Valorant Game Changers Scandal: Noot Noot forfeits match amid cheating allegations

 the Valorant Game Changers tournament has been thrust into controversy as the team “Noot Noot” faces disqualification amid allegations of cheating.

In the ongoing tradition of drama and turmoil overshadowing the competitive spirit in Valorant’s Game Changers events, a fresh controversy has reared its head. Noot Noot, an unsigned team that managed to secure a spot in the NA Series Three main event, now finds itself embroiled in a scandal after being flagged by Riot Anti-Cheat during a lower bracket match against Complexity GX3 on October 5th.

pic.twitter.com/qFFjagGcdy

— VALORANT Esports NA (@valesports_na) October 6, 2023

 

The result? A forfeit loss and the launch of a comprehensive investigation by Riot Competitive Operations.

Community response and speculation

News of alleged cheating by Noot Noot has ignited a firestorm of anger within the Valorant Game Changers community. Notably, members of the Shopify Rebellion team, who finished as runners-up in the global Game Changers Championship last year, openly derided Noot Noot for defeating them while supposedly engaging in foul play. SR’s coach, Rob “rob-wiz” Kennedy, notorious for receiving a match ban last year after an altercation with C9 White, described Noot Noot’s actions as “beyond pathetic.”

Even Disguised Toast, a prominent figure in the community, expressed dissatisfaction. His team was recently sent to the lower bracket by Noot Noot, which eventually led to their elimination. He voiced his discontent, particularly in light of the substantial financial investments made in developing a competitive roster, only to lose to a team later disqualified for alleged cheating.

Currently, Noot Noot has been disqualified, and Complexity GX3 has been awarded the victory, allowing them to progress in the lower bracket. However, the outcome of Riot’s full investigation remains pending.

What sparked the controversy?

The incident occurred during the VCT NA Game Changers 2023 Series III Lower Round 2 when Riot Anti-Cheat detected a violation of competitive integrity by a Noot Noot player. This led to a match forfeit, followed by an hour-long pause between the second and third maps of the Noot Noot vs. Complexity GX3 game.

While Riot has initiated an investigation into the team, questions linger about the games Noot Noot has already won, having qualified via Open Qualifiers and defeated multiple teams to reach the Main Event.

just wanna say this here

I met malibu literally 2 weeks before GC3 and never once did it seem like they were cheating. We have 0 context and we really have no idea what they found or what truly happened. If they were cheating than me, mili, and karie had quite literally just met…

— xann (@1xann) October 6, 2023

 

As the community speculates, the player in question is likely Madelyn “malibu” Evergreen. On the now-locked Twitter account, malibu denied the cheating accusations and mentioned that they are transgender. Allison “Xann” Evergreen, malibu’s teammate, also weighed in on the situation, adding further complexity to the unfolding drama.

With Riot’s investigation ongoing, the esports community eagerly awaits more information about this controversial incident. Valorant Game Changers events continue to be marred by controversy, proving that even in the heat of competition, the quest for fair play remains paramount.

Header: Riot Games