ESIC bans 2xplayN for life and plans law enforcement referrals

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has banned Palkovics “2xplayN” Tamás for life, it announced on Oct. 16. He had received a three-year ban as a NOMERCY player in ESIC’s investigation into match manipulation by the team.

ESIC said the new decision concerns “a series of public posts made by Mr. Tamás displaying apparent cash and other proceeds of financial crime alongside comments about match-manipulation findings, betting payouts and a return to competition.”

Referrals to Valve and law enforcement

“Further to the lifetime ban, ESIC will be facilitating referrals of the sanctioned conduct to Valve, government agencies and law enforcement,” the commission wrote.

ESIC added that the decision “does not find, from the photographs alone, that the money nor proceeds depicted were match-fixing proceeds.” No cooperation-based reduction was applied to the new sanction. His earlier assistance was considered but “did not excuse subsequent misconduct,” ESIC wrote. The ban prohibits participation in covered ESIC and Member competitions “in any capacity.”

What the posts showed

According to Cybersport.ru, which calls the 22-year-old playN, the photos appeared on X. They showed what he presented as his own bundles of cash and cars, with cheerful smileys and mocking comments aimed at people who had criticized him. He also said he intended to return to esports in 2029, when his original ban was due to expire, the outlet reported.

Background

ESIC sanctioned five NOMERCY players over match manipulation at Roman Imperium Cup VII, with all five decisions dated from Sept. 17. The sanctions were a lifetime ban for kzy, five-year bans for James8k and perakokanje, and three-year bans for 2xplayN and srtn1.