The Counter-Strike esports scene is highly diverse with numerous teams in different tiers and a minimal skill difference amongst them. Within this prospering community, several professionals competing in the Regional Major Ranking (RMR) tournaments are shareholders in other participating teams or a person owns a stake in multiple teams.
According to an email accessed by HLTV.org, Valve has issued a 5 months ultimatum to seven teams that participated in the recently concluded RMR tournament – ESL One: Road to Rio 2020. Developers have provided time until the commencement of the $2 million ESL One: Rio 2020 major. The RMR events for Summer and Autumn are yet to begin.
After going through the “declaration of interest” submitted by the participating teams, Valve concluded three substantial conflicts of interest that are “a threat to the integrity of the Majors”. The teams that received the notice are:
- Yeah Gaming
- MIBR (owned by IGC)
- FaZe Clan
- Evil Geniuses
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- Team Dignitas
- ENCE Esports
Last time in May 2019, the community outraged over the conflict of interest and revenue share between Astralis and BLAST – two subsidiaries of RFRSH Entertainment.
Yeah Gaming is owned by Marcelo “coldzera” David from FaZe Clan, Wilton “zews” Prado – coach of Evil Geniuses and Epitacio “TACO” de Melo & Ricardo “dead” Sinigaglia from MIBR. MIBR, interestingly, is a subsidiary of Immortals Gaming Club (IGC). On April 23, MIBR played against Yeah Gaming in the ESL One: Road to Rio 2020 (North-America).
Swedish veteran Christopher “GeT_RiGhT” Alesund who currently plays under the Dignitas banner owns a minor stake in his former team Ninjas in Pyjamas. While a popular CS:GO talent and a former professional Tomi “lurppis” Kovanen owns a minor stake in ENCE Esport is also the general manager of Immortals Gaming Club (IGC) that owns MIBR.
