The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has taken action against the Peruvian Team Clown Crew roster, also known as BarrancoBar, due to suspected irregular gameplay in competitive Dota 2 matches.
During the ongoing investigation, the players are barred from participating in ESIC Member events or any competitions under the ESIC Integrity Program.
According to a statement released by ESIC, the focus is on potential betting-related misconduct, match manipulation, and other integrity breaches across three recent matches.
ESIC Flags Up Suspect Gameplay
ESIC has honed in on player Christian “Accel” Cruz for investigation. This is part of a series of inquiries by the agency, including sanctions issued last month.
Recent data on Accel indicates losses in all four matches against Team Leto during the Get Good League Season 2 playoffs earlier this month.
The investigation is delving into the following aspects of Accel’s gameplay:
- Unusual camera behavior and player-perspective activity;
- Suspicious de-warding and map-awareness incidents;
- Reactions to enemy activity beyond normal vision or information range;
- Potential use of radar, second-screen information, unauthorized external data, or other prohibited aids; and
- Possible awareness, assistance, benefit, or involvement by other team members.
Having begun his career in 2015, the 30-year-old has accumulated total prize money of $142,811. He has been part of 18 teams over the past three years but has not achieved significant success.
Accel has not won any prize money since November last year when he earned $500 while representing Perros Angryy at the Redragon LatAm Series.
Low Tier Wagering Poses Integrity Risk
ESIC emphasizes, “This suspension is a temporary precautionary measure and does not indicate a final judgment.”
However, the increase in betting on low-tier events poses a potential integrity risk, as players facing financial challenges may be enticed to manipulate performances for betting purposes.
The popularity of esports betting in Latin America has grown, with various partnerships being announced recently. Peru began regulating its gambling sector in 2024, allowing legal sports betting and online casinos.
Brands like Stake, 1xBet, bet365, Betsson, and MeridianBet are active in the country. The latter struck a deal with Beter last year to enhance esports content on its platform.
While the recent case of suspected match-fixing raises integrity concerns, it also highlights the effectiveness of monitoring systems. In a regulated industry, companies collaborate with ESIC to report suspicious betting patterns.
It is challenging to determine whether match-fixing is on the rise in esports or if improved monitoring systems are uncovering cases that have long been occurring.