In esports, success is often accompanied by scrutiny, and for Shubham “Mayavi” Chawla, the journey has been no different. The rise of Team Mayavi in the Battlegrounds Mobile India Series (BGIS) 2023: The Grind brought them into the spotlight, but with fame came the shadow of cheating allegations.
It was a storm ignited by the accusations of popular YouTuber SnehilOP, who meticulously dissected tournament footage, pointing fingers at Team Mayavi for unfair gameplay practices. Demanding proof in the form of POV recordings and hand cam streams, SnehilOP cast doubt upon the integrity of the team’s achievements. Yet, amidst the clamor, Mayavi chose a path of silence, avoiding conflict but not ignorance.
However, as time elapsed, the whispers of suspicion refused to fade, lingering like a stubborn mist. And now, in March 2024, Mayavi has broken his silence in a YouTube livestream, shedding light on the controversy that has plagued his former team.
Mayavi Clarifies his Side of the Story Regarding Cheating Allegations Against Former Team Mayavi
Mayavi took to his YouTube channel to confront the allegations head-on, offering a glimpse into the chaotic journey that led to this juncture. He shed light on his initial encounter with Team Mayavi, reminiscing about their humble beginnings as underdogs striving to carve a niche for themselves in the competitive landscape. “I started working with the team when they were just underdogs. I only saw the stats of their previous journey, whom they used to play with, how many tournaments they had played or won. Based on this, they gave tryouts. Out of the entire team, I liked two players – Legit and Blax. I suggested they try out under a different IGL and team, but they said they were a team of five players and didn’t want to change the team; they wanted to stick together. An underdog team saying that they wanted to stick together made me feel that the team might have good synergy,” he said.
“Randomly, out of nowhere, Team Mayavi, which played the first season of BGIS, received an invitation for BGIS Season 2. So I thought that I already had a slot, and that instead of wasting the slot, I should give a chance to an underdog team. I decided not to give a salary or device, but only the slot. At least they will get to showcase what they have been practicing for a very long time. I talked with the owner of the team and decided to sign them as an academy roster under Global Esports,” Mayavi further added.
However, fate had other plans, as allegations of cheating tainted the team’s reputation. Mayavi, faced with a moral crossroads, opted to stand by his team. He emphasized his willingness to subject the players to scrutiny, inviting investigations and assessments of their gameplay. “We spoke with Krafton, and we got the reply that as long as the team is allowed to play the tournament, they are doing nothing wrong. Now, under these circumstances, I was under the dilemma of whether I should defend the team or not,” he added.
Mayavi Claims Former Team Mayavi has the Proof of Innocence
Mayavi added that he set up a temporary bootcamp for the team to prove the innocence of the team. In the bootcamp, the players were under scrutiny and were asked to play with their handcam in front of the organization. “We inquired about all the allegations they had received. However, the proof did not reach the other side (accusers), that’s why they are not satisfied, and neither are you. I won’t say that I’ll give you proof now because I defended the team at that time because it was my team,” Mayavi added.
Following this, Mayavi stated that the players are ready to offer the proof of their innocence if a media representative is ready to have a podcast with them or they themselves want to clarify it on stream. “They have all the proof; they have compiled it. They will provide it, and you can judge them according to your perception,” he added.
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