Counter-Strike players create fake pro LoL team to rig matches & get caught immediately

A gang suspected of manipulating Counter-Strike matches unexpectedly switched to professional League of Legends, forming a supposedly legitimate team that was exposed during their debut tournament.

More often than not, lower-tier esports leagues have been accused of being breeding grounds for manipulated games and match-fixing, with some claiming that this unethical practice is the sole reason certain teams in these leagues continue to exist.

Earlier this year, a Valorant controversy emerged, suggesting that some lower-tier teams were wagering large sums of money on matches, a practice that has also been seen previously in League of Legends. Notably, China’s second-tier league has gained a reputation for such incidents; one investigation led to nearly 40 players receiving bans.

Yet, one Lithuanian team in the Rift Legends league struggled so much with concealing their poor performance that they were exposed following their inaugural match and subsequently expelled from the league.

LoL team immediately banned for creating fake team to matchfix

Competing in second-tier esports leagues isn’t exactly a lucrative opportunity due to the high expenses associated with maintaining a team. In fact, Riot Games had to grant exemptions to teams in the LCS (now LEC) so they wouldn’t have to field a required tier 2 roster, allowing these organizations to continue operating financially.

Although earning profits from managing esports teams in this league isn’t abundant, some unconventional, potentially illicit methods exist for teams to swiftly generate income.

The team known as MY STAR underwent a complete overhaul of its lineup before the Rift Legends 2025 Summer Split, bringing in a brand-new squad that included no players from their previous roster, who had no confirmed plans for the upcoming season.

ALE PECH, ALE NIEFART!!!

Incydent chińskiv2??? #nervalol

— Filwicz (@filwicz) July 22, 2025

In the initial match, STAR’s performance was dismal, leaving some team members appearing as if they were novices to League of Legends. Particularly hard-hit was Balukos, who had perished no less than five times in the lane within the first ten minutes of play.

In addition to Kory and LakatosD facing accusations of manipulating matches in Counter-Strike, it’s important to note that these allegations have not been substantiated, allowing them to continue competing. Interestingly, Kory is recognized by the same name in League of Legends, while LakatosD uses SZLOBESZKOV in his Counter-Strike profile.

Spectators found it unusual during both matches that the players seldom varied their facial expressions on camera and didn’t speak at all throughout the games, which is quite extraordinary for professional competition.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that the webcam assigned to the player named Balukos resembles Lesterik, a previous key-roster player who was transferred to the “reserve” category.

Danijel Å ego, aka Lesterik’s LinkedIn profile pic side by side with Balukos’ webcam on broadcast

In the roster, Balukos is known as Luka Glisic, while Lesterik is named Danijel Å ego. This creates confusion about whether they actually acquired a new player or if they merely recycled their old player’s webcam feed, with the real Lesterik potentially still playing for the team.

In simpler terms, because of discrepancies and instances that seemed like intentional losses, particularly in game 1, the entire organization has been expelled from the league right away due to match-fixing and violations of various rules outlined in the league’s ethical guidelines.

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2025-07-25 23:48