Will the American RMR participant face disqualification?

Damian “EMIYA” Boulevard, a professional player hailing from North America in Counter-Strike 2, has been banned by the FACEIT platform for engaging in cheating activities. While initially perceived as an ordinary unknown and aspiring semi-pro player, his story unfolds in a more complex manner. It has come to light that his team, Rocket, also violated the regulations during the closed qualifiers for the upcoming Major RMR tournaments.

The news of the ban broke out on February 19, less than two weeks prior to the commencement of the American RMR, an event in which the Rocket team was set to participate. Shortly thereafter, another Rocket player, Ahmed “ayy” Mahmoud, reportedly expressed his refusal to partake in the RMR, citing that they “do not deserve the slot.” During the closed qualifiers for this highly significant CS2 event, Rocket seemingly breached the rules by enabling their coach to communicate with the players during matches (likely through Teamspeak or Discord), an act explicitly forbidden by the regulations.

Ban on FACEIT does not prevent EMIYA from going to RMR

Despite the FACEIT ban, EMIYA is determined to persevere and actively participate in the RMR. This ban, originating from a third-party platform rather than an official Valve repercussion, does not discourage him from pursuing his competitive aspirations in the upcoming tournament. It is worth considering the possibility that this ban may be unfounded, as both Valve and other platforms, including Faceit, have faced criticism for false bans in the past. Nevertheless, this situation casts a shadow over Rocket’s performance in the tournament, particularly due to the allegations surrounding their coach’s involvement during the closed qualifiers.

According to player Ayy, Rocket’s coach, Alexander “Psycho” Zlobin, allegedly monitored their gameplay and actively listened to their team’s communication during multiple matches, providing subtle adjustments as necessary. These claims specifically reference encounters against M80 and BOSS. Additionally, it remains uncertain whether the coach offered assistance during matches against Cloud10 and Carpe Diem. It appears that Rocket discontinued Psycho’s involvement once an unidentified team explicitly pointed out their rule violations. Undoubtedly, this controversy has significantly impacted Rocket’s reputation and may have repercussions for their performance in the tournament.

Another Rocket player, Matthew “nero” Seymour, admitted to the Dust2 portal

Another player from the Rocket team, Matthew “nero” Seymour, made a candid admission during an interview with Dust2 portal, revealing his awareness of the deliberate violations committed by their team. He expressed unequivocally that there is “no excuse” for such behavior. Additionally, Seymour pointed out that they were not the only ones breaking the rules among the participating teams in the qualifiers. However, without concrete evidence to support these claims and with the absence of a dedicated tournament version of TeamSpeak for communication monitoring, the veracity of these allegations remains unverified.

These new revelations, brought to light by the statements of Rocket players, coupled with EMIYA’s FACEIT ban, have cast a cloud of uncertainty over the team’s future in the tournament. The disqualification of Rocket from the event now appears increasingly likely. The absence of an official statement from PGL regarding these developments has created a sense of anticipation and speculation within the esports community. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the tournament organizers will address these allegations and what consequences, if any, will be imposed on the teams involved.

The controversy surrounding Rocket has undoubtedly sparked intense discussions among fans, analysts, and fellow competitors. The integrity of competitive gaming and the importance of fair play are being scrutinized, as instances of rule violations can undermine the legitimacy of the entire tournament. The esports community eagerly awaits an official response from PGL to address these allegations and provide clarity on the subsequent actions that will be taken.

In the midst of this uncertainty, the reputation of Rocket as a competitive team hangs in the balance. The team’s future participation in upcoming tournaments and their standing within the esports community will inevitably be impacted by the outcome of this controversy. As the situation develops, it is crucial for all parties involved to address the issue transparently, ensuring the integrity of the competitive scene is upheld and that appropriate measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.