The world of esports has been rocked by the suspension of Joseph ‘Ban’ Seung-min, a notable VALORANT player, due to his involvement in an alleged match-fixing scandal. This decision, affecting his participation in all Riot Games-sanctioned events, follows a thorough investigation. The repercussions serve as a stark reminder of the importance of integrity in competitive gaming.
VALORANT player Joseph ‘Ban’ Seung-min has been handed a 12-month suspension from Riot Games events for breaching match-fixing rules. After a four-month probe, the former Global Esports player was found guilty under Riot Games’ Esports Global Code of Conduct. His suspension extends until the end of 2026, barring him from participating in any VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) events.
Details of the Breach
The announcement on December 18th, 2025, revealed that Ban had violated Article 4.14 of the Global Code of Conduct. This came to light after Riot Games examined screenshots discussing match manipulation during a VCT Pacific match. The match in question took place on July 19th, 2025, between Global Esports and Team Secret. Although Ban insisted he did not act on the discussions, his involvement still breached the Code of Conduct, which strictly prohibits any form of match-fixing or manipulation.
Riot Games, despite being unable to verify the screenshots directly, gathered evidence through witness testimonies and document reviews, suggesting Ban’s potential involvement in match-fixing activities. Consequently, Ban faces a year-long exclusion from competitive play and must undergo training on integrity and ethics. Failure to comply with this requirement could lead to further actions.
Ban’s Career So Far
Since embarking on his VALORANT journey in 2020, Ban has played for several prominent teams across VCT Pacific and VCT North America, including Luminosity Gaming, T1, and TALON. His career highlights include a third-place finish in the 2023 VCT Pacific League. From May to November, he competed under Global Esports, achieving a top-12 finish in Stage 2 of VCT Pacific before leaving in November amid the team’s reorganization.
Integrity issues have plagued VALORANT esports throughout 2025. In July, Riot Games conducted an investigation into match-fixing allegations within the Tier 2 North American scene, ultimately finding no evidence of misconduct.