CS2 Pro Banned for Life After Cheating and Blackmailing Officials

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Professional Counter-Strike 2 player Joel ‘joel’ Holmlund has received a permanent competition ban due to the detection of cheating software on his computer. Additionally, part of this ban was imposed as discipline for making threats against the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) in an attempt to postpone or reverse the decision regarding his ban.

As a devoted gamer immersed in Counter-Strike 2, I can’t help but notice that cheating isn’t a fresh issue – it’s as old as the game itself and arguably the biggest challenge Valve has to maintain an enjoyable, fair play environment. It seems like there’s a cheater lurking around every corner at any rank, which constantly puts pressure on Valve to up their game in combating these offenders.

In professional play, including Counter-Strike, there have been numerous instances of cheating across the years. The most recent player to be banned, named Joel, is a recurring offender who has been flagged for suspicious activity on more than one occasion within the last two years by the governing board.

Ultimately, the Esports Integrity Commission decided to impose a permanent ban on this player, prohibiting him from participating in Counter-Strike 2, as well as any other sport governed by the Esports Integrity Commission.

CS2 player banned after cheating and blackmailing officials

In this piece published on or around August 4, 2024, it’s been revealed that Joel was caught cheating approximately a year prior. The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) discovered he had been using aimbot, triggerbot, and various other unauthorized software on his computer, as well as manipulating matches during competitive play.

As a gamer, I was asked by him to hold off on making our big reveal about the verdict, so he could explore other job opportunities. They consented, showing good manners.

Yet, on the brink of disclosing the news publicly, Joel threatened the ESIC with supposedly false accusations that they had concocted.

In their public announcement, it was stated that after the grace period ended, Mr. Holmlund made a threat to blackmail ESIC using false accusations, as a reaction to ESIC’s plan to disclose the matter. This action by Mr. Holmlund is viewed as a severe violation of ESIC’s Integrity Program.

Mr. Holmlund has committed a new violation of the ESIC Integrity Program, making it his third offense within the last 24 months. This pattern of behavior demonstrates a continuous disrespect for the principles of honesty and sportsmanship in esports.

In that moment, I found myself facing a harsh reality – the game’s governing body had hurled a stack of twelve rule violations right at me, effectively ejecting me from Counter-Strike 2’s pro scene for good, as I was now ineligible to participate in any events they oversee.

Furthermore, they advised any tournament administrators outside their organization, including Valve itself, to enforce the ban and prevent him from participating in any and all tournaments.

For notorious CS:GO cheaters like Forsaken, their bans aren’t eternal; instead, permanent bans are typically reserved for the most severe offenders. This means that there are only a handful of professional CS players, such as Joel, who are permanently barred from competing in major CS events.

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2025-04-03 20:50