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Historic Esports Chronicles – The 2015 Match-Fixing Scandal in StarCraft II
The South Korean StarCraft II scene was rocked by a match-fixing scandal that unfolded between 2015 and 2016. What began as suspicious betting patterns eventually led to criminal investigations, arrests, and prison sentences for several prominent players and a coach. This comprehensive timeline traces how the match-fixing scandal developed and its devastating impact on the professional StarCraft II community.
Table of Contents
Early Warning Signs of the Match-Fixing Scandal
Suspicious Betting Patterns Emerge
On January 20, 2015, the first red flag in the StarCraft II match-fixing scandal appeared when PinnacleSports canceled all bets on a ProLeague match between Kang “San” Cho Won and Park “Dark” Ryung Woo. A TeamLiquid.net user named “Swoopae” had alerted authorities about unusual betting line movements, raising initial concerns about match integrity.
Just three days later, on January 23, PinnacleSports voided bets again for a match between Lee “INnoVation” Shin Hyung and Kim “Super” Min Chul in the 2015 GSL Season 1 Code S. Dramatic shifts in betting lines immediately before the match further suggested potential manipulation in the growing match-fixing scandal.
Illegal Betting Infiltrates Online Tournaments
In early February 2015, Olivia “Olimoley” Wong, an OlimoLeague organizer and Axiom team manager, revealed a disturbing connection between illegal gambling and smaller StarCraft II tournaments. She disclosed that gamblers were:
- Sponsoring several small online competitions
- Observing matches directly through the game client (bypassing stream delays)
- Gaining unfair betting advantages through this privileged access
Wong also accused certain players of colluding with gamblers and criticized Blizzard for inaction despite being repeatedly informed about these issues, further exposing the developing match-fixing scandal.
Additional Matches Implicated in the Scandal
The match-fixing scandal continued to grow with several more suspicious incidents:
- March 17, 2015: TeamLiquid.net user “StarGalaxy” reported unusual betting line movements for a Proleague match between Choi “YoDa” Byung Hyun and Han “Bunny” Joon, where favorite YoDa unexpectedly lost after betting shifted toward Bunny.
- March 24, 2015: PinnacleSports voided bets on a match between Han “ByuL” Ji Won and Lee “MarineKing” Jung Hoon after suspicious line movements. MarineKing’s failure to counter ByuL’s obvious proxy hatchery strategy intensified match-fixing suspicions.
- April 15, 2015: Another match with unusual betting patterns occurred between Kim “Soulkey” Min Chul and Joo “Creator” Sung Wook in GSL Season 2 Code A, where underdog Creator was heavily favored in bets to win the first map, which he did, though he lost the series.
Official Response to the Match-Fixing Scandal
KeSPA Acknowledges the Problem
In May 2015, the Korean e-Sports Association (KeSPA) officially acknowledged the match-fixing scandal, confirming that players had been approached by brokers but had refused these offers. This statement followed rumors about Kim “Soulkey” Min Chul’s potential involvement. KeSPA emphasized its commitment to fighting match manipulation while urging fans to avoid making baseless accusations.
Preventative Measures Implemented
To combat the match-fixing scandal, SpoTV removed the in-game clock from their Proleague broadcasts starting July 27, 2015. This strategic decision aimed to prevent bets based on time-specific events within matches, making it harder for fixers to coordinate predetermined outcomes.
Criminal Proceedings in the Match-Fixing Scandal
Team Prime Members Arrested
The match-fixing scandal escalated dramatically on October 19, 2015, when the Chanwon Regional Prosecution Service announced the arrest of a coach and two professional players from the team Prime for fixing five matches. These individuals were later identified as:
- Park “Gerrard” Oi Shik (coach)
- Choi “YoDa” Byung Hyun (player)
- Choi “BBoongBBoong” Jong Hyuk (player)
This marked a shocking development in the match-fixing scandal, as it was the first known case of an active coach collaborating with team members to manipulate match outcomes.
The Arrest of Life Shocks the Community
On January 29, 2016, the match-fixing scandal delivered its most devastating blow when the Changwon prosecutor’s office arrested Lee “Life” Seung Hyun. Life’s arrest sent shockwaves through the StarCraft II community due to his status as one of the greatest players in the game’s history. He was immediately barred from participating in official matches pending investigation.
Charges and Sentencing
The match-fixing scandal culminated in formal legal consequences:
- March 31, 2016: Former Prime members Gerrard, YoDa, and BBoongBBoong were sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, along with varying fines.
- April 2016: Lee “Life” Seung Hyun and Jo “Bbyong” Yong Ho were formally charged with match-fixing, confirming that the scandal was more widespread than initially thought. They were accused of intentionally losing maps in exchange for significant sums of money.
- July 2016: Lee “Life” Seung Hyun’s appeal for leniency was dismissed. He received an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for three years, and was fined KRW 70,000,000 (approximately USD 60,000). The court determined that the damage to esports’ credibility outweighed his status as a minor and his previous contributions to the sport.
Legacy of the StarCraft II Match-Fixing Scandal
The match-fixing scandal permanently altered the landscape of professional StarCraft II in South Korea. The involvement of a champion like Life demonstrated that even the most successful players could be vulnerable to corruption. The scandal contributed to declining viewership and sponsorship, accelerating the game’s diminishing popularity in South Korea.
Most importantly, the match-fixing scandal prompted esports organizations worldwide to implement stronger integrity measures, including enhanced monitoring of betting patterns, stricter player contracts, and more comprehensive education about the ethical responsibilities of professional players.
Image source: Eurogamer
