ESIC has issued the first ban to three Legends of Runeterra players who have engaged in boosting behavior during an official competition.

Legends of Runeterra Players Banned by ESIC

Riot Games, the company behind numerous blockbusters such as League of Legends, Wild Rift and Valorant, stirred excitement when it announced that it’s also entering the digital card game segment, with the company also having a massive online multiplayer game in the works, as well. Legends of Runeterra, or LoR, has created a sustainable model where players need not pay to acquire the strongest cards and can cover at least 90% of the “current meta” by simply playing the game. 

Naturally, the game has garnered some popularity, offering a low-entry bar and incentivizing players to procure all the cards they need through play. With the limelight shining on Legends of Runeterra, the game has spawned a healthy esports ecosystem around it, and that is precisely what is in the crosshairs of the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC), the regulatory body ensuring that integrity in competitive video games is upheld.

An investigation by the commission into the actions of a trio of players, known by their nicknames as Le Hiep, DiaComSuon, and Cuticini, has suggested that they have been involved in the “abnormal progression” of several accounts during the ESL Mobile Open Legends of Runeterra tournament held through June 6 of this year. 

Dishonesty in Esports Will Not Work Vows ESIC

The issue was flagged by ESL, an ESIC member who assists the organization in fighting untoward behavior in competitive gaming. According to ESIC, the players had colluded to boost the accounts during the ladder-based event and win points.

“ESIC is centrally focused on protecting the integrity of the esports landscape. This comes from ESIC’s firm belief that the competitive integrity of esports is of central importance to the maintenance of its commercial longevity and viability,” a statement by the commission read.

Based on the investigation’s findings, the trio has violated Article 2.4.4 of ESIC’s Code of Conduct, resulting in a 12-month ban. The players will not be able to partake in any events hosted by member organizations, including but not limited to Eden, WePlay, DreamHack, BLAST, LVOP or ESL. 

The event was held from May 14 through June 6, with each participant playing in ten leaderboard matches. Creating and operating “fake” accounts to earn victory points is considered manipulation and a dishonest way to improve one’s stats. 

ESIC has been actively looking to uproot fraud in esports. Earlier this year, the organization suspended 35 CS:GO players from Australia. ESIC has been actively expanding its reach by adding new partners to assist it in detecting and investigate suspicious behavior.