Bleed Esports, once a popular up-and-coming esports organisation, is currently in a troubling state after its CEO Goh En Wei Mervyn is now in a criminal trial in Singapore. Organisation that currently has teams in Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, DOTA 2, Rainbow Six Siege is coming undone due to claims of unpaid wages and prize money.
Bleed Esports Faces Legal Challenges
The trial, set for October 21, 2024, under Singapore’s Penal Code 1871, casts a shadow over Mervyn’s leadership. The charges are still not defined but as mentioned above the Penal Code is rather general and thus they could be anything from embezzlement to murder. This legal case is not a first that Mervyn and his companions are connected with some suspicious events.
Accused of an assault in 2022, Mervyn was charged with attacking Lincoln Lim Jun Hong, a former Bleed Esports investor. In physical assault of a woman case against Lim, he made Mervyn to be present during the alleged act. Such connexion has prompted some concern over the issue of ethical practise within the organisation.
Allegations of Financial Mismanagement
The Bleed Esports continue to face financial problems. Aleksandar “Kassad” Trifunovic, the former coach of Bleed’s Counter-Strike 2 team, has publicly accused the organization of owing players tens of thousands of dollars. It includes unpaid prize money and salaries including but not limited to $130,000 for Apeks and $42,000 for G2 Esports. These allegations portray a very wrong situation concerning the financial situation of the organisation.
Riot Games Expulsion from Valorant Champions Tour
It got worse when Riot Games decided to dismiss Bleed Esports from the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) for their inability to meet some vital reporting standards¹. This expulsion not only stained the image of the organisation but also evicted those players and they are struggling to look for a team.
Not even Rainbow Six Siege team, which used to be one of the Bleed Esports successes is safe from this. Terdsta, one of the players, disclosed that he was earning less than $700 per month and has not been paid $35,000 by the organisation. His account shows the key problem that Bleed Esports has faced since its establishment: lack of a stable revenue stream that would allow players to live off their gaming earnings.
The fate of Bleed Esports remains uncertain as important trial comes closer. The organisation’s teams are in a process of dispersion, and Mervyn remains silent about the accusations. Esports fans are closely following the case because the decision made in this trial could become a benchmark for the rest of the industry.
The players and staff of Bleed Esports are still fighting for justice and their money in the middle of all this. These accounts explain why esports needs better governance and ethical standards in organisations. While the trial continues, it still is uncertain whether Bleed Esports will be able to get back on its feet and whether it will become an example for others to avoid.
