The Esports Integrity Commission upgraded Counter-Strike 2 player Palkovics "2xplayN" Tamás's suspension to a lifetime ban on October 16, Dexerto reported. The decision came one day after ESIC had given him a three-year suspension as one of five NOMERCY players sanctioned for match-fixing.
Those original sanctions, announced on October 15, followed an investigation into suspicious matches at Roman Imperium Cup VII. Four NOMERCY defeats in March 2026 each matched the conditions of an accumulator bet with a potential payout of more than $4.5 million, which the bookmaker reportedly voided before anything was paid out.
playN's initial term, which would have kept him out of ESIC-affiliated competition until April 2029, was shorter than several of his teammates' because he had cooperated with investigators, handed over financial records and answered in detail. After the sanctions were published, the 22-year-old posted a photo on X in which he appeared to hold several thick stacks of cash, alongside a message saying he would be back at the Roman Imperium Cup in 2029.
ESIC cited a series of public posts featuring apparent cash and comments about match manipulation, betting payouts and his return to competition, describing the conduct as an "egregious breach which created the appearance of improper conduct" under its rules. The commission stated that the photographs alone did not establish that the money came from match-fixing, and that his earlier cooperation did not excuse misconduct while suspended. The upgrade also removes the cooperation-based reduction he had received.
ESIC said it would refer the sanctioned conduct to Valve, government agencies and law enforcement. The lifetime ban has no expiry and excludes playN from ESIC and member competitions in any capacity. Former teammate Oliver "kzy" Heck received a lifetime ban in the original ruling.
