Esports Team Captain Sentenced for Throwing Match to Win Bets

Competitive integrity in Valorant esports came under scrutiny after Malcolm Chung Wai Kiat, a 25-year-old professional gamer from Singapore, was sentenced to four months in jail on May 26, 2023. His conviction stemmed from a match-fixing scheme in which he deliberately underperformed in a 2020 tournament to win illicit bets placed on his own team’s loss.

Chung, who was the captain of Team Resurgence, was also ordered to pay a penalty of S$400 (US$296). The case marked one of the first known match-fixing convictions in esports under Singapore’s Prevention of Corruption Act.

How the Match-Fixing Scheme Unfolded

The incident occurred during the EPULZE Royal Southeast Asia Cup Tournament in September 2020, part of the Valorant Ignition Series—a prestigious regional competition with a US$25,000 prize pool.

Chung’s team, Resurgence, had already lost two matches against teams from Singapore and South Korea. Before their final match against a Japanese team, Chung’s friend, Ryan Tan Shern (then 21), proposed a betting scheme to capitalise on another loss.

The Betting Plan

Tan, who owed Chung S$400, suggested that they place bets on Resurgence losing—and for Chung to intentionally throw the match to guarantee a win. Seeing this as a way to recover his money, Chung agreed to the plan.

Tan’s older brother transferred S$3,000 to Chung, who then used an illegal gambling website to place five separate bets totalling S$3,000.

As planned, Resurgence lost the match 0-2, with Chung deliberately underperforming and instructing his teammates to do the same.

The Fallout: Riot Games Investigation & Public Backlash

The scheme earned Chung a total of S$7,019, of which he kept S$2,719 for himself. The remaining winnings were distributed among Tan, his brother, Tan’s friend, and other individuals—including some of Chung’s teammates.

However, the match-fixing scandal quickly drew backlash from the esports community.

RSG Resurgence suffered reputational damage, with the controversy tarnishing its credibility as an organization. Valorant developer Riot Games launched an investigation into Chung and his team, raising concerns about integrity in the game’s competitive ecosystem.

According to Deputy Public Prosecutor David Menon, the case had no direct esports precedent in Singapore, so the sentencing referenced past football match-fixing cases as a legal benchmark.

Legal Consequences: Jail Time & Reformative Training

During sentencing, the judge emphasised that Chung’s actions went beyond personal misconduct—as captain, he had abused his leadership position by influencing his teammates to participate in the scheme.

Key factors in the court’s decision included:

Chung’s motivation for personal gain, prioritising financial incentives over fair competition. His active role in organizing and executing the match-fixing scheme. The broader damage caused to the credibility of esports tournaments and organisations.

Chung ultimately received a four-month jail sentence, while his co-conspirator, Ryan Tan Shern, was sentenced to reformative training earlier the same week.

The Bigger Picture: Integrity in Esports

This case underscored the growing need for regulatory oversight in competitive gaming, as esports continues to evolve into a billion-dollar industry. With match-fixing and betting scandals becoming more frequent, organizations like Riot Games and ESIC (Esports Integrity Commission) are working to implement stricter measures to prevent corruption.

Chung’s conviction served as a stark warning to professional players: any attempt to manipulate match outcomes for financial gain can lead to severe legal consequences.

As esports gains mainstream recognition, ensuring fair play and maintaining competitive integrity remain critical to its legitimacy and long-term success.