Ex-Global Esports player ban suspended from pro VALORANT play

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Seungmin “ban” Oh will be banned from playing competitive VALORANT for a year after an investigation revealed he was involved in fixing a match.

Riot Games has banned professional VALORANT player Seungmin “ban” Oh from competing due to match-fixing. More information about the situation is available below.

ban banned from competitive VALORANT

On December 18th, a decision was announced regarding the ban of a former player from TALON and Global Esports. The disciplinary process actually started on December 3rd. As a result, the player is currently barred from all official Riot Games competitions. Before he can compete again, he’ll need to complete training focused on competitive integrity and ethical behavior.

Riot Games first learned about potentially fixed matches in VCT Pacific on August 27, 2025, when they saw a post with unconfirmed screenshots. They immediately hired Sportradar to look into the claims, and the investigation wrapped up on November 18th.

Ban voluntarily told his team leaders about the incident before any official investigation started. Although he reported it after the game was over, it happened early enough in the process – before disciplinary action began – that it was considered a significant factor in his favor.

Riot Games investigated the screenshots and claims but couldn’t confirm they were real. However, interviews and reviewed documents suggest that Ban may have been involved in fixing matches, according to Riot Games.

The investigation focused on a match between Global Esports and Team Secret on July 19th as part of VCT Pacific 2025. While investigators didn’t find proof the ban directly impacted the match’s outcome, the player is being suspended for talking about and considering ways to manipulate the game in exchange for money.

So, after looking into it, Riot says they couldn’t prove that Ban intentionally played badly to mess with the game. Basically, they couldn’t definitively say he threw the match, even after reviewing everything.

Simply talking to someone about fixing a match, and even agreeing to their proposal, is a rule violation – even if the fix never actually happens. Just being involved in these conversations breaks the Global Code of Conduct, regardless of whether you intend to follow through.

I was really shocked to hear that ban was let go by Global Esports. It seems like they’re making big changes for 2026, and this investigation probably played a huge role in their decision. The worst part is, because of the year-long suspension, we won’t see him competing in VALORANT again until 2027. It’s a long wait, but I’m hoping he can come back strong!

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2025-12-18 16:11