Riot Games Faces Fire Over Valorant Challengers NA Bribery Scandal

Riot Games, the organizer of the Valorant Champions Tour, is currently embroiled in a cheating scandal within the Valorant Challengers North American. Allegations have surfaced implicating individuals tied to the circuit in organized match-fixing schemes.

The controversy erupted after Shopify Rebellion’s General Manager, Sean Gares, released a video exposing systemic corruption in the Tier 2 ecosystem. He claims the scene is “rotting from within” due to widespread cheating and orchestrated match manipulation.

According to Gares, multiple players allegedly accepted bribes totaling tens of thousands of dollars to intentionally throw matches. Once involved, these players were reportedly blackmailed into indefinite cooperation.

Gares traced the roots of the corruption back to at least 2022, highlighting that the exodus of major Tier 1 organizations from the scene left desperate Tier 2 players vulnerable to exploitation by external investors and gambling syndicates. He further alleged that some Riot Games employees, particularly within the Anti-Cheat team, may have accepted payments to turn a blind eye to cheating or match-fixing activities.

In response, Riot Games stated it has launched an active, comprehensive investigation involving its Competitive Operations, Anti-Cheat, and broader esports divisions. The company emphasized that no evidence currently links its employees to misconduct but urged the Valorant community to share credible information while cautioning against spreading unverified claims that could harm the competitive circuit’s integrity.

Neither Gares nor Riot Games has provided further details since the scandal broke.