VALORANT Pro “Ban” Handled One-Year Suspension for Match-Fixing Discussions
SEOUL – In a move that has sparked intense debate over competitive integrity, Riot Games has officially handed a 12-month suspension to professional VALORANT player Seungmin “ban” Oh. The ruling follows an investigation into match-fixing discussions that allegedly took place during the 2025 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) season.
The irony of the player’s alias, “Ban,” becoming a reality was not lost on the community, but the details of the case reveal a complex situation involving self-reporting and strict adherence to Riot’s Global Code of Conduct.
The Investigation and Findings
According to Riot’s official disciplinary report, the suspension stems from interactions “ban” had during his tenure with Global Esports. Specifically, the player was found to have engaged with individuals and entertained proposals for match manipulation involving financial terms. The discussions reportedly centered around a VCT Pacific Stage 2 match between Global Esports and Team Secret, held on July 19, 2025.
The investigation began in late August after unverified screenshots of the alleged discussions surfaced online. Riot enlisted the integrity firm Sportradar to analyze the evidence. While the screenshots themselves could not be fully authenticated, interviews and document reviews including a voluntary disclosure from “ban” himself confirmed that he had participated in prohibited conversations.
Intent vs. Conduct
During the proceedings, “ban” maintained that he never actually intended to go through with the match manipulation, despite being part of the discussions. However, Riot Games clarified that intent is irrelevant when it comes to the Global Code of Conduct.
The policy states that violations are subject to disciplinary action whether they are committed intentionally or even as part of a “joke” or “stunt.”Riot did acknowledge several mitigating factors, most notably that “ban” voluntarily reported the incident to officials. This self-report likely saved him from a permanent lifetime ban, which is often the standard for match-fixing offenses in top-tier esports.
Future for “Ban”
The one-year suspension is limited to Riot-sanctioned events. This means that while “ban” is barred from competing in the VCT for the 2026 season, he remains eligible to participate in third-party tournaments and continue his career as a content creator.
As of the ruling, “ban” was not signed to any VCT roster for the upcoming season, a fact many analysts attribute to the looming investigation. The case serves as a stern warning to players in the VCT circuit: even “entertaining” a proposal for foul play is enough to derail a professional career.