More professional players have now been banned from PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds). They are said to have cheated during professional matches and in public games. Interestingly, two of the banned pros didn’t even cheat themselves.
What’s going on? PUBG Corp discovered that some professional players were using unauthorized software. They used it in public games and even contested professional matches. Now, some players have been banned.
Two of them only knew that their teammates were cheating. However, they are now also banned from competitive play for years.
These PUBG players have now been banned
The Background: On December 19, 2018, PUBG Corp initiated an action to closely examine all professional PUBG players.
It was checked whether the in-game bans of the players were related to their use of unauthorized programs. The result was that four players were banned as a result.
This is new: The ban wave is not yet completely over. Recently, PUBG Corp announced that 12 more players will be excluded from competitive play. Some cheated in public games, others in professional matches, while some only knew about it.
- 4 players are accused of using “unauthorized programs” in public games
- Each of them will be banned for 2 years and may not participate in official PUBG tournaments during this time
- The players are Avalon, Smitty, TEXQS, and S1D
- 6 players are punished for using “unauthorized programs” in professional matches
- Each of them will be banned for 3 years and may not participate in official PUBG tournaments during this time
- The players are Papaya, Cabecao, swalker, zuppaa, Houlow, and sezk0
These players did not use cheats but are being punished: No cheats could be proven for 2 players from Team Sans domicile. However, PUBG Corp states that they will also be punished.
The punishment is due to the fact that they were apparently fully aware that their teammates were using unauthorized programs during the PEL qualifiers. These players are THZ and Fr_Steph, who have also received a 3-year ban.
Team must bring a new roster: For Sans domicile, this means that they will lose their spot in the Contenders League because their players used cheats during the PEL qualifiers. However, the team will have the opportunity to participate in future tournaments if they bring a completely new lineup.
There is no suspicion on the part of PUBG Corp that the team’s organization was aware of the cheating players.
- The Red Diamonds team may only keep their spot in the PEL if they replace the player S1D with another player. There is no evidence that S1D or other players from the team used cheats during the PEL qualifiers
- The Pittsburgh Knights team may only keep their spot in the PEL if they replace the player TEXQS with another player. The team did not play in the PEL qualifier because they were directly invited. However, there is no evidence that any of their players used unauthorized programs in a professional match.
This is what PUBG will do differently in the future: In their statement about the events, PUBG Corp writes that they will conduct checks earlier in the future:
“In the future, all participating players will undergo a comprehensive background check before an official esports competition. On all their accounts. Any player with compelling evidence that he used unauthorized programs will be banned and will not be allowed to participate in the competition.”
Streamers have also had to learn that one does not have to cheat oneself to get banned:
