One of the twoValorantIgnition Series players is awaiting full sentencing afterpleading guiltyto esports-related corruption charges. Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) charged Ryan Tan Shern and Malcolm Chung Wai Kiat in 2021 for masterminding illegal gambling and match-fixing.
In 2021, Tan and Chung were charged under Singapore’s Prevention of Corruption Act, with further consideration of charges under the Remote Gambling Act. On January 5, Tan pleaded guilty to a corruption charge. As a young person being involved in corruption isn’t usual, District Judge Soh Tze Bian requested reports on Tan’s suitability for probation and reformative training. Tan’s accomplice, Malcolm Chung, has been charged with one count of corruption and another count under the Remote Gambling Act - his case is still before the courts.
As the story goes, Tan and Chung were old friends who used to play Counter-Strike together. In 2014, Tan borrowed $1,000 from Chung to fuel his gambling habit and predictably lost the money. After his failure to repay Chung, Tan pitched an idea. Chung was now a semi-professional Valorant player set to represent Resurgence in the Epulze Royal Southeast Asia Cup. Prior to Resurgence’s match against the Japanese Team Blackbird Ignis, Tan convinced Chung to “throw” the game. A VOD of one of the games is viewable below.
RELATED:Valorant Teaser Hints At New Map Announcement For This Week
Tan revealed that he could get money from his older brother to place bets on Team Blackbird and he did so. He placed five bets totaling $3000 on Blackbird and ended up winning $7,109, keeping $2,319 for himself. In June 2021, this situation came to light when the chief operating officer of Resurgence went to the police regarding the alleged match-fixing.
Riot Games conducted its own investigation into the matter andfound that Chung had informed the rest of Resurgenceabout the scheme, but his teammates did not want to participate. Despite this, they neglected to inform management about the match-fixing for fear of losing their contracts with the organization. The entire team were given penalties by Riot as a result. Both Chung and Tan were banned from participating in competitive Valorant for 36 months, with the rest of the team receiving bans that ranged from six months to one year.
The penalty for corruption in Singapore is up to five years in jail, a $100,000 fine or both.
NEXT:DangMoo Set To Become First Female League Of Legends Pro In Korea
