ESIC appoints Runestone as official data partner

The Esports Integrity Commission has appointed Runestone as its Official Data Partner in a multi-year agreement to supply data and integrity monitoring across titles and competitive circuits overseen by ESIC. The firm will provide analysis designed to identify suspicious in-game behaviour and irregular wagering for use in investigations and disciplinary processes.

Under the terms of the agreement, Runestone will integrate its data systems with ESIC’s investigatory and sanctioning work. The company will flag anomalies, report findings and deliver evidence-based documentation to support formal inquiries and hearings. The contract formalises an existing operational relationship and covers multiple ESIC-regulated competitions.

ESIC described the partnership as a way to increase its technical capacity to detect competitive malpractice and to support publishers, tournament organisers and participants in adjudication. Runestone’s systems will be used to detect patterns consistent with match manipulation, betting irregularities and other integrity concerns and to supply data that can be used in disciplinary proceedings.

Earlier this year ESIC used Runestone analysis to identify irregular in-game behaviour that contributed to the four-year competitive suspension of Counter-Strike 2 player Dmytro “nifee” Tediashvili for match manipulation during ESL Pro League matches. The newly announced agreement extends the operational collaboration to additional events and game titles.

Stephen Hanna, ESIC’s chief executive, described Runestone as “a collaborative, evidence-led partner” and stated that formalising the relationship would help keep decisions grounded in expert assessment and the broader evidentiary picture. Shane Clarke, Runestone’s managing director, called the company’s role “to provide trustworthy data and the foundation for ESIC’s governance process.”

Runestone has recently expanded its commercial footprint, securing multi-year tournament data rights with organiser PGL through 2029 for Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 and forming regional infrastructure partnerships with NODWIN Gaming and with SURGE for the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang circuit in EMEA. ESIC noted the Runestone agreement is part of a wider set of technical partnerships it uses for integrity work.

The deal is described as multi-year but neither organisation provided a specific contract length. ESIC will continue to lead investigations and impose sanctions; Runestone’s role is to supply the underlying data and analytics that inform those processes.