Ranked VALORANT matches are being ruined by crypto match throwers

Multiple professional VALORANT players and streamers have complained that their teammates have lost high-level games due to other players who bet on the outcome of the games using cryptocurrencies.

Players can bet that a streamer will lose a match when they are on the same team and intentionally lose the game. Or, on the contrary, see that a pro or streamer is on the enemy team and bet that they will win while intentionally causing their team to lose.

VALORANT pros call out a crypto-betting problem

Professionals at the highest level use the rankings as a means of practice outside of scrims with other professional teams. In addition, they use the games to create content for their audience and for new talent to get noticed.

Some of the biggest names in Pro VALORANT, such as Yassine “Subroza” Taoufik and Tarik “tarik” Celik, have spoken out about the problem online.

The problem has been known for months. It originates from websites where users can bet with cryptocurrencies in qualifying games. Consequently, it causes players in a game with these streamers to lose games and intentionally win the bet.

This is known as match-fixing, a cheating activity to ensure a particular team wins a sports match.

Players’ opinions

Sentinels player Tyson “TenZ” Ngo called the current state of qualifying game streamers “ridiculous.”

On the other hand, NRG player Pujan “FNS” Mehta also weighed in on the issue and proposed a way for players to steer clear of crypto gambling.

Players who queue to qualify and end up on the same side as the streamer will roll and collect a bet that the streamer loses. If they end up on the opposite side, they will make the streamer win. These players will do everything they can to win their bet, such as purposely missing shots and other toxic behavior.

Top players like tarik, ShahZaM, FNS, and TenZ, who see the qualifier as a practice opportunity, have had their experience ruined due to the unethical activity of some of their random teammates.

Many of these players are very familiar with match-fixing. For example, both tarik and FNS were on the team against which Team iBUYPOWER ignited the NA match-fixing scandal in CS:GO in 2014.

Possible outcomes

But in this case, it’s different. It’s not about professional players throwing a professional game. Random players are making quick money with cryptocurrency bets. Unfortunately, these actions ruin streamers’ viewing experience and the game for everyone else.

It is not yet known how this problem will be resolved, but certainly, these sites could cave in if there is enough pressure. Conversely, if the alleged betting continues in ranked games, more pros and amateurs may abandon the solo queue and play in private matches.

In private games, all players are invited so no one can influence the outcome. However, they generated smaller groups of players in the ranking, longer waiting times, and unequal games.

Header: Riot Games