Cheating? Match Fixing? The Open Secrets Of CS2’s Online Tournaments

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In casual CS games, it’s often thought of as cheating when a hacker is encountered in matchmaking lobbies – a common annoyance for dedicated gamers. Yet, the professional scene has faced persistent issues with accusations of cheating, questionable gameplay, and even match-fixing scandals for quite some time.

In casual play of CS, it’s usually considered cheating when a hacker appears in matchmaking lobbies – something long-term players often face. However, the professional scene has grappled with accusations of cheating, suspicious gameplay, and even match-fixing scandals for years.

A Lot Of Controversy

In today’s digital age of CS2 tournaments, where most games, regardless of skill level, are streamed live, even the slightest hint of dubious play triggers a wave of accusations on social media. The ongoing issue of cheating scandals, as exemplified by Blagoi “oxygeN” Dimitrov’s recent controversy, is just another case in point. After a match between 500 and B8 on Mirage, several clips suggesting cheating emerged, sparking accusations against him.

Describe for me the strategy of a player who consistently predicts the location of an opponent, and whenever they are on the KeyTile (kt), they leap onto that Tile. This pattern repeats itself in every round, but with unique actions each time, raising questions about whether it’s based on reality or imagination.

— kensizor (@kensizor771) February 15, 2025

Notably, even skilled gamers like Owen “smooya” Butterfield and Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov have voiced their opinions on this matter. In particular, m0NESY humorously commented, “Just a game sense ;)” – a witty remark that subtly pokes fun at the circumstance.

Just a game sense 🙂

— IlyaO (@G2m0NESY) February 17, 2025

The KQLY And Forsaken Incidents

In 2014 on November 20th, one of the most notorious cases of cheating in Counter-Strike history occurred when Hovik “KQLY” Tovmassian was banned by Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC). This ban effectively ended KQLY’s career and dashed the hopes of his team, Titan eSports, who were barred from participating in the DreamHack Winter 2014 Major. The following day, KQLY publicly acknowledged that the ban was warranted, admitting that he had indeed employed cheating software.

The incident swiftly made its mark in CS history, primarily because of the immediate response from his teammate at the time, Adil “ScreaM” Benrlitom, who was streaming live on Twitch when the news broke. His iconic reaction – “KQLY VAC-banned? No, really? No, seriously? No.” – beautifully encapsulated the shock that swept across the community.

Back in 2018, I was taken aback by one of the funniest instances of cheating ever witnessed in CS history. At the eXTREMESLAND Asia Finals, Optic India’s Nikhil “forsaken” Kumawat was busted using a cheat right in the middle of the tournament. The hilarious part? They found his cheat software disguised as “word.exe” on his PC! Talk about trying to hide an elephant in a mouse hole.

At the instant he was challenged, he panicked and hurriedly attempted to erase the document, yet it had already been beyond salvation. One of the funniest moments in CS history is that video clip capturing his frantic effort to conceal his dishonesty.

The iBUYPOWER Match Fixing Scandal

During the same timeframe as the KQLY ban, the most notorious match-fixing case involved the top North American team, iBUYPOWER. On August 21, 2014, during a CEVO Professional Season 5 match against NetCodeGuides.com, suspicious activity arose that immediately caught attention. The unusual performance of iBUYPOWER fueled accusations of match-fixing.

In January 2015, a significant shift occurred in the case when text messages from an ex-girlfriend of iBUYPOWER player Derek “dboorn” Boorn were made public. These texts suggested that the team had deliberately lost a match, placing bets against themselves through multiple accounts to collect over $11,000 in winnings via the CS:GO Lounge betting platform, which was popular at the time. The main orchestrator of these bets was revealed to be Duc “cud” Pham, who managed nine accounts to secure this amount.

In a quick action, Valve permanently excluded six players – Sam “DaZeD” Marine, Joshua “steel” Nissan, Braxton “swag” Pierce, Keven “AZK” Larivière, dboorn, and cud – from participating in any future events they sponsor.

In the past, IBUYPOWER’s standout player, Tyler “Skadoodle” Latham, decided not to partake in a certain plan. Consequently, he was the sole individual exempted from disciplinary action. Later, he achieved victory at the 2018 ELEAGUE Boston Major with Cloud9, a milestone that represented the zenith of North American CS:GO triumphs.

CS2: A Decade Later, The Issues Remain

By 2024, the game evolved from CS:GO to CS2, yet the same issues persist. Despite the implementation of cutting-edge anti-cheat systems and heightened supervision, professional Counter-Strike continues to grapple with accusations of cheating and match-fixing scandals.

During the preliminary rounds of the PGL Copenhagen Major 2024, an intriguing instance of cheating was spotted live during the game between 00Nation and the team “apa7ty”. One player, named “biffy66”, was seen clearly turning on cheats in several rounds.

During the initial stages of the PGL Copenhagen Major 2024, a noteworthy case of cheating came to light during the encounter between 00Nation and “apa7ty”. The player identified as “biffy66” was caught using cheats overtly in numerous rounds.

Each time team 00Nation, comprising Jon “JDC” de Castro and Florian “syrsoN” Rische, came close to winning the game, it was biffy who pulled off a vital series of kills. However, despite apa7ty securing a 22-20 victory, biffy was promptly banned, allowing team 00Nation to rejoin the tournament again.

In the same year, another notable case surfaced, centering around Swedish player Joel “joel” Holmlund. During the CCT Season 2 Europe Series 7, he was abruptly disqualified by the Akros Anti-Cheat system while competing with BC.Game. Known for being a contentious figure, having served a ban for match-fixing the previous year, his latest disqualification further tarnished his already suspect image.

These occurrences suggest that although overt cheating is still being detected, numerous instances may go undetected. Specifically, match-fixing continues to be a significant concern, largely due to the low wages in lower-level esports leagues (CS2) and the prevalence of unregulated betting markets.

In April 2024, the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) handed down a two-year suspension to the Russian player Erkhan “Gokushima” Bagynanov. Unlike unverified accusations often found online, ESIC bans are issued only when there is unequivocal proof. In their official statement, they cited “detailed interview records and supporting evidence, including confessions, gathered during the investigation.

This situation serves as a reminder that match-fixing persists as a significant problem, especially among the less prominent competitive tiers. It’s in these arenas where athletes may be more vulnerable to monetary enticements.

The Real Scope Of The Problem

In the world of CS2, one of the toughest battles is uncovering instances of cheating and match fixing. Although obvious cases like forsaken’s word.exe scandal or biffy66’s mid-match toggle are relatively simple to spot, there are many players who manage to evade detection by employing subtle cheats or meticulously planned match-fixing strategies. From a passionate fan’s perspective, it’s these stealthy offenders that pose the greatest challenge in maintaining fairness within CS2.

It’s quite possible that the actual number of cases – often referred to as the “Hidden Figure” among Germans – is significantly greater than what’s officially reported. I’ve personally come across German players in Tier 2 who were offered money to manipulate matches but chose to decline. Given that these are just the ones who said no, one has to wonder how many accepted such offers.

In other words, since there are still financial rewards and loopholes in the anti-cheat system, it’s inevitable that cheating and manipulation of matches will persist in CS2. What remains to be seen is how many more incidents of this nature will occur before substantial changes are implemented.

One Possible Solution – At Least For Cheating

In a recent suggestion, well-known CS2 caster and ex-player Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill proposes that participants in certain online tournaments should be required to use a webcam positioned behind them.

SPUNJ proposes an approach following the allegations against 500: “To participate in these online competitions, it’s required that you provide a live webcam feed, ensuring it’s positioned at your back.

— HLTV Confirmed (@HLTVconfirmed) February 25, 2025

This measure might effectively limit the possibilities for cheaters to attempt radar-spying or wall penetration. Although software tools offering aim-assistance might still exist, this could prove to be a highly beneficial temporary remedy.

Ultimately, it’s only a matter of time before Valve must enhance their security measures. A kernel-level anti-cheat system, similar to what Riot Games has implemented for Valorant players, might be the most effective solution in this case. This would benefit both competitive teams aiming for the Major cycle, as they adhere to new Valve Ranking regulations, and casual gamers who desire a cheater-free gaming experience.

Although we can merely wish for a genuine resolution someday, the truth is that life often includes those who take advantage or act dishonestly. Regrettably, honesty and sportsmanship don’t always appeal to everyone.

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2025-02-28 21:40