ESIC Suspends CS2 Team NOMERCY, Five Players

The Esports Integrity Commission issued an interim suspension effective April 23, 2026, against Counter-Strike 2 team NOMERCY and five players while it investigates suspected match‑fixing in matches played in March, including the Roman Imperium Cup VII.

ESIC described the suspension as a protective measure to preserve competitive integrity while it reviews evidence. The commission opened a formal investigation after identifying “suspicious and abnormal” factors linked to the team’s March performances and issued formal interrogatories demanding financial records and communications from the organization and the players.

The five players placed under provisional suspension are János “James8k” Fodor, Oliver “kzy” Heck, Sreten “srtn1” Smiljanić, Petar “perakokanje” Bešir and Palkovics “playN” Tamás. The interim sanctions bar the organization and those individuals from ESIC-sanctioned events while inquiries continue.

ESIC cited abnormal betting patterns, questions about the team’s formation and the competitive histories of the players, and gameplay behavior it described as “repeated low-percentage decisions.” Betting operators flagged a $57,000 wager on NOMERCY following the team’s March 28 match; the wager was later voided by betting houses because of its suspicious nature.

As part of the probe, ESIC has issued disclosure requirements to establish links between in-game events and external incentives. The commission requested bank and transaction records, communication logs and other documents it deems relevant to determining whether match outcomes or isolated in-game incidents were manipulated for betting purposes. ESIC emphasized the interim suspension is not a final finding of guilt.

The NOMERCY action follows a recent ESIC enforcement that resulted in a four-year ban for Dmytro “nifee” Tediashvili after investigators found repeated in-game deaths by Molotovs and incendiary grenades that coincided with spikes in betting on proposition markets.

Industry monitoring reported an 11% year-on-year rise in suspicious betting alerts in the first quarter of 2026, with esports accounting for 15 of 70 alerts globally in that period. ESIC will continue its open investigation and assess evidence before deciding on any disciplinary sanctions. If final findings indicate match-fixing or corruption, involved parties could face long suspensions, lifetime bans or other penalties under ESIC’s code of conduct.