Top 10 Most Infamous Cheats in E-Sports History

Integrity is crucial in professional e-sports, yet the competitive scene has faced numerous scandals over the years. From match-fixing to software cheats and team collusion, these incidents have shaped rules, regulations, and community awareness. Here are the 10 most infamous cheats in e-sports history.

1. iBUYPOWER Match Fixing – CS:GO (2014)

• Type of Cheating: Match Fixing

• Perpetrators: iBUYPOWER (North America), Derek "dboorn" Boorn

• Impact: Permanently banned from all Valve tournaments

The iBUYPOWER scandal shocked the CS:GO community when the team intentionally lost a match against NetcodeGuides.com to win bets. Valve responded with permanent bans, emphasizing the importance of ethics and transparency in competitive play.

2. Ma Jae-Yoon “sAviOr” – StarCraft: Brood War (2010)

• Type of Cheating: Match Fixing

• Perpetrators: sAviOr & top Korean players

• Impact: Lifetime ban from Korean e-sports

sAviOr, known as “The Maestro,” was caught rigging matches in professional StarCraft tournaments. The scandal devastated fans and led to stricter regulations in Korea. sAviOr’s lifetime ban became a cautionary tale about ethical conduct in e-sports.

3. KQLY VAC Ban – CS:GO (2014)

• Type of Cheating: Software cheats (aimbot/wallhack)

• Perpetrator: Hovik "KQLY" Tovmassian (Titan)

• Impact: Permanent ban from Valve tournaments

KQLY, a top French player, received a VAC ban at the height of his career. His team, Titan, faced reputational damage, highlighting the importance of anti-cheat systems in professional CS:GO.

4. Newbee Match Fixing – Dota 2 (2020)

• Type of Cheating: Match Fixing

• Perpetrators: Newbee (TI 2014 champions)

• Impact: Permanent ban from Chinese tournaments

Newbee’s match-fixing scandal disillusioned fans, tarnishing their reputation despite their TI 2014 championship. The case prompted stricter oversight in China’s Dota 2 tournaments.

5. Coaching Bug Scandal – CS:GO (2020)

• Type of Cheating: Exploiting spectator bug

• Perpetrators: 37 coaches from major teams (MIBR, Heroic, etc.)

• Impact: Multi-year bans

Coaches abused a spectator bug to relay enemy positions to their teams, gaining an unfair advantage. ESL and Valve issued multi-year bans and updated tournament rules to prevent similar exploits.

6. Forsaken Cheat – CS:GO (2018)

• Type of Cheating: Software cheats (aimbot/wallhack)

• Perpetrator: Nikhil "Forsaken" Kumawat (Optic India)

• Impact: Team disbanded; Indian e-sports reputation damaged

Forsaken’s use of cheats in official CS:GO tournaments destroyed his team’s reputation and tainted Indian e-sports, demonstrating the consequences of cheating at a professional level.

7. Early Pro Cheaters – Valorant (2020)

• Type of Cheating: Cheat during closed beta

• Perpetrators: Several early pro players, including Phox

• Impact: Permanent bans

During Valorant’s closed beta, some pro players exploited cheats. Riot Games issued permanent bans and strengthened their anti-cheat system, Vanguard, setting the standard for fair play from day one.

8. Ghosting Impunity KH – Mobile Legends (2021)

• Type of Cheating: Ghosting (viewing opponents’ screens)

• Perpetrators: Impunity KH team

• Impact: Community backlash and stricter tournament rules

Impunity KH was caught ghosting, giving them a clear advantage. This led to enhanced regulations in Mobile Legends tournaments to preserve competitive integrity.

9. “WarsZ” Cheat Case – Warzone (2020)

• Type of Cheating: Software cheats

• Perpetrator: WarsZ, streamer and tournament participant

• Impact: Tournament bans and lost sponsorships

WarsZ used cheats in official Warzone competitions, resulting in bans and sponsorship losses. This case highlights how cheating can destroy both reputation and professional opportunities.

10. Teaming Collusion – Apex Legends (2022)

• Type of Cheating: Colluding between enemy teams

• Perpetrators: Multiple teams, including TTHF

• Impact: Disqualification from ALGS

During the 2022 Apex Legends Global Series, some teams colluded to gain an unfair advantage. EA issued disqualifications, emphasizing the importance of integrity in competitive battle royale games.

Conclusion

Cheating in e-sports not only damages individual reputations but also undermines entire communities and competitions. From match-fixing to software cheats and ghosting, these scandals serve as lessons for players and organizations alike.

Modern tournaments now enforce strict anti-cheat measures, monitoring, and regulations to ensure fair play. Professional integrity is just as important as skill, strategy, and teamwork in e-sports.