Over 30 Chinese LoL pros suspended in match-fixing crackdown
A months-long investigation into match-fixing in the Chinese League of Legends scene has come to an end, with heads rolling as a result.
Back in February, FunPlus Phoenix stated that Zhou “Bo” Yang-Bo
admitted to match-fixing
in the 2020 LDL Summer Split. Since then, this case has been under investigation and the issue was apparently much more pervasive than just Bo. Alongside Bo, ThunderTalk support player Wang “Teeen” Yao-Ji was issued a four-month suspension from professional League of Legends. ThunderTalk jungler Xiang “bless” Yi-Tong has received a 12-month suspension.
Notably, while Bo’s alleged match-fixing came in 2020 during his time in the LDL, bless competed in the LPL in 2020 as a part of Dominus Esports. It is unclear whether bless is alleged to have participated in match-fixing in LPL games or if this was from his time in the LDL.
In the LDL, punishments were spread around much further. A total of 35 people including players and organizational staff have been handed suspensions as a result of the investigation. This includes the entire roster of Sheng Jie Gaming, with top laner Wang “Spunk” Zhi-Peng receiving a lifetime ban from competitive League of Legends. Eleven others were also given lifetime bans.
Match-fixing in LDL a lingering problem
Match-fixing is a serious issue across all regions and across almost every major esports title. Things seem to be at their worst in the Chinese League of Legends scene, however. Each year, there appears to be at least one major match-fixing scandal involving a number of players in the league.
In 2019 a number of
players were suspended
from Rogue Warriors Sharks, which saw the team forced out of the LDL Spring Playoffs. In 2020, LGD Gaming
saw a player and manager suspended
for violating gambling rules. In 2020, Rogue Warriors found itself in the hot seat once again.
These issues came to a head in March following the investigation into Bo, where the entire LDL season was suspended due to match-fixing concerns.
Match-fixing is a serious issue in any sport, as a lack of faith in the integrity of competition can very quickly see a league fold up. The greatest example of this came in the early 2000s in sumo wrestling, which saw the iconic Japanese sport face serious issues when extensive match-fixing came to light.
Steven Rondina
About Steven Rondina
Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.
View full profile
Read Also
League of Legends
League of Legends 2026 MSI preview: Teams, schedule, rewards
Hannan Mundia
2026’s MSI is on the horizon, with cash prizes and a guaranteed spot at this year’s World Championship on the line. Some favorites have proven their skills, as well as underdogs that have a chance to cause an upset. This preview highlights the tournament’s teams, schedule, and potential rewards for those who perform well. Eleven teams have qualified for this year’s MSI, but that doesn’t mean that every team is ...
Esports Betting
Why is the League of Legends MSI the LPL’s tournament?
Wasif Ahmed
In League of Legends, South Korea almost always wins the World Championship. However, it’s the LPL that has won more than half of the Mid-Season Invitationals since their launch in 2015. So why is MSI the LPL’s tournament? And what can we expect for the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational next week? First off, let’s have a look at the history and stats for the two regions at the LoL Worlds and ...
League of Legends
Fnatic founder denies rumors of organization being sold
Hannan Mundia
Fnatic founder and CEO Sam Mathews denied that the organization is set to be sold in the coming weeks. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that Fnatic has seen much better days. The team’s League of Legends and CS2 rosters have been seeing multiple recent changes, and the VALORANT team’s performance has been mixed this year. Considering the team’s performance, it didn’t surprise many when reports that the organization was ...
League of Legends
Hanwha Life Esports defeats T1 to qualify for MSI
Hannan Mundia
After a surprisingly one-sided match, Hanwha Life Esports defeated the reigning champions T1 to qualify for MSI at the 2026 LCK Road to MSI. The LCK is by far considered the strongest League of Legends region. While T1 and Gen.G’s rivalry is iconic, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that recent roster changes put HLE on the same playing field as the two giants. The addition of Zeus and ...
Esports Betting
T1 vs Gen.G 2026: Best betting odds and picks for LCK Road to MSI
Hannan Mundia
The 2026 LCK Road to MSI is almost over, with T1 and Gen.G having one last rematch in this split to determine which team qualifies for MSI. Both teams are in excellent shape, though T1’s recent loss against Hanwha Life Esports may put it at a disadvantage. Gen.G is looking extremely strong currently, and the clean sweep against KT Rolster proves that the team means business. Tournament: 2026 LCK Season ...
Esports Betting
Bilibili Gaming vs Team WE: Best betting odds and picks for the LPL Split 2 2026
Wasif Ahmed
Bilibili Gaming faces Team WE in the LPL Split 2 playoffs, with neither team expected to be in the lower final. Everyone thought that BLG would go through the upper bracket and that WE would lose in the first round. Yet Team WE were the ones who knocked BLG down to the lower bracket. Now, the two teams rematch for the LPL’s final spot at Mid-Season Invitational. Tournament: LPL Split ...
Esports Betting
Gen.G vs KT Rolster 2026: Best betting odds and picks for LCK Road to MSI 2026
Hannan Mundia
The 2026 LCK Road to MSI split is in full swing, with Gen.G and KT Rolster about to face off in round four to determine which team competes for a chance to qualify for MSI. Gen.G may be one of the strongest professional teams in the region, but KT Rolster has taken down the fan-favorite last year at Worlds when the stakes were higher than ever. The looming question here ...
