ESL has announced that Valve has handed bans to the ex-ESC Gaming team and to former members of Epsilon for their involvement in match-fixing cases.

With just days left before the offline qualifier for ESL One Katowice takes place, Valve has announced a fresh wave of bans as a result of match-fixing cases.

Epsilon and the former ESC Gaming team, both of whom had been invited by ESL to take part in the event, have been found guilty of match-fixing and have been banned indefinitely from all Valve-sponsored events.



ScreaM was deemed not guilty of match-fixing

While the bans handed to all members of Epsilon except Adil "⁠ScreaM⁠" Benrlitom come with little surprise, the former ESC Gaming team's suspension is a shocking news that comes at a time when the players were about to join a new organisation.

Besides Epsilon and ex-ESC, the former ALSEN team, who were caught fixing an ESL match in October, have also received bans.

The following players have been banned from all Valve-sponsored events:

WinneR, who had secured a spot at the offline qualifier for ESL One Katowice, have been disqualified from the tournament as Valve continues its investigation into a match-fixing case involving the team.

To fill the spots that belonged to Epsilon and ex-ESC, ESL will host a last-chance tournament on Sunday with the teams that did not make it through the second European qualifier's Round of 16 and quarter-finals.