Riot Disqualifies BONK After Cheating Violation Confirmed

Riot Games disqualified BONK from Europe Qualifier #1 for VCT EMEA Kickoff 2027 after confirming that a team participant used unauthorized cheating software. BONK was removed from the tournament, and the round of 16 and quarterfinals in its section of the bracket will be replayed.

Riot announced the decision on Sunday, November 8, after its anti-cheat team reviewed suspicious activity reported during the online qualifier. The company confirmed that a BONK participant used cheating software but has not identified the person or established that every team member was involved.

All BONK players and other registered team participants have been provisionally suspended from Riot-sanctioned competitions while the investigation continues. Final penalties will depend on the findings for each individual. Riot’s rules prohibit knowingly enabling, assisting or concealing cheating.

BONK reached the semifinal stage after defeating Aurora Gaming 2-1 in the round of 32 on November 6. The team then beat Project 100K and ycatble 2-0 on November 7. Riot did not replay the original BONK-Aurora match. Instead, it reinstated Aurora in that part of the bracket and scheduled new matches involving the affected teams.

Aurora Gaming played Project 100K in the rescheduled round-of-16 match at 5 p.m. Central European Time on November 8. The winner was scheduled to face ycatble in the quarterfinals at about 7:30 p.m. CET. The quarterfinal winner will qualify for the Europe Qualifier Playoffs.

The playoffs are scheduled for November 26 through December 5 and will include 16 teams: eight from the two open qualifiers and eight invited non-partner teams. Two teams will earn places at VCT EMEA Kickoff 2027. The semifinal between Pixel Lumina and the qualifier final were postponed, with new dates yet to be announced.

Aurora received another chance after BONK eliminated the team earlier in the qualifier. Their series included a deciding Bind map in which BONK recovered from an 11-3 deficit and won 15-13 in overtime. Riot has not disclosed whether the confirmed cheating occurred during that match.

Riot described match replays as an exceptional measure that depends on the circumstances and scheduling of each case. The company said the ruling does not establish a precedent for future incidents.

The disqualification came three days after Riot announced expanded competitive-integrity measures for the 2027 VCT season. The measures include stricter player verification, Vanguard compliance checks and additional match monitoring. Later qualification stages are expected to include player recordings and cameras covering match areas.

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Reviewed and fact-checked by Alex Panasenko on November 8.