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Taking a page from "games are serious business" book, it seems as though scandal is plaguing the professional Korean StarCraft scene. Let's not forget that StarCraft is essentially life when it comes to many Korean residents.
Gamepron reports that many pro gamers are involved in a scandal that involves match set-ups and illegal betting. Many teams have been intentionally losing matches and leaking their game replays early to illegal betting rings.
The story also notes that many have "likened to the 1919 Black Sox scandal, which saw eight members of the Chicago White Sox World Series team intentionally losing several games – giving the series to the Cincinnati Reds." Riiiiight...
Esports: Serious Business.
Gamepron reports that many pro gamers are involved in a scandal that involves match set-ups and illegal betting. Many teams have been intentionally losing matches and leaking their game replays early to illegal betting rings.
While the gamers are un-named at this point, the story is said to touch many A-list StarCraft celebrities – including sAviOr, Ja Mae Yoon – one of the best-known and most successful players of all time.(...)
According to Korean sources, the drama all started several years ago – in 2006 – and exploded properly in 2008, when the betting sites started to contact various players inquiring about rigging their matches. Apparently, retired pro gamers, a former pro gamer coach, a former match announcer and a pro gaming scene reporter brought out their address books and contact lists to play a large part in the deals being made. Coaching staff and camp directors are also implicated, allegedly taking money for charging player entry fees.
…even more sinister: E-sports organisers allegedly knew about the situation and had attempted to solve the issue themselves, with the illegal businesses going further underground. A closed conference even saw the organisers discussing the possibility of co-existing with the illegal betting sites.
According to Korean sources, the drama all started several years ago – in 2006 – and exploded properly in 2008, when the betting sites started to contact various players inquiring about rigging their matches. Apparently, retired pro gamers, a former pro gamer coach, a former match announcer and a pro gaming scene reporter brought out their address books and contact lists to play a large part in the deals being made. Coaching staff and camp directors are also implicated, allegedly taking money for charging player entry fees.
…even more sinister: E-sports organisers allegedly knew about the situation and had attempted to solve the issue themselves, with the illegal businesses going further underground. A closed conference even saw the organisers discussing the possibility of co-existing with the illegal betting sites.
The story also notes that many have "likened to the 1919 Black Sox scandal, which saw eight members of the Chicago White Sox World Series team intentionally losing several games – giving the series to the Cincinnati Reds." Riiiiight...
Esports: Serious Business.
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