who might have relevant information, Riot encourages immediate reporting. This includes not only direct evidence of suspicious activity in esports or fixed matches but also indirect signs such as suspicious team behavior.

What This Means for Valorant’s Competitive Future These recent revelations have the potential to reshape how Riot monitors its leagues and handles reports of cheating or match fixing. While most players are in it to climb through skill and strategy, those who seek to boost their standing in Esports competitions through dishonest means threaten the legitimacy of the entire scene.

The outcome of this investigation may also influence the way future Valorant events are governed, particularly in Tier 2 circuits where oversight has traditionally been looser compared to the top-tier international leagues.

For now, Riot has asked the public to be patient. While transparency is important, prematurely sharing sensitive details could compromise the investigation and allow those involved to cover their tracks.

As Valorant continues to grow as a global esport, maintaining integrity at every level is critical. Whether it's preventing match-fixing or cracking down on unfair tactics, Riot’s actions now will help determine how competitive Valorant is viewed going forward—and whether fans can continue to trust the results they see on stage.

 

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